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Talaq (طلاق) (meaning divorce) is the right of only men in Islam. If a man dislikes the wife or the marriage, he can divorce her without any reason; yet if a woman dislikes her husband, she cannot divorce him according to traditional [[Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)]]. Although modern Islamic feminists have challenged and criticized these laws, they remain the Islamic positions of the major madhaahab (school of jurisprudence) of Islamic law. Despite this disparity, some Islamic advocates such as scholars and [[Dawah|du'aah]] claim that Islam is not 'unjust' to women, and counter that woman can also obtain separation from her husband 'through the (Islamic) court', by means of an Islamic legal device known as Khul' (خلع)<ref>[https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/paper/women-in-islamic-law-examining-five-prevalent-myths Women in Islamic Law: Examining Five Prevalent Myths] </ref> <ref>{{Cite web| title = Can Muslim women divorce?| author =  Yaqeen Institute | work = YouTube| date = 17 December 2019| access-date = 20 October 2021| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY8KtRQWzrg}}</ref>.
Talaq (طلاق) (meaning divorce) is the right of only men in Islam. If a man dislikes the wife or the marriage, he can divorce her without any reason; yet if a woman dislikes her husband, she cannot divorce him according to traditional [[Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence)]]. Although modern Islamic feminists have challenged and criticized these laws, they remain the Islamic positions of the major madhaahab (school of jurisprudence) of Islamic law. Despite this disparity, some Islamic advocates such as scholars and [[Dawah|du'aah]] claim that Islam is not 'unjust' to women, and counter that woman can also obtain separation from her husband 'through the (Islamic) court', by means of an Islamic legal device known as khula or Khul' (خلع)<ref>[https://yaqeeninstitute.org/read/paper/women-in-islamic-law-examining-five-prevalent-myths Women in Islamic Law: Examining Five Prevalent Myths] </ref> <ref>{{Cite web| title = Can Muslim women divorce?| author =  Yaqeen Institute | work = YouTube| date = 17 December 2019| access-date = 20 October 2021| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY8KtRQWzrg}}</ref>.


Despite these Islamic claims, Khul' is in many ways not the equivalent of the talaq for men:
Despite these Islamic claims, Khul' is in many ways not the equivalent of the talaq for men:


*Khul' is not the 'right' of a woman, but it is still the 'right' of husband to either grant it or to deny it.
*Khul' is not the 'right' of a woman, but it is still the 'right' of husband to either grant it or to deny it.
*No Islamic Curt could compel the husband to divorce her if he doesn't want to divorce her.
*No Islamic Court operating on traditional [[Shari'ah (Islamic Law)]] could compel the husband to divorce her if he doesn't want to divorce her (except in a very few special circumstances).
*In Khul', a woman has to offer themoney to her h<nowiki/>usband in exchange for the dissolution of the marriage.
*In Khul', a woman has to offer money to her husb<nowiki/>and in exchange for the dissolution of the marriage.
*If he accepts the money offered, the dissolution of the marriage may proceed. But if he rejects the money offer, then she must stay with him, and no court could compel him to divorce her.
*If he accepts the money offered, the dissolution of the marriage may proceed. But if he rejects the money on offer, then she must stay with him, and no traditional shari'ah court could compel him to divorce her.
*Even if the husband is abusive, and he beats her brutally (even with bruises on her body), still she could not get her freedom through Khul' according to the traditional rulings of shari'ah.
*Even if the husband is abusive, and he beats her brutally (even leaving bruises on her body), she still cannot get the marriage dissolved through Khul' according to the traditional rulings of shari'ah if the husband does not agree to it.
*Only in the case that her husband causes grievous injury such as breaking her bones, does she get the right to go to the court in order to dissolve the marriage. Yet still s<nowiki/>he has to pay the money to her husband, even in case if he broke her bone.
*Only in the case that her husband causes grievous injury such as breaking her bones does the woman get the right to go to the court in order to forcefully dissolve the marri<nowiki/>age. Yet she still has to pay the ransom money to her husband, even in the  case that he broke her bones.


Moreover, Khul' is often mixed up with the 'Faskh' (فسخ) of Nikah (i.e. dissolution of marriage), although both of them are two different things.
Moreover, Khul' is often mixed up with the 'Faskh' (فسخ) of Nikah (i.e. dissolution of marriage), although both of them are two different things.
Line 15: Line 15:
In 'Faskh' (i.e. dissolution of marriage):
In 'Faskh' (i.e. dissolution of marriage):


*A women gets the right to go to the court, and get her freedom 'without paying' any 'ransom money'.
*A women gets the right to go to the court, and obtain the dissolution of her marriage 'without paying' any 'ransom money'.
*Faskh can take place only in very few special cases (like impotency, or if he doesn't pay her the maintenance money, or if he has became insane, or if his whereabouts are not known).
*Faskh can take place only in very few special cases (like impotency, or if he doesn't pay her the maintenance money, or if he has became insane, or if his whereabouts are not known).
*Nevertheless,  while even in the above mentioned special cases, traditional Islamic law still compels her to wait for several years to get the marriage dissolved and makes no allowances for her needs or suffering during this period of time.
*Nevertheless,  even in the above mentioned special cases, traditional Islamic law still compels her to wait for several years to get the marriage dissolved and makes no allowances for her needs or suffering during this period of time.


==Quranic Verse about the Khul'==
==Quranic Verse about the Khul'==
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A divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties should either hold Together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness. It is not lawful for you, (Men), to take back any of your gifts (from your wives), except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah. If ye (judges) do indeed fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah, there is no blame on either of them '''if she gives something for her freedom ( Arabic word:افْتَدَتْ  which means Ransom money)'''.}}
A divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties should either hold Together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness. It is not lawful for you, (Men), to take back any of your gifts (from your wives), except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah. If ye (judges) do indeed fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah, there is no blame on either of them '''if she gives something for her freedom ( Arabic word:افْتَدَتْ  which means Ransom money)'''.}}


==If the husband is abusive and beats her brutally (even with bruises), still she has no right to get her freedom==
==Even if the Husband Beats Her Leaving Bruises, the Wife Still Has No Right to a Forced Dissolution of the Marriage==
According to this tradition of the prophet, even a brutal beating (even with bruises) is not enough to dissolve a marriage through Khul' or in any other way through any Islamic court:  
According to this tradition of the prophet, even a brutal beating (resulting in bruises) is not enough to dissolve a marriage through Khul' or in any other way through any Islamic court:  
{{Quote|{{Bukhari||77|42|in-book}}|Rifa`a divorced his wife whereupon `AbdurRahman married her. `Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil, and complained to her (Aisha) of her husband '''and showed her a green spot on her skin caused by beating.''' It was the habit of ladies to support each other, so when Allah's Messenger came, `Aisha said, '''"I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!"'''
{{Quote|{{Bukhari||77|42|in-book}}|Rifa`a divorced his wife whereupon `AbdurRahman married her. `Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil, and complained to her (Aisha) of her husband '''and showed her a green spot on her skin caused by beating.''' It was the habit of ladies to support each other, so when Allah's Messenger came, `Aisha said, '''"I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!"'''


Line 45: Line 45:
#Muhammad also didn’t give the right to the woman to leave her husband through Khul’ after such a beating.
#Muhammad also didn’t give the right to the woman to leave her husband through Khul’ after such a beating.


==Even if husband breaks any bone of wife, she still must pay the ransom money for her freedom==
==Even if husband breaks any of the wife's bones, she still must pay the ransom money for the Khul'==
{{Quote|{{Bukhari||13|54|in-book}}|Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
{{Quote|{{Bukhari||13|54|in-book}}|Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
Habibah daughter of Sahl was the wife of Thabit ibn Qays Shimmas. '''He beat her and broke some of her part'''. So she came to the Prophet after morning, and complained to him against her husband. The Prophet called on Thabit ibn Qays and said (to him): '''Take a part of her property and separate yourself from her'''. He asked: Is that right, Messenger of Allah? He said: Yes. He said: '''I have given her two gardens of mine as a dower''', and they are already in her possession. The Prophet said: '''Take them (as the ransom money) and separate yourself from her'''.
Habibah daughter of Sahl was the wife of Thabit ibn Qays Shimmas. '''He beat her and broke some of her part'''. So she came to the Prophet after morning, and complained to him against her husband. The Prophet called on Thabit ibn Qays and said (to him): '''Take a part of her property and separate yourself from her'''. He asked: Is that right, Messenger of Allah? He said: Yes. He said: '''I have given her two gardens of mine as a dower''', and they are already in her possession. The Prophet said: '''Take them (as the ransom money) and separate yourself from her'''.
Line 51: Line 51:
Sheikh Albani declared this Hadith to be “Sahih” (authentic)}}
Sheikh Albani declared this Hadith to be “Sahih” (authentic)}}


It should be noted here that she cannot get the right to have a divorce automatically, even if he beats her so brutally that any of her bones break, and she still has to pay the ransom money to get rid of such abusive husband. As compared to Islamic law, under modern law in secular countries, women not only get the right to have divorce automatically from such an abusive husband, '''but she will also usually be granted compensation money from the husband by the court, and the husband will usually face some type of criminal charge for any physical harm inflicted upon her.'''
It should be noted here that she cannot get the right to have a divorce automatically, even if he beats her so brutally that any of her bones break, and she still has to pay the ransom money to get rid of such an abusive husband. As compared to Islamic law, under modern law in secular countries, women not only get the right to have divorce automatically from such an abusive husband, '''but she will also usually be granted compensation money from the husband by the court, and the husband will usually face some type of criminal charge for any physical harm inflicted upon her.'''


==A woman could not get her marriage dissolved through Khul’ even if the man is infertile:==
==A woman cannot get her marriage dissolved through Khul’ even if the man is infertile==
All 4 Sunni schools of Sunni [[fiqh]] agree that the wife cannot be granted a divorce on the grounds that her husband is infertile.  
All 4 Sunni schools of Sunni [[fiqh]] agree that the wife cannot be granted a divorce on the grounds that her husband is infertile.  


Line 71: Line 71:
As compared to the woman, if a husband divorces his wife while he dislikes her or without any harm, then he will not become a hypocrite, and he will not get a problem in entering the paradise for this same action.  
As compared to the woman, if a husband divorces his wife while he dislikes her or without any harm, then he will not become a hypocrite, and he will not get a problem in entering the paradise for this same action.  


==Faskh فسخ (i.e. dissolution of marriage), and unilateral burden on women in Islamic laq:==
==Faskh فسخ (i.e. dissolution of marriage), and unilateral burden on women in Islamic law:==
In 'Faskh' (i.e. dissolution or annulment of marriage):
In 'Faskh' (i.e. dissolution or annulment of marriage):


*A women gets the right to go to the court, and get her marriage dissolved without paying any 'ransom money'.
*A women gets the right to go to the court, and get her marriage dissolved without paying any 'ransom money'.
*Faskh can take place only in very few special cases (like impotency, or if he doesn't pay her the maintenance money, or if he has became insane, or if his whereabouts are not known).
*Faskh can take place only in very few special cases (like impotency, or if he doesn't pay her the maintenance money, or if he has became insane, or if his whereabouts are not known).
*Nevertheless, Islamic Faskh is also unequal towards the woman, since even in the above mentioned special cases, Islam still compels her to wait for several years to get her freedom '''and she bears the burden in all these cases with no consideration from the Islamic court of her wellbeing.'''  
*Nevertheless, Islamic Faskh is also unequal towards the woman, since even in the above mentioned special cases, Islam still compels her to wait for several years to get her freedom '''and she bears the burden in all these cases with no consideration from the Islamic court of her wellbeing.'''


As a case of study, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_Muslim_Marriages_Act,_1939 'Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939'] may be studied for its relationship to these laws. This was a law which was compiled by Muslims Scholars of Indian subcontinent, and later became the official law of Pakistan and Bangladesh, and Personal for Muslim in India.  
As a case of study, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_Muslim_Marriages_Act,_1939 'Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939'] may be studied for its relationship to these laws. This was a law which was compiled by Muslims Scholars of Indian subcontinent, and later became the official law of Pakistan and Bangladesh, and Personal for Muslim in India.  
Line 100: Line 100:


*Although the woman gets the right to have divorce in these special cases, the duration of process is extremely long, and she has to suffer this whole period unilaterally.
*Although the woman gets the right to have divorce in these special cases, the duration of process is extremely long, and she has to suffer this whole period unilaterally.
*Moreover, as compared to the women, the husbands are allowed to 'immediately' divorce their wives if she is infertile, or she becomes insane, or if she is suffering from leprosy, or she does not respond to husband's call for marital obligation etc.
*Moreover, as compared to the women, the husbands are allowed to 'immediately' divorce their wives if she is infertile, or she becomes insane, or if she is suffering from leprosy, or she does not respond to husband's perceived marital needs, or for many other reasons.
 
==Women movement against the rulings of Khul' and Faskh rulings in Pakistan and Bangladesh==
Right after the independence of Pakistan from the United Kingdom in 1947, women's struggle started against the Khul' and Faskh rulings in Pakistan. The Supreme Court of Pakistan sided with the rights of women and allowed them to take divorce through Khul' and even without paying the ransom money. In 1971, when East Pakistan gained independence and became Bangladesh, they then followed that modification Khul' as had been ruled by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.  


==Women's movement against the rulings of Khul' and Faskh rulings in Pakistan and Bangladesh==
Right after the independence of Pakistan from the United Kingdom in 1947, women's struggle started against the Khul' and Faskh rulings in Pakistan. The Supreme Court of Pakistan sided with the rights of women and allowed them to take divorce through Khul' and even without paying the ransom money. In 1971, when East Pakistan gained independence and became Bangladesh, they then followed that modification Khul' as had been ruled by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.<ref>Judicial Law-Making: An Analysis of Case Law on Khul‘ in [https://www.iiu.edu.pk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/journals/ilr/volume1/num-1/Article_1_Vol1_1_010817.pdf Pakistan]</ref>
Also during this period the women's rights struggle succeeded in reducing the time period in the Faskh rulings in favor of women.  
Also during this period the women's rights struggle succeeded in reducing the time period in the Faskh rulings in favor of women.  


Despite these gains, the issue later became a cause of conflict between the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and the Islamic scholars, with the later considering this new Khul' law against the [[Qur'an]]<nowiki/>and [[Sunnah]].  
Despite these gains, the issue later became a cause of conflict between the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and the Islamic scholars, with the later considering this new Khul' law against the [[Qur'an]]<nowiki/>and [[Sunnah]]<ref>Right of Women to Divorce: Adjudication of Redemption (Khul') In Islamic Law and Pakistani Law, A Critical Analysis of the Orthodox Islamic Scholars and Recommendations of Pakistani Courts On The Basis of Legal Opinion (Ijtehad)[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281634445_Right_of_Women_to_Divorce_Adjudication_of_Redemption_Khul'_In_Islamic_Law_and_Pakistani_Law_A_Critical_Analysis_of_the_Orthodox_Islamic_Scholars_and_Recommendations_of_Pakistani_Courts_On_The_Basis_of]</ref>.


For details, please read these Study 1<ref>Judicial Law-Making: An Analysis of Case Law on Khul‘ in [https://www.iiu.edu.pk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/journals/ilr/volume1/num-1/Article_1_Vol1_1_010817.pdf Pakistan]</ref> and Study 2<ref>Right of Women to Divorce: Adjudication of Redemption (Khul') In Islamic Law and Pakistani Law, A Critical Analysis of the Orthodox Islamic Scholars and Recommendations of Pakistani Courts On The Basis of Legal Opinion (Ijtehad)[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281634445_Right_of_Women_to_Divorce_Adjudication_of_Redemption_Khul'_In_Islamic_Law_and_Pakistani_Law_A_Critical_Analysis_of_the_Orthodox_Islamic_Scholars_and_Recommendations_of_Pakistani_Courts_On_The_Basis_of]</ref>. The abstract from study 2 is as under:
{{Quote|[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281634445_Right_of_Women_to_Divorce_Adjudication_of_Redemption_Khul'_In_Islamic_Law_and_Pakistani_Law_A_Critical_Analysis_of_the_Orthodox_Islamic_Scholars_and_Recommendations_of_Pakistani_Courts_On_The_Basis_of Right of Women to Divorce: Adjudication of Redemption (Khul') In Islamic Law and Pakistani Law, A Critical Analysis of the Orthodox Islamic Scholars and Recommendations of Pakistani Courts On The Basis of Legal Opinion (Ijtehad)]|'''Abstract''':
{{Quote|[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281634445_Right_of_Women_to_Divorce_Adjudication_of_Redemption_Khul'_In_Islamic_Law_and_Pakistani_Law_A_Critical_Analysis_of_the_Orthodox_Islamic_Scholars_and_Recommendations_of_Pakistani_Courts_On_The_Basis_of Right of Women to Divorce: Adjudication of Redemption (Khul') In Islamic Law and Pakistani Law, A Critical Analysis of the Orthodox Islamic Scholars and Recommendations of Pakistani Courts On The Basis of Legal Opinion (Ijtehad)]|'''Abstract''':
Pakistan is an Islamic country. The laws made by the Parliament and Judiciary are administered according to the injunction of Islam. There are many laws made for the protections of women. Among these rights granted, right of women to khul " is also awarded by Islamic Law. Khul " is the proposal given to the husband by the wife for divorce. Judicial Khul " is exercised in Pakistani courts, according to Article 2(ix) of dissolution of Muslims Marriages Act 1939. '''A large number of Ulama (Islamic Jurists) even today, refuse to recognize khul " granted by courts without the consent of the husband as a valid divorce. Confusion is caused by two parallel and conflicting interpretations of the Islamic Law. On one hand, there is the statutory law and interpretation by the Superior Courts of Pakistan and on the other hand, is the interpretation of Jurists of Islamic Law with strong arguments from Qur " an and Sunnah'''.}}
Pakistan is an Islamic country. The laws made by the Parliament and Judiciary are administered according to the injunction of Islam. There are many laws made for the protections of women. Among these rights granted, right of women to khul " is also awarded by Islamic Law. Khul " is the proposal given to the husband by the wife for divorce. Judicial Khul " is exercised in Pakistani courts, according to Article 2(ix) of dissolution of Muslims Marriages Act 1939. '''A large number of Ulama (Islamic Jurists) even today, refuse to recognize khul " granted by courts without the consent of the husband as a valid divorce. Confusion is caused by two parallel and conflicting interpretations of the Islamic Law. On one hand, there is the statutory law and interpretation by the Superior Courts of Pakistan and on the other hand, is the interpretation of Jurists of Islamic Law with strong arguments from Qur " an and Sunnah'''.}}
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Latest revision as of 00:09, 19 March 2022

Talaq (طلاق) (meaning divorce) is the right of only men in Islam. If a man dislikes the wife or the marriage, he can divorce her without any reason; yet if a woman dislikes her husband, she cannot divorce him according to traditional Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence). Although modern Islamic feminists have challenged and criticized these laws, they remain the Islamic positions of the major madhaahab (school of jurisprudence) of Islamic law. Despite this disparity, some Islamic advocates such as scholars and du'aah claim that Islam is not 'unjust' to women, and counter that woman can also obtain separation from her husband 'through the (Islamic) court', by means of an Islamic legal device known as khula or Khul' (خلع)[1] [2].

Despite these Islamic claims, Khul' is in many ways not the equivalent of the talaq for men:

  • Khul' is not the 'right' of a woman, but it is still the 'right' of husband to either grant it or to deny it.
  • No Islamic Court operating on traditional Shari'ah (Islamic Law) could compel the husband to divorce her if he doesn't want to divorce her (except in a very few special circumstances).
  • In Khul', a woman has to offer money to her husband in exchange for the dissolution of the marriage.
  • If he accepts the money offered, the dissolution of the marriage may proceed. But if he rejects the money on offer, then she must stay with him, and no traditional shari'ah court could compel him to divorce her.
  • Even if the husband is abusive, and he beats her brutally (even leaving bruises on her body), she still cannot get the marriage dissolved through Khul' according to the traditional rulings of shari'ah if the husband does not agree to it.
  • Only in the case that her husband causes grievous injury such as breaking her bones does the woman get the right to go to the court in order to forcefully dissolve the marriage. Yet she still has to pay the ransom money to her husband, even in the case that he broke her bones.

Moreover, Khul' is often mixed up with the 'Faskh' (فسخ) of Nikah (i.e. dissolution of marriage), although both of them are two different things.

In 'Faskh' (i.e. dissolution of marriage):

  • A women gets the right to go to the court, and obtain the dissolution of her marriage 'without paying' any 'ransom money'.
  • Faskh can take place only in very few special cases (like impotency, or if he doesn't pay her the maintenance money, or if he has became insane, or if his whereabouts are not known).
  • Nevertheless, even in the above mentioned special cases, traditional Islamic law still compels her to wait for several years to get the marriage dissolved and makes no allowances for her needs or suffering during this period of time.

Quranic Verse about the Khul'

الطَّلاَقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُواْ مِمَّا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ أَن يَخَافَا أَلاَّ يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللّهِ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلاَّ يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللّهِ فَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا افْتَدَتْ بِهِ
A divorce is only permissible twice: after that, the parties should either hold Together on equitable terms, or separate with kindness. It is not lawful for you, (Men), to take back any of your gifts (from your wives), except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah. If ye (judges) do indeed fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah, there is no blame on either of them if she gives something for her freedom ( Arabic word:افْتَدَتْ which means Ransom money).

Even if the Husband Beats Her Leaving Bruises, the Wife Still Has No Right to a Forced Dissolution of the Marriage

According to this tradition of the prophet, even a brutal beating (resulting in bruises) is not enough to dissolve a marriage through Khul' or in any other way through any Islamic court:

Rifa`a divorced his wife whereupon `AbdurRahman married her. `Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil, and complained to her (Aisha) of her husband and showed her a green spot on her skin caused by beating. It was the habit of ladies to support each other, so when Allah's Messenger came, `Aisha said, "I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!"

When `AbdurRahman heard that his wife had gone to the Prophet, he came with his two sons from another wife.

She said, "By Allah! I have done no wrong to him but he is impotent and is as useless to me as this," holding and showing the fringe of her garment,

`Abdur-Rahman said, "By Allah, O Allah's Messenger! She has told a lie! I am very strong and can satisfy her but she is disobedient and wants to go back to (her first husband) Rifa`a.

" Allah's Messenger said, to her, "If that is your intention (i.e. to do Halala), then know that it is unlawful for you to remarry Rifa`a unless `Abdur-Rahman has had sexual intercourse with you."

Then the Prophet saw two boys with `Abdur- Rahman and asked (him), "Are these your sons?" On that `AbdurRahman said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "You claim what you claim (i.e.. that he is impotent)? But by Allah, these boys resemble him as a crow resembles a crow"

According to this hadith:

  1. This woman was extremely unsatisfied with her husband, and didn’t love him, and wanted to get rid of him.
  2. Since Khul’ is not the right of the woman, but depends only upon the will of the man, she was unable to get rid of him despite having a strong desire for the dissolution of the marriage.
  3. This 2nd husband beats her brutally and as a result she has bruises all over her body. But despite this beating, Muhammd didn’t grant her a divorce through Khul’.
  4. Muhammad didn’t prohibit that man from beating her, but made it a part of Islamic Sharia by keeping quiet upon it (known as a hadith taqriri حديث تقريريin Arabic or in Persian Hadith-e-Taqriri).
  5. Muhammad also didn’t give the right to the woman to leave her husband through Khul’ after such a beating.

Even if husband breaks any of the wife's bones, she still must pay the ransom money for the Khul'

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:

Habibah daughter of Sahl was the wife of Thabit ibn Qays Shimmas. He beat her and broke some of her part. So she came to the Prophet after morning, and complained to him against her husband. The Prophet called on Thabit ibn Qays and said (to him): Take a part of her property and separate yourself from her. He asked: Is that right, Messenger of Allah? He said: Yes. He said: I have given her two gardens of mine as a dower, and they are already in her possession. The Prophet said: Take them (as the ransom money) and separate yourself from her.

Sheikh Albani declared this Hadith to be “Sahih” (authentic)

It should be noted here that she cannot get the right to have a divorce automatically, even if he beats her so brutally that any of her bones break, and she still has to pay the ransom money to get rid of such an abusive husband. As compared to Islamic law, under modern law in secular countries, women not only get the right to have divorce automatically from such an abusive husband, but she will also usually be granted compensation money from the husband by the court, and the husband will usually face some type of criminal charge for any physical harm inflicted upon her.

A woman cannot get her marriage dissolved through Khul’ even if the man is infertile

All 4 Sunni schools of Sunni fiqh agree that the wife cannot be granted a divorce on the grounds that her husband is infertile.

With regard to the man’s sterility, i.e., his inability to father children, this is not counted as a fault that would necessitate annulment of the marriage, according to the majority of scholars, apart from the view of al-Hasan al-Basri, and Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah

On the other hand, if woman is infertile, then according to Islamic law, he can immediately divorce her as Umar Ibn Khattab divorced his wife for this reason[3].

Women who seek marriage dissolution through Khul’ are hypocrites & will not enter the paradise

If a woman does not simply like her husband, and seeks to get her freedom by using khul', then such a women was declared to be a hypocrite in these hadiths:

عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ الْمُخْتَلِعَاتُ هُنَّ الْمُنَافِقَاتُ ‏"‏

The Prophet said: "The women who seek a Khul are hypocrites."

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ سَأَلَتْ زَوْجَهَا طَلاَقًا مِنْ غَيْرِ بَأْسٍ فَحَرَامٌ عَلَيْهَا رَائِحَةُ الْجَنَّةِ

The Messenger of Allah said: "Whichever woman seeks a Khul from her husband without harm, then the scent of Paradise will be unlawful for her."

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

As compared to the woman, if a husband divorces his wife while he dislikes her or without any harm, then he will not become a hypocrite, and he will not get a problem in entering the paradise for this same action.

Faskh فسخ (i.e. dissolution of marriage), and unilateral burden on women in Islamic law:

In 'Faskh' (i.e. dissolution or annulment of marriage):

  • A women gets the right to go to the court, and get her marriage dissolved without paying any 'ransom money'.
  • Faskh can take place only in very few special cases (like impotency, or if he doesn't pay her the maintenance money, or if he has became insane, or if his whereabouts are not known).
  • Nevertheless, Islamic Faskh is also unequal towards the woman, since even in the above mentioned special cases, Islam still compels her to wait for several years to get her freedom and she bears the burden in all these cases with no consideration from the Islamic court of her wellbeing.

As a case of study, the 'Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939' may be studied for its relationship to these laws. This was a law which was compiled by Muslims Scholars of Indian subcontinent, and later became the official law of Pakistan and Bangladesh, and Personal for Muslim in India.

Grounds for divorce

Under the act a woman married under Muslim Law shall be entitled to obtain a decree for the dissolution of her marriage on any one or more of the following grounds,[1]

(i) that the whereabouts of the husband have not been known for a period of four years ;

(ii) that the husband has neglected or has failed to provide for her maintenance for a period of two years ;

(iii) that the husband has been sentenced to imprisonment for a period of seven years or upwards ;

(iv) that the husband has failed to perform, without reasonable cause his marital obligations for a period of three years ; continues to be so:

(v) that the husband was impotent at the time of the marriage and

(vi) that the husband has been insane for a period of two years or is suffering from leprosy or a virulent venereal disease ;

(vii) that she, having been given in marriage by her father or other guardian before she attained the age of fifteen years, repudiated the marriage before attaining the age of eighteen years : Provided that the marriage has not been consummated (i.e. if the husband has slept with her before she becomes 18 years old, then she will loose her right to get divorce) ;

It is noteworthy that:

  • Although the woman gets the right to have divorce in these special cases, the duration of process is extremely long, and she has to suffer this whole period unilaterally.
  • Moreover, as compared to the women, the husbands are allowed to 'immediately' divorce their wives if she is infertile, or she becomes insane, or if she is suffering from leprosy, or she does not respond to husband's perceived marital needs, or for many other reasons.

Women's movement against the rulings of Khul' and Faskh rulings in Pakistan and Bangladesh

Right after the independence of Pakistan from the United Kingdom in 1947, women's struggle started against the Khul' and Faskh rulings in Pakistan. The Supreme Court of Pakistan sided with the rights of women and allowed them to take divorce through Khul' and even without paying the ransom money. In 1971, when East Pakistan gained independence and became Bangladesh, they then followed that modification Khul' as had been ruled by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.[4]

Also during this period the women's rights struggle succeeded in reducing the time period in the Faskh rulings in favor of women.

Despite these gains, the issue later became a cause of conflict between the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and the Islamic scholars, with the later considering this new Khul' law against the Qur'anand Sunnah[5].

Abstract: Pakistan is an Islamic country. The laws made by the Parliament and Judiciary are administered according to the injunction of Islam. There are many laws made for the protections of women. Among these rights granted, right of women to khul " is also awarded by Islamic Law. Khul " is the proposal given to the husband by the wife for divorce. Judicial Khul " is exercised in Pakistani courts, according to Article 2(ix) of dissolution of Muslims Marriages Act 1939. A large number of Ulama (Islamic Jurists) even today, refuse to recognize khul " granted by courts without the consent of the husband as a valid divorce. Confusion is caused by two parallel and conflicting interpretations of the Islamic Law. On one hand, there is the statutory law and interpretation by the Superior Courts of Pakistan and on the other hand, is the interpretation of Jurists of Islamic Law with strong arguments from Qur " an and Sunnah.

References

  1. Women in Islamic Law: Examining Five Prevalent Myths
  2. Yaqeen Institute, "Can Muslim women divorce?", YouTube, 17 December 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY8KtRQWzrg. 
  3. Umar Ibn Khattab divorced his wife due to the fault of her being infertile.[1]
  4. Judicial Law-Making: An Analysis of Case Law on Khul‘ in Pakistan
  5. Right of Women to Divorce: Adjudication of Redemption (Khul') In Islamic Law and Pakistani Law, A Critical Analysis of the Orthodox Islamic Scholars and Recommendations of Pakistani Courts On The Basis of Legal Opinion (Ijtehad)[2]