Woman in Islamic Shari‘ah
7. Concerning divorce
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This method of divorce prescribed by the Qur’an,
i.e. taking three months to finalize it, makes it
impossible for a man seeking divorce suddenly to
cast his wife aside. Once he has said to his wife
(who should not at this time be menstruating), “I
divorce you,” both are expected to think the
situation over for a whole month. If the man has a
change of opinion during this period, he can
withdraw his words. If not, he will again say, “I
divorce you,” (again his wife should be in a state of
“purity”) and they must again review the situation
for a further month. Even at this stage, the husband
has the right to revoke the proceedings if he has had
a change of heart. If, however, in the third month,
he says, “I divorce you,” the divorce becomes final
and the man ceases to have any right to revoke it.
Now he is obliged to part with his wife in a spirit of
good will, and give her full rights.
This prescribed method of divorce has ensured that
it is a well-considered, planned arrangement and
not just a rash step taken in a fit of emotion. When
we remember that in most cases, divorce is the
result of a fit of anger, we realize that the prescribed
method places a tremendous curb on divorce. It
