Q: I personally dislike visiting restaurants/eating out, because I feel they are places of the dunya and a waste of money. However, my wife enjoys visiting restaurants and wants me to take her out to eat now and again. She agrees that we only go to places which have pardah facilities (screens), no music and reliable halaal food. Should I take my wife out to eat since this is important for her, and be thankful for the fact that she is particular with her parda and avoiding haram? Or should I follow my own feeling that eating out shows love of the dunya and is a waste of time and money, and thus refuse to take her out? If so, what alternatives can I provide her to keep her happy? My wife's background is such that she is not happy just sitting at home.
A: Discourage the eating out culture without hurting her feelings in any way. Perhaps you could reduce visiting the restaurants and gradually phase it out. However all this should be done in a dignified, respectable and loving manner.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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