Woman Between Islam and Western Society
8. Concerning Divorce
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of two months should remember God before giving
notice a third time. Then he should either keep his
spouse with him in a spirit of goodwill, or he
should release her without doing her any injustice.
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.
