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Divorce in Islam: rules, waiting period and rights

Divorce is permitted but discouraged, and comes after attempts at reconciliation. Its forms include talaq by the husband, khul‘ at the wife’s request with compensation, and annulment by a judge. A divorced woman observes a waiting period (three cycles) and keeps her financial rights. In Western countries a civil divorce is also needed.

Forms of separation

Quran
ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِۖ فَإِمۡسَاكُۢ بِمَعۡرُوفٍ أَوۡ تَسۡرِيحُۢ بِإِحۡسَٰنٖۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمۡ أَن تَأۡخُذُواْ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيۡتُمُوهُنَّ شَيۡـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِۖ فَإِنۡ خِفۡتُمۡ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفۡتَدَتۡ بِهِۦۗ تِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعۡتَدُوهَاۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:229
  • Talaq: pronounced by the husband in a period of purity without intercourse (the Sunnah form).
  • Khul‘: requested by the wife, returning an agreed compensation.
  • Annulment: by a judge for harm, absence, non-maintenance or defect.

Waiting period and rights

Quran
وَٱلۡمُطَلَّقَٰتُ يَتَرَبَّصۡنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ ثَلَٰثَةَ قُرُوٓءٖۚ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَن يَكۡتُمۡنَ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ فِيٓ أَرۡحَامِهِنَّ إِن كُنَّ يُؤۡمِنَّ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِۚ وَبُعُولَتُهُنَّ أَحَقُّ بِرَدِّهِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ إِنۡ أَرَادُوٓاْ إِصۡلَٰحٗاۚ وَلَهُنَّ مِثۡلُ ٱلَّذِي عَلَيۡهِنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيۡهِنَّ دَرَجَةٞۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:228
  • She receives maintenance and housing during the waiting period, plus any deferred mahr.
  • Custody and child support follow Sharia principles and local law.
  • An official court divorce is necessary to secure rights in the West.

Legal rules (registration, inheritance, custody) differ by country, so check local law or a qualified lawyer.

This guide is for learning, not a fatwa. Where scholars differ we show the positions of the schools; for your own situation ask a trusted scholar or Islamic centre in your country.

Frequently asked questions

Does a triple divorce in one phrase count as three?

Scholars differ: most count it as three, others as one. Ask a mufti.

Quran text and translations: QuranEnc. Hadith translations: HadeethEnc. Sources are shown on each item. Found a mistake? Tell us.