Download - University of Salford Institutional Repository

Divorce in Islam
Islam considers marriage a lasting relationship, not a temporary
bond for a certain period. It forbade N1, kah al-Mulea (a temporary
marriage for a limited period of timq, and protected marriage
with a fence of laws and teachings make it a solid, continuous
relationship. Islamic law urged married couples to treat each other
kindly so as to achieve harmony with each other, and to avoid problems
that might damage their life together. (Q, 4 19)
However, marriage may undergo serious problems with devastating
effect on all the family members. In such a case. Islam also extends
its protection to the family, and does not have simply to Collapse-
It has many ways of treating the situation whereby it may be jossible
for the family to continue. However, if such problems reach a stage
where it becomes impossible for a couple to carry on ltving to&ether,
then divorce would be the best resort. It has been called by the
Prophet Muhammadj "The most repugnant of all things lawful and the act
2
at which God's throne shakes. " Permitting divorce in Islam does
not, however, mean undervaluing of the marriage bond and accordingly.
of the woman herself. Islam did not invent divorce. It had been
known to many other nations. For example. it was known in the
pre-Islamic pagan times and without restriction or limitations as we
mentioned in the first chapter. It was also lawful in Judaism and
in other nations. What Islam did was that it organised divorce
and decreed the rules and regulations that protected the rights of
each of the married couples and in particular, the wife's rights.
As explained above. when Islam permitted divorce. it did not consider
1. See Sahih al Bukhari, Vol. 7. P. 36, where"Ali b AbTi falib tells
Ibn Abbas during the battle of Badr that the Prophet iorbade
Nikah al-MutAt
2. See Abdal! X-. rop, cit., P. 223
108