Divorce in Islam

DIVORCE IN ISLAM Islam regards marriage as a highly 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.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 1846) While marriage is the rule of life, and divorce is only an exception, the latter must also be accepted as a reality. Indeed, commandments already exist to deal with such cases in both divine and human laws. The only true, authentic representation of divine law now exists in the form of the Quran, preserved in its entirety and free from all human interpolations. In the Quran and the Hadith, there are various commandments regarding divorce, the main point being that divorce should be sought only under unavoidable circumstances. 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. The Prophet spoke of it as being the most hateful of all the lawful things in the eyes of God. (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No. 2018), According to the Quran, when it does take place, it should be done in an atmosphere of goodwill. In no way should one harbour ill will against the other (see the Quran, 2:229-233). When a man and a woman live together as husband and wife, it is natural that they should have their differences; it is a biological and psychological fact that each man and woman born into this world are quite different. That is why