His Mother Asked Him to Divorce his Wife

Question :

A man married a woman, who bore children for him, then his mother asked him to divorce her without reason and without fault in the wife's religion; instead, it was for some personal reason. The man's sister as well as others tried to appease the mother, but she was inexorable and would only be appeased by him divorcing his wife. The mother left her son's home and moved in with one of her daughters. The man felt guilty for her leaving, but he loved his wife, from whom he had only experienced goodness. What should he do?

Answer:

If the reality of the wife is as the questioner described - A that she is upright, that he loves her and cherishes her, that she didn't do wrong to his mother, that the mother hated her for some personal reasons - he is not obligated to divorce her out of obedience to his mother. For it is confirmed that the Prophet ﷺ said :
"Indeed, obedience is only in what is good."

He should, however, be dutiful to his mother, visit her, try to appease her, buy things for her, and console her in any way possible. She should then, by the will of Allah, open her heart and be pleased. In other words, he should do everything in his power short of divorcing his wife. And only Allah Almighty can help. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad ﷺ and upon the followers of Muhammad.

Source:
The Permanent Committee
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 7 Pages 300-301