Her husband is threatening to divorce her if she does not watch pornographic movies with him

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Allaah has
commanded the Muslim to protect himself and his family from the Fire. Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you
who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell)
whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and)
severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from
Allaah, but do that which they are commanded”

[al-Tahreem 66:6]

Allaah has put the wife
and children under the care and protection of the husband, and he will be
asked about them on the Day of Resurrection. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar
that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The
ruler is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock; the man is the
shepherd of his family members and is responsible for them; the woman is the
shepherd of her husband’s house and children and is responsible for them;
the slave is the shepherd of his master’s wealth and is responsible for it.
Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock.”

Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 853; Muslim, 1829.

Allaah has
warned those who betray this trust and do not protect their families as
required, that they will be denied Paradise. It was narrated that Ma’qal ibn
Yassaar said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “There is no person whom Allaah appoints in charge of some
flock and he is not sincere towards them, but he will not smell the
fragrance of Paradise.”

Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 6731; Muslim, 142.

What this
husband is doing, watching pornographic movies, is an evil and a great sin.
It is not permissible for him to do that, let alone force someone else to do
it.

If the
husband calls his wife to watch these movies, it is not permissible for her
to obey him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “There is no obedience if it involves disobeying Allaah, rather
obedience is only with regard to that which is right and proper.” Narrated
by al-Bukhaari, 7257; Muslim, 1840.

The
husband’s threat of divorce does not count as a legitimate excuse for her,
and is not regarded as her being forced to do it. Rather she should advise
him in the way that is better. If he responds and gives up the evil that he
is doing, this is something good that he is doing for himself, and she will
be rewarded for that. If he refuses to respond to the command of Allaah to
lower the gaze and avoid looking at haraam things, then it is not
permissible for her to obey him in committing sin, and she should not trust
him with regard to herself or her children, and Allaah will compensate her
with someone better than him, in sha Allaah.

In the
answer to question no.
12301 there is a statement of the shar’i ruling on
watching these movies.

In the
answer to question no.
7669 there is a description of ways of advising and
guiding this husband.

If the
husband does not pray, it is not permissible for the wife to hesitate in
asking for an annulment of the marriage. We have discussed the ruling on
staying with a husband who does not pray in the answer to question no.
4501
and 5281.

And Allaah knows best.