How to survive with a husband who won’t change...
This reminder is for sisters who cannot leave their husbands and cannot afford therapy or counseling. Sisters who feel stuck. They can't leave their husbands but aren't happy staying either.
1. Accept that your husband won’t change. Sometimes women waste a lot of energy trying to change a man. This is harder when kids are involved. A man will only change when he wants to. You can try, if it works, great! If it doesn't, put that same energy into building yourself rather than changing him.
A lot of times, men don't change. Many husbands are truly tough to live with. They don't adore you, compliment you, or love you the way you want. Start adoring and complimenting yourself. Don't rest your happiness on his shoulders.
2. Do more of what you both love instead of fixating on what isn't working. Focus on things you both like doing and do more of that, and over time there will be no time left for what you don't like.
How many times do we meet couples and they say, "If he changes this one thing, I will be happy," or "If she fixes this one thing, I will be happy"? That one thing never gets fixed.
Schedule and make time for joy so there is no time left for sadness.
3. Decenter men while respecting and fulfilling obligations. People pleasers and empaths struggle with this. Don't make him the reason for your happiness and existence. He is human, he is imperfect, and he will err, and he has his darkness, it's not your job to fix him. You can guide and help him, but not at the cost of your mental health. And never at the cost of losing your identity.
Who are you without him? Not as his wife, not as the person always trying to fix the marriage, but as YOU.
What makes you laugh?
What makes you feel alive?
What quiet things used to bring you joy before the heaviness of this marriage settled in?
You have to start feeding those parts of yourself again.
4. Start having routines and exercise daily. You know what they say: "Depression can't catch a moving target." Have a morning routine, dress well, stay fit, and eat clean.
Become the best version of yourself. Have dates with your sisters and friends. Become part of a community. Attend Islamic lectures. Meet new people. Do what makes you happy.
New dress every month.
A de-stress massage or facial.
Coffee and a book.
Helping someone.
Hiking and long walks.
Whatever makes you happy!
5. Cancel perfection and increase gratitude. Understand that perfection is not meant for this world; that's reserved for Jannah. Let go of being hard and fast. Go with the flow and be in control of your emotions. Shaytan will constantly highlight what's missing in your husband focus on what's great and increase in shukr about it. Allah will multiply it for you.
Shaytan is always at play. He wants to break what is halal. Count your blessings and give thanks to Allah for them.
6. Remember the blessing of Islam and being a Muslimah. I won’t tell you to pretend everything’s fine. It’s not. But there’s something to be said for finding meaning in your struggle.
If you are putting up with an ungrateful husband, cash good deeds on it. Keep telling Allah, "I am doing this for You, Ya Rabbi, reward me and make this easy for me." Seek reward for your sabr, for your service to a husband who doesn't appreciate it, and for the hardship with which you are bringing up your children.
You may not see but gardens of paradise where you never have to worry are being written for you.
7. Stop comparing and competing. Don't compare your life to your friend's life. Everyone has their fair share of struggles. Never compare your "behind the scenes" with someone else's highlight reel.
8. Muslims give more importance to submission to the commands of Allah than to happiness. Sometimes doing the right thing is hard. We are chasing the Rida of Allah and not happiness. There are good times and bad times. Marriage, especially long-lasting ones, calls for a lot of forgiveness, meeting in the middle, and compromise. You will need a new version of you who is stronger to do it. Build it.
9. Don't share every little detail of your marital issues with your friends and family. Learn how to deal with them on your own. Choose your battles. Not everything is worth going to war over. Your friends and family love you, and they will amplify a spark into a full-blown fire that can and will destroy your marriage. You are his garment; protect him. Be a team. This may mean dealing with your habit of complaining and oversharing. As a wife be mature enough to understand what you should vent about.
You are a woman now; learn what should be shared and what shouldn't be.
You may choose to stay physically because of money or children, but you don’t have to stay emotionally attached to someone who is avoidant, doesn't talk, doesn't change, and doesn't love you.
Find peace by focusing on your future. Think and dream about Jannah. Find joy in your children, even while sharing a home with a man who no longer loves you.
10. Start your own bank account and start earning money. There are so many work-from-home jobs available on Fiverr and Upwork. Instead of wasting time watching Pakistani soaps, build a skill, network, and become financially secure. Always ask Allah for self-sufficiency. Allah will provide!
11. A hard life often means easy access to Jannah. Attach yourself to the Quran, ibadah, fasting, and qiyaam. Seek happiness in your deen. This dunya is temporary. If you have the blessing of time, build on good deeds. This world is a delusion, and the tests of this life will end soon.
12. Re-evaluate before you leave your husband. If you want to divorce and leave your husband, never rush this. Always involve family, make istikhara, seek counseling, separate for a few months, and only then decide to separate. The decision of divorce shouldn't be taken in anger, with ego, or while trying to teach the other a lesson, especially when innocent children are involved. Marriage is divine, don't rush breaking it.
If things are not going well, re-evaluate your relationship and think about these questions:
- Is this a temporary crisis or the end of your relationship?
- What is the best thing that could happen if you stay together?
- What is the best thing that could happen if you divorce?
- What is the worst thing that could happen if you stay together?
- What is the worst thing that could happen if you divorce?
Have a list of pros and cons before you decide to go separate ways.
🤲 May Allah make it easy for Muslim women who are stuck in marriages they cannot leave - ameen!
- Shamsiya Noorul Quloob