The Detestation of Divorce

1. It is mentioned in a H adîth that of all the permissible actions, divorce is the most detestable in the sight of Allah Ta'âlâ. The meaning of this is that divorce has been permitted at times of necessity. However, when there is no need, it is extremely detestable. The reason for this is that the purpose of marriage is to foster mutual understanding, mutual love, and comfort for the husband and wife. Divorce wipes out all these factors, shows ingratitude to the favours of Allah Ta'âlâ, the husband and wife become distressed, and it results in mutual enmity. Based on this, it also results in enmity towards the wife, her family and her relatives. As far as possible, one should never ever intend to divorce one's wife. In all their dealings, the husband and wife should try and accommodate each other and live with love for each other. However, if there is no way that they can live together, there will be no harm in divorce. Understand this well.

2. It is mentioned in a H adîth: "Marry and do not divorce (unnecessarily) because Allah Ta'âlâ does not love those men who go around 'tasting' and those women who go around 'tasting'." In other words, Allah Ta'âlâ does not like divorce to take place unnecessarily thereby resulting in the man entering into a second marriage and the woman entering into a second marriage. However, if there is a dire need, there will be no harm in this.

3. It is mentioned in a H adîth that women should not be divorced except on account of immorality. This is because Allah Ta'âlâ does not love a man who goes around 'tasting' and a woman who goes around 'tasting'. We learn from this that if there is any shortcoming in her purity and chastity, it will be permissible to divorce her. If there is any other similar reason, there will be no harm in divorcing.

4. It is mentioned in a Hadith that you should marry but do not divorce because by divorcing, the (‘arsh) throne of Allah Ta'âlâ begins to tremble.

5. It is mentioned in a H adîth that shay t ân places his throne on water and then sends out his armies in order to delude and distract people. From among all these armies of his, the closest to shay t ân in rank and status is the one who was the most successful in spreading the most amount of mischief. From among these, one of them will come to shay t ân and inform him: "I have caused so and so mischief". Shay t ân will reply: "You have done nothing." (i.e. you have not really caused much mischief). From among them, another one comes and says: "I went to a particular person and did not leave him until I caused a separation between him and his wife." Upon hearing this, shay t ân brings him close to him, embraces him and says: "You have indeed done a great job." In other words, shay t ân's happiness is when husband and wife are separated. Therefore, as far as possible Muslims should not make shay t ân happy.

6. It is mentioned in a H adîth that the fragrance of jannah is h arâm upon a woman who asks for a divorce without any real need. That is, she is committing a major sin. However, if she dies with 'Imân , she will eventually be entered into jannah after being punished for all her evil actions.

7. It is mentioned in a H adîth that the muntazi'ât and the mukhtali'ât are actually munâfiqât . The muntazi'ât are women who tear themselves away from the control of their husbands by committing actions which cause the husbands to be displeased with them and thereby divorce them. As for the mukhtali'ât , they are women who ask for khula' without any real need. The meaning of munafiqât is that this trait is normally found in the hypocrites who expose a particular fact when in their hearts they conceal something else. Outwardly, nikâh is supposed to be forever, and here she is asking for separation! Such a woman is a sinner although she is not regarded as a kâfir .