Imam of the Prophet's Mosque warns against carelessness with divorce utterances

His Eminence the Imam and Preacher of the Prophet's Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Hussein Al Al-Sheikh, spoke about Islam's care for marital life, explaining that Islamic law established the relationship between spouses on affection and mercy, and legislated rulings that ensure family stability and preserve the rights of its members, and made divorce the last resort when reconciliation is impossible and harm persists.

He explained that divorce in Islam is legislated after exhausting means of reconciliation and the impossibility of continuing marital life, to be a means of preventing harm and achieving benefit, not a door to hasty termination of marital life, citing the Almighty's verse: 'And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them, perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it much good.'

Dr. Al Al-Sheikh referred to the Prophet's (peace be upon him) hadith: 'A believer should not hate a believing woman; if he dislikes a trait in her, he may be pleased with another,' explaining that this prophetic guidance urges patience, overlooking faults, looking at virtues, and strengthening opportunities for reconciliation before resorting to divorce.

He explained that among the rules of legitimate divorce is that a man divorces his wife with a single divorce during a period of purity in which he has not had intercourse with her, or he divorces her while she is pregnant, then leaves her in the marital home for the purpose of self-reflection, perhaps Allah may afterward bring about a matter of the husband returning to his wife and reforming the entire family's situation.

He warned against transgressing Allah's limits by pronouncing divorce in an unlegislated manner, such as a man divorcing his wife three times with one utterance or in one sitting, or pronouncing divorce while the woman is menstruating, or during a period of purity in which he has had intercourse with her.

The Imam and Preacher of the Prophet's Mosque stressed warning against carelessness in uttering divorce words, or using them as an oath to urge or prohibit something, or to affirm or deny a matter, such as some people saying: 'I am divorced if I go to such-and-such place' or 'if you do not do such-and-such,' or using it when wanting to honor someone and compel them to accept an invitation, as saying: 'I am divorced if you do not have lunch or dinner with us,' emphasizing that divorce is among Allah's limits that must be revered, citing the Almighty's verse: 'These are the limits of Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah, those are the wrongdoers.'

He concluded the sermon advising spouses to be patient and deliberate, and to avoid hasty reactions and transient emotions, explaining that among the rulings of divorce is that it is not permissible for a woman to ask for a divorce when conditions are stable and there are no reasons necessitating separation, citing the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: 'Any woman who asks her husband for divorce without a valid reason, the fragrance of Paradise is forbidden for her,' authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban, and others.