Considering khula/divorce with a baby – marriage based on deception. What is remarriage really like?

I’m a 21 year old Muslim woman seeking sincere advice because I feel completely trapped and broken.

I married with the intention of building a loving, Islamic household upon the Qur’an and Sunnah. Marriage has always been something I valued deeply. Unfortunately, my marriage was based on deception — the man I married was not who he presented himself to be, particularly in terms of responsibility, leadership, and religious practice.

We only lived together for 5 months. He then left me at my parents’ home, where I have now been living for 7 months. We do not live together at all. During this time, I gave birth to our daughter and have been raising her with my family’s support, while enduring emotional neglect, silent treatment, and repeated disrespect — including towards my parents.

There has also been significant interference from his mother, and when boundaries were raised, the situation worsened rather than improved.

After months of duʿā’, istikhārah, seeking advice from elders, and making ʿUmrah, I requested khula with clarity and calm. He is refusing to grant it, ignoring my messages, and keeping me in limbo. I feel forced into a marriage that no longer exists in practice, and it is taking a severe emotional toll on me.

I am not someone who wanted divorce. I wanted marriage. I wanted stability. I wanted an Islamic home for my child. But I cannot remain trapped in a situation where there is no accountability, no protection, and no peace.

My questions are:

•	What is remarriage like for a woman with a young daughter?

•	Is it realistically possible to rebuild and find a healthy marriage after this?

•	How do women heal and move forward when khula is being withheld?

Please be kind — I’m already carrying a lot.