Fatwa ID: 07057
Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Question:
I am divorcing my husband through a solicitor in the UK due to domestic abuse. The solicitor is telling me that I am obligated to follow UK laws with regard to splitting the assets especially that I have two young children. I told my solicitor that I only needed my deferred dowery and my ex’s paying the finances for his children (nafaqa).
I would really appreciate if you could guide me through the matter as I don’t want to be involved in any haram money that I would take from my ex via assets splitting. Is it really by law that I have to go through that route? What shall I do then?
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Khula’
This is an alternative method to a legal divorce. The wife has the right to ask her husband for divorce. She may seek to do Khula’ in lieu of a monetary payment. If the husband is at fault, then it is not proper for the husband to accept any payment for the Khula’ as he has taken benefit from her. However, if she is at fault, then she may seek a divorce from the husband in exchange for a maximum of what she received as her Mahr. It is not appropriate for the husband to seek a payment greater than that which he has paid in Mahr. The husband still needs to accept this offer after which Talaq (divorce) will occur. [Radd ul-Muhtār: vol. 5, pg. 83-85] [1]
For instance, the wife could say to her husband: “will you divorce me in exchange of my mahr?”
Nafaqah (monetary contributions) After Divorce
During the period of Iddah for the divorced wife, she will continue to receive her regular rate of Nafaqah.
Allāh Ta’ālā says: “Provide to them (the divorced women) residence where you reside according to your means, and do not harm them in order to oppress them. And if they are pregnant, spend on them till they give birth to their child. Then if they suckle the child for you, give them their payment, and consult each other (for determining the payment) with fairness, and if you are in discord between yourselves, then another woman may suckle him.” [Surah al Talaq; 65:6] [2]
However, after that period concludes, she will not be liable to receive any other payments of Nafaqah except for that which is required to support their children unless she is still pregnant at that time. Then her Nafaqah will continue until she gives birth. Otherwise, after the period of Iddah concludes, the husband will cease to support her financially.
Nafaqah constitutes providing clothing, food and shelter. The children will be liable to receive these from the father or the monetary equivalent thereof until they reach an age where they are now able to earn for themselves (i.e., puberty). If the child has some sort of disability restricting his ability to work, then this Nafaqah payment will carry on. [Radd ul-Muhtār: vol. 5, pg. 278] [3]
Allāh Ta’ālā says, that a wealthy man should spend according to his means and anyone with limited wealth should spend from whatever Allāh has given to him.
“Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth, and he whose provision is restricted – let him spend from what Allāh has given him. Allāh does not charge a soul except [according to] what He has given it. Allāh will bring about, after hardship, ease.” [Surah Talaq; 65:7] [4]
The idea of one’s spouse getting half of the other spouse’s wealth at the time of divorce is a western concept and has no place in Shariah. Allāh Ta’ālā has decreed what is absolutely best for us and the methods through which these things are achieved.
Summary
In light of what you have said, as you have children together, separating may not be the best outcome for you or them. We would highly urge further mediation, as divorce when children are involved should be the absolute final outcome after all other avenues have been fully exhausted.
After this, if reconciliation is still not possible then you can seek to do Khula’ as explained above.
If, neither work, then as a final resort you can approach a Shariah Council who will intervene and either attempt to force the husband to issue Talaq or they will annul the marriage.
[1]باب الخلع أخره عن الايلاء، لأن الإيلاء إلى تجرده عن المال كان أقرب إلى الطلاق بخلاف الخلع فإن فيه معنى المعاوضة من جانب المرأة، ولأن مبنى الإيلاء نشوز من قبله والخلع نشوز من قبلها غالبا، فقدم ما بالرجل على ما بالمراة
قوله: إزالة ملك النكاح شمل ما لو خالع المطلقة رجعيا بمال فإنه يصح ويجب المال. قوله: فإنه لغو. لإن النكاح الفاسد لا يفيد ملك المتعة وبالبينونة والردة حصلت الإزالة قبله، فلم يكن في الخلع إزالة. قال في البحر: فلا يسقط المهر ويبقى له بعد الخلع ولاية الجبر على النكاح في الردة كما في البزازية
قوله: وظاهر إطلاقه أنه لا يسقط المهر في النكاح الفاسد ولو بعد الوطء، لكن في جامع الفصولين نكحها فاسدا فوطئها فاختلعت بالمهر قيل يسقط، إذا الخلع يجعل كناية عن الإبراء لأن الخلع وضع لهذا، وقيل لا يسقط لأن الخلع لغا لأنه إنما يصح في النكاح القائم
}[2]أَسۡكِنُوهُنَّ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ سَكَنتُم مِّن وُجۡدِكُمۡ وَلَا تُضَآرُّوهُنَّ لِتُضَيِّقُواْ عَلَيۡهِنَّۚ وَإِن كُنَّ أُوْلَٰتِ حَمۡل فَأَنفِقُواْ عَلَيۡهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعۡنَ حَمۡلَهُنَّۚ فَإِنۡ أَرۡضَعۡنَ لَكُمۡ فَـَٔاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَأۡتَمِرُواْ بَيۡنَكُم بِمَعۡرُوف وَإِن تَعَاسَرۡتُمۡ فَسَتُرۡضِعُ لَهُۥٓ أُخۡرَىٰ {
[3]وشرعا: (هي الطعام والكسوة والسكنى) وعرفا: (ونفقة الغير تجب على الغير بأسباب الثلاثة: زوجية وقرابة وملك) بدأ بالأول لمناسبة ما مر أو لأنها أصل الولد (فتجب للزوجة) بنكاح صحيح
}[4]لِيُنفِقۡ ذُو سَعَة مِّن سَعَتِهِۦۖ وَمَن قُدِرَ عَلَيۡهِ رِزۡقُهُۥ فَلۡيُنفِقۡ مِمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُۚ لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا مَآ ءَاتَىٰهَاۚ سَيَجۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بَعۡدَ عُسۡر يُسۡرا {
Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.
Written by Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
