Divorce and Khula

Divorce

In Islamic law, **divorce** represents the husband’s right to end the marriage. Consequently, he can initiate it without the wife’s consent. This means the husband holds the authority to unilaterally dissolve the marriage by pronouncing “Talaq,” provided he follows the prescribed procedure. Furthermore, Islamic law allows divorce in several forms, including revocable, irrevocable, or with a waiting period (Iddah), depending on the specific circumstances.

Khula

**Khula** is a process that enables the wife to seek divorce, especially when she feels unable to continue the marriage. Through this process, the wife can request a divorce by returning the dowry (Mahr) or offering other compensation, usually with the husband’s consent. However, if mutual agreement cannot be reached, the wife can file for Khula in a court of law. Then, the court evaluates the situation and may grant the divorce if it finds the wife’s reasons valid. In this way, Khula provides women with a legal avenue to leave an unhappy or unbalanced marriage.

• Divorce: The husband’s unilateral right to end the marriage by pronouncing “Talaq” without needing the wife’s consent.
• Khula: The wife’s right to seek divorce, usually in exchange for returning her dowry or through a court order, often with mutual consent.