In Islam, marriage is considered a sacred bond, and divorce is viewed as a last resort. However, the Quran does provide guidance on the process of divorce and outlines certain rights and responsibilities for both husband and wife.
According to the Quran, a man may divorce his wife by simply stating his intention to do so. This is known as a "verbal" or "unilateral" divorce. After the man has pronounced the intention to divorce, the couple must go through a waiting period known as the "iddah," during which they are expected to try to reconcile. If the couple is unable to reconcile during the iddah, the divorce becomes final.
The Quran also allows for "mutual" or "bilateral" divorce, in which both the husband and wife agree to end the marriage. In this case, the couple may negotiate the terms of the divorce and reach an agreement on issues such as child custody and financial support.
In either case, the Quran requires that the husband provides for the financial needs of his ex-wife during the iddah period and if she is pregnant until the child is born. The husband is also responsible for paying any outstanding debts that he and his wife incurred during the marriage.
It is important to note that the Quran encourages Muslims to try to avoid divorce whenever possible and to seek reconciliation if a marriage is experiencing difficulties. The Quran advises couples to treat each other with kindness, respect, and fairness in order to maintain a strong and harmonious relationship.
The steps involved in the divorce process are as follows:
Verbal or Unilateral Divorce:
According to the Quran (2:229), a man may divorce his wife by simply stating his intention to do so. This is known as a "verbal" or "unilateral" divorce.
Iddah:
After the man has pronounced the intention to divorce, the couple must go through a waiting period known as the "iddah" (2:228). During this time, they are expected to try to reconcile. If the couple is unable to reconcile during the iddah, the divorce becomes final.
Mutual or Bilateral Divorce:
The Quran also allows for "mutual" or "bilateral" divorce (2:229), in which both the husband and wife agree to end the marriage. In this case, the couple may negotiate the terms of the divorce and reach an agreement on issues such as child custody and financial support.
Financial Support:
The Quran requires that the husband provides for the financial needs of his ex-wife during the iddah period and if she is pregnant until the child is born (2:241). The husband is also responsible for paying any outstanding debts that he and his wife incurred during the marriage (2:282).
It is important to note that the Quran encourages Muslims to try to avoid divorce whenever possible and to seek reconciliation if a marriage is experiencing difficulties (4:128). The Quran advises couples to treat each other with kindness, respect, and fairness in order to maintain a strong and harmonious relationship (2:229).