One statistic has shown that people are getting married and also they are more often divorcing, and it is easier to get married and it is also relatively easy to get a divorce.
In some older times, in the past century, some, more strict rules were applied, and it took longer time to get married, but also people were getting fewer divorces.
People were more aware of the traditional values and the importance of the family, for which many nowadays claim that it is ruined to a certain extent.
But some others say that this is a normal thing in progress and evolution of the society where these core values are changing, or seen differently.
Now, some cultures and some religions still proclaim the same traditional values as before – in Islam, marriage is one of the most important institutions and it is recommended for all people who fulfill certain criteria to get married.
But, what is the view of the Islamic community on divorces?
Does the Islamic religion see this as the demise of family values and great sin?
Is Divorce Haram or Halal In Islam?
In Quran, in one hadith it was said that the Prophet said that a man is divorced from his wife when he is pronouncing her release three times in a row without pausing to pronounce it.
And the Prophet has said that is that man mocking God and God’s book, and he has wondered if was He still with this couple.
This is important for understanding the matter of divorce in Islamic circles, as for it to occur, it is not a matter of effect, but it must be carried with a lot of emotional and social responsibility.
And, it was also written that of all permitted things, the most hateful deed to Allah is divorce.
So getting a divorce in the Islamic religion is seen as haram and a man who has to be both a physical and spiritual benefactor to his wife is not easily pronouncing divorce, and could not be on good terms with Allah.
A marriage in Islamic tradition is a blessed thing that Allah has put into unity, two people, and people should not, as it is written in Quran, break that unity like dirty dishes.
For this reason, Islam and Islamic teachers and communities require taking all possible steps before divorcing marriage to save the marriage and avoid divorce.
In Holy Quran, much of it has been written regarding this topic – so for example, if there is a family with a husband and a wife who has been in trouble and are contemplating getting a divorce, then it is needed to get and speak to the mediator, from both of the families, one from each side.
Such a great discord between husband and wife must be tried to be recovered, and if both parties want to recover, then the Almighty will assist them to do so, and also their families will be participants in such action.
He is the one who knows it all and He will make it happen, but both of them must be ready to communicate with each other.
Is divorce ever halal?
There are certain scenarios where divorce is allowed, as it can be at times inevitable for certain reasons, and such circumstances may arise under which even such attempts at reconciliation do not bear fruit.
Cause we know that in reality, such things do happen, and there can be things that are called differences that cannot be reconciled.
So what are the reasons why a divorce is permittable with the Islamic rules?
Such reasons or circumstances can be infidelity, material irresponsibility of the husband in matters of his family, or even physical or sexual abuse of the spouse or children.
We all know that these things do happen, and then divorce is permittable.
One more thing makes a divorce halal – the irreconcilability of the personalities of the spouses or the inability to love the spouse in Islam can be a legal reason for divorce.
Divorce in Islam
It is important to mention here that the reasons for the divorce do not have to be stated publicly nor that anyone can interfere with the divorce process.
Releasing the obligation to state the reasons for divorce contains deep wisdom, because many of the weaknesses of the spouse that eventually led to the divorce are not exposed to the public and are not shamed, but are covered up.
If a Muslim wants to divorce his wife, he must explain it publicly orally and in writing, and if the woman initiates the divorce, she will turn to a male representative, and this is made in such a way that the woman is protected during the entire process.
This communication should be understood mechanism of protection and support for women.
Also, we will add that after the couple has filed for a divorce, spouses must not sleep together if they want the divorce to be valid.
Another important part of the divorce procedure in Islam is the part where the couple has to wait, and this is done regardless of whether the request for divorce was filed by a woman or a man, in all cases the waiting period rule applies, which is closely related to the separation and in which the woman is not allowed to remarry.
In addition, in some cases, there is a possibility of withdrawing the request for divorce, as this also occurs occasionally, thereby renewing the marriage relationship.
And, as Islamic scholars like to say there is a great wisdom behind all of this, all for the benefit of the two parties – knowledge of that waiting time consists, among other things, of the fact that the woman may have become pregnant, and it is necessary to wait for confirmation of her possible pregnancy before she enters into marriage with another man.
That time enables a period of awareness and bringing in order not only feelings but also, for example, financial issues.
And in this sense, there is a matter of alimony in case of divorce.
This part is also precisely regulated in Islamic regulation.
In addition to the duty to support joint children for whom the man bears financial responsibility until they reach adulthood, in any case, even when a wife was the one who has filed for a divorce, the man is also obliged to support the woman (as in marriage).
That alimony ends with the end of the Iddat, a male representative who cannot leave a woman alone during a divorce.
Divorce rights in different countries
This right – to right to divorce in some Islamic countries was guaranteed to both sexes, men and women approximately 1400 years ago.
And just for comparison, when we take a look at the English law, which considered bad behavior, abuse, and beatings as the basic reason for divorce, was amended in 1923.
A year prior, in 1922, New Zealand determined that a man could divorce a woman who had been mentally sick for seven years; and a couple of years later, permission to divorce was established if the man or woman did not perform their marital duties for more than three years.
Here, also you should have in mind that the right to divorce in Islamic tradition is given to both sexes in the same way.
Although there is a distinction in terminology (as well as in the matter of the divorce process itself), the divorce started by a woman is called Khula, and by a man Talaq.
Conclusion
The concept of marriage and family has changed drastically in the last few decades, so all over the world, there are more and more divorces and fewer and fewer marriages.
The family in the traditional sense is slowly disappearing, and more and more families are made up of single parents.
But is it different without the Muslim community?
As you could see that there is a widespread sense in Muslim and non-Muslim circles that it is adequate for a Muslim to say “I release you” to his wife 3 times, which would direct to the non-existence of the marriage.
This understanding of some Muslims is not following the Quranic verse that talks about divorce.
It is not something that is recommended to do, and most certainly for reasons that could be overcome, but the Islamic Holy book does deal with the opportunities and circumstances for divorce.
If we read the book carefully then we can see that in many verses there are speaking precisely of this issue.
These verses are eliminating all possible misunderstandings in such an important social issue.
Divorce is therefore usually permitted in Islam by both the woman and the man, but there must be some conditions met before the divorce is seen as permitted.
And, Islamic religion offers the entire procedure in the case of divorce, regardless of which side has filed for divorce – there is a time for a bit of waiting, in the case a woman was pregnant and this is relevant when she wants to enter a second marriage.
A man, regardless of who has filed for a divorce must provide financial means to his children.
When the divorce is taking place, the spouses should try very hard not to make it more difficult for the affected families.
Constant bickering and loud arguments should be avoided.
An acrimonious separation in which harsh words and brutality fall is not in favor of Islam, whose instruction seeks to protect the feelings of its supporters.
They are not called up to make more disturbances, but to go through this process according to their faith.
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