Fatwa ID: 07879

 

 Answered by: Maulana Ubaidur Rahman

 

Question:

As salamu alaykum respected Ulama , the husband refuses to divorce his wife, the two spouses have been living in accommodation in two separate cities for 4 years and 10 months, the wife contacted French religious organisations, here is their response:

 

“No, I haven’t forgotten you but we also concluded that you see the person who gave you the halal because he is the one who has the key. For my part, after consulting the other brothers, I cannot do anything because not only do we not have the same madhab but also it was not me who made the halal and as long as he who did it is alive I cannot to intervene. But on the other hand, your brother can also intervene as waliy with this man. Sorry for this inconvenience and thank you very much.”

 

Please is it correct, what can she can do?

 

 

 

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

 

Answer:

 

Divorce in Islam is initiated by the man by way of speech or reference via a message which is clear enough to be transmitted across. This may be by writing or by speech.

 

If however the woman feels a need to separate from the man then she will be able to do by either returning her dowry or giving some monetary compensation to he man. Like divorce, this should be  a last resort option. But if she finds that both of them cannot reconcile their differences and are unable to continue together anymore, then she may issue a khula via a knowledgeable person, mainly an Imam or scholar of the area who knows the procedures and would be able to detail the implications.   The consent and authorisation of both parties is imperative.

 

With this type of separation, once it has taken place the husband has no right to return her back to him,, as this was initiated by herself, and only she has the right to do so. The man will still give her a place to stay, good amount of food for which she is able to sustain herself by and give her clothes to wear – the core necessities.

 

If the woman was obligated to make khula from the side of the husband, then this will be classified as a revocable divorce from the husband.

 

The response which you received is correct in terms of having the brother as the wali talk to the man and seek to reach a resolution and a simplified explanation for his actions. If it is divorce which the man is wanting with your sister then for him to make that known so as a result she can observe waiting period and conclude a separation from this man.

 

The sister should clarify the position of this man and his intentions with her in wedlock, then for him to either issue a divorce from which she will observe the waiting period and move on, or she can issue khula from him if she so desires, aware of the implications that this action brings.

 

I pray that Allah brings ease to both parties and a solution is found where in both parties are content with the outcome.

 

 

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Maulana Ubaidur Rahman.

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah.

Darul Ifta Birmingham.

 

 

 

 

[1] Sunan Abi Dawood, Kitaab ut Talaaq, 2226.

 

[2] م: (وكذا إذا نوى الإشارة بالكف) ش: وصورة الإشارة بالكف أن تكون جميع الأصابع منشورة، يعني أشار إليها بالأصابع المنشورة وبطونها إلى المرات وقال أنت طالق هكذا، ثم قال عنيت بها الإشارة بالكف لا بالأصابع. يصدق ديانة لا قضاء م: (حتى تقع في الأولى) ش: أي في المضمومتين م: (ثنتان) ش: أي طلقتان ديانة لا قضاء م: (ولي الثانية) ش: أي الإشارة بالكف م: (واحدة) ش: يعني يصدق ديانة حتى تقع واحدة لا قضاء حتى ثلاثًا في القضاء، لأنه أشار إليها بأصابعه الثلاث المنشورة. وفي ” المبسوط ” وبعض المتأخرين قالوا: لو جعل ظهر الكف إلى نفسه وبطون الأصابع إليها لا يصدق في القضاء، كذا في ” مبسوط شيخ الإسلام “. وكذا إذا نوى الإشارة بالكف وصورة الإشارة بالكف أن يكون جميع الأصابع منشورة، يعني أشار إليها بالأصابع المنشورة وبطونها إلى المرأة وقال أنت طالق هكذا، ثم قال عنيت بها الإشارة بالكف لا بالأصابع يصدق ديانة لا قضاء حتى يقع في الأولى، أي في المضمومتين

 

[3] إذَا قَالَ لَهَا اخْلَعِي نَفْسَكِ فَهُوَ عَلَى أَرْبَعَةِ أَوْجُهٍ: إمَّا أَنْ يَقُولَ بِكَذَا فَخَلَعَتْ يَصِحُّ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَقُلْ الزَّوْجُ بَعْدَهُ: أَجَزْتُ، أَوْ قَبِلْتُ عَلَى الْمُخْتَارِ؛ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَقُولَ بِمَالٍ وَلَمْ يُقَدِّرْهُ، أَوْ بِمَا شِئْتِ فَقَالَتْ: خَلَعْتُ نَفْسِي بِكَذَا، فَفِي ظَاهِرِ الرِّوَايَةِ لَا يَتِمُّ الْخُلْعُ مَا لَمْ يَقْبَلْ بَعْدَهُ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَقُولَ اخْلَعِي وَلَمْ يَزِدْ عَلَيْهِ فَخَلَعَتْ، فَعِنْدَ أَبِي يُوسُفَ لَمْ يَكُنْ خُلْعًا. وَعَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ تَطْلُقُ بِلَا بَدَلٍ، وَبِهِ أَخَذَ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ الْمَشَايِخِ

 

 

[2]Kitaab Al Binaayat Sharh al Hidaayah, Page 344, Volume 5, Maktabatus Shaamilaa.

 

[3]Kitaab Hashiyya Ibn Abideen, Page 440, Volume 3, Maktabatus Shaamila.