Fatwa ID: 07848

 

Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

 

Question:

 

Can a wife get khula without her husband’s permission or knowledge? 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

In Islam, khula is the process by which a wife seeks a separation from her husband by returning the dowry (or something else agreed upon) to him.

 

Usually, it would be the case that the wife seeking it, would require permission. Allah has mentioned In Surah Baqarah: 229 If you fear that they would not be able to keep [within] the limits of Allah, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself.”

 

This verse indicates that khula involves the wife offering something (a ransom, often the mahr) in exchange for the dissolution of marriage, which generally requires mutual agreement.

 

There is also the case of the wife of Thabit bin Qais that is mentioned in hadith

 

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

 

The wife of Thabit bin Qais came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I do not blame Thabit for defects in his character or his religion, but I, being a Muslim, dislike to behave in an un-Islamic manner (if I remain with him).” On that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said (to her), “Will you give back the garden which your husband has given you (as Mahr)?” She said, “Yes.” Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said to Thabit, “O Thabit! Accept your garden, and divorce her once.” (Bukhari 5273)

 

The hadith is affirming that the position in requesting for a Khula. 

 

Khula is a consensual matter.

 

In the case you’d like to have the khula without consent, do remember the words of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)  in hadith that is mentioned in Abi Dawud:

 

Narrated Thawban:

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If any woman asks her husband for divorce without some strong reason, the odour of Paradise will be forbidden to her.

 

If you feel that you have an extremely valid reason and your husband will not issue the divorce, then guidance must be sought by your local qadhi. But generally, the Khula should be consensual from both parties.

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

 

 

 ٱلطَّلَـٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَـٰنٍۢ ۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ

 

 

 حَدَّثَنَا أَزْهَرُ بْنُ جَمِيلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ،‏.‏ أَنَّ امْرَأَةَ، ثَابِتِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ مَا أَعْتُبُ عَلَيْهِ فِي خُلُقٍ وَلاَ دِينٍ، وَلَكِنِّي أَكْرَهُ الْكُفْرَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ أَتَرُدِّينَ عَلَيْهِ حَدِيقَتَهُ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ‏.‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ اقْبَلِ الْحَدِيقَةَ وَطَلِّقْهَا تَطْلِيقَةً

 

 

 حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَسْمَاءَ، عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ سَأَلَتْ زَوْجَهَا طَلاَقًا فِي غَيْرِ مَا بَأْسٍ فَحَرَامٌ عَلَيْهَا رَائِحَةُ الْجَنَّةِ ‏