Concerning Divorce
Divorce in Islam
~ 19 ~
laws it lays down in this regard exist primarily,
therefore, as checks, not incentives.
Islam regards marriage as an extremely desirable
institution, hence its conception of marriage as the
rule of life, and divorce only as an exception to that
rule. According to a
hadith,
the Prophet Muhammad
said, “Marriage is one of my
sunnah
(way). One
who does not follow it does not belong to me.”
12
Although Islam permits divorce, it lays great
emphasis on its being a concession, and a measure
to be resorted to only when there is no alternative.
Seeing it in this light, the Prophet Muhammad said,
“Of all things permitted, divorce is the most hateful
in the sight of God.”
13
When a man and a woman live together as husband
and wife, it is but natural that they should have
their differences, it being a biological and
psychological fact that each man and each woman
born into this world are by their very nature quite
different from each other. That is why the sole
method of having unity in this world is to live
unitedly in spite of differences. This can be achieved
only through patience and tolerance, virtues
