Question:

My ex-husband and I have been separated for almost 2 months now. We are also in the process of finalizing our separation agreement contact with a family law mediator in Ontario to separate our assets.

My question is, as per my ex-husband’s explanation, it is unlikely that an Imam can provide us with Islamic divorce certificate before the applying to for divorce in civil court (which will require 1-year separation period). Is this true?

This seems long for me as I want to be able to move on in life, religiously speaking. I have moved back with my family 2 months ago (they live outside of Canada) and feel lost with my marital status because of this. I feel like I am neither married (since I no longer live with my ex and in the process of finalizing the separation agreement contract) nor divorced.

Would it be possible to obtain the Islamic divorce certificate before the court divorce application (I am aware that this will not constitute a legal devoice in Canada until the divorce is filed in court) but this is for my own sanity and emotional health as I feel lost and unable to move on in life religiously (even though I am no longer in contact with my husband – except to finalize financial documents as we owned joined assets).

Also, what would happen if my ex-husband decides not to divorce religiously (only in civil court). He implied during one of our mediation sessions that after a year, I can go to court myself and apply for divorce there and then I can just apply for religious devoice after that.

He said – and I am quoting his words – “she is free to do whatever she wants until then”. Would I still be able to get a religious divorce from an Imam after obtaining the civil divorce and no longer having any ties to my ex (if my ex does not divorce religiously).

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Dear sister,

We sympathize with your situation and pray that Allāh allows a swift resolution to your divorce and allows you to move on with your life in a manner filled with peace, tranquility, and connection to Allāh.

Before addressing your question, some preliminary points should be understood:

Civil Law vs. Islāmic Law

Muslims living in secular countries are subject to two sets of laws – the laws of the country of their residence and the laws of Islām, known as the Sharīʿah. Generally, the laws of secular countries are more broad, whereas the laws of Islām are more narrow. In other words, the laws of a secular country may allow a person to do something, but actually doing that thing remains forbidden for Muslims.

For example, it is legal in Canada to buy, sell, and drink alcohol. Despite this “right”, it is still forbidden for a Muslim to engage in any of these activities. Similarly, it is legal to participate in interest-bearing transactions, but this remains forbidden for Muslims. In summary, Muslims are bound to adhere to a specific code of conduct (Islām) that they will be answerable for, not in the court of their country, but in the court of Allāh ﷻ.

Civil Marriages vs. Islāmic Marriages

At other times, civil and Islāmic law remain in two distinct spheres with no overlap. A prime example of this is marriage. It is possible for a couple to have a civil marriage but not be married Islāmically and vice versa. It is also possible for a couple to be married both civilly and Islāmically. However, each type of marriage requires a distinct process, and the dissolution of one does not necessitate the dissolution of the other.[1] A civil judge only has jurisdiction over the civil realm. His rulings do not have Sharʿī weight. His ruling that a marriage has occurred or ended does not have any effect on the marriage in the eyes of Allāh. Similarly, an imām ruling on an Islāmic marriage does not hold weight in civil law. His performing a nikāḥ or giving a fatwā that a divorce has occurred does not affect the civil status of the marriage in any way. For that, one will have to avail the legal system.

Requirements for an Islāmic Divorce

The only thing required for an Islāmic divorce to take place is that a husband says, “I divorce you” or, in the case that she is not present, “I divorce my wife.” Words equivalent to divorce such as “ṭalāq” have the same ruling.[2] If this occurs, the couple is divorced in the court of Allāh. A certificate is not a requirement for the validity of an Islāmic divorce.

Now, we move to your questions.

Your Questions (Re-ordered and Summarized)

1. It seems like my husband will only divorce me in civil court but will not divorce me Islāmically. He implied during one of our mediation sessions that after a year, I can go to court myself and apply for divorce there and then I can just apply for religious divorce after that.He said – and I am quoting his words – “she is free to do whatever she wants until then.” Would I still be able to get a religious divorce from an Imam after obtaining the civil divorce and no longer having any ties to my ex?

2. My husband stated that it is unlikely that an Imam will provide us with a certificate of Islāmic divorce before the civil divorce is finalized. Is this true? If so, it seems like I will not be able to move on with my life because I am not living with my husband nor am I divorced Islāmically.

Answers

1.

You have three options, and they should be pursued in the order listed. If Option A fails, then move to Option B. Option C is the last resort:

1. Asking your husband to divorce you irrevocably (ṭalāq bāʾin): If the husband or wife wants to remarry, both parties must consent, a new nikāḥ must be performed, and a new mahr (dowry) must be paid.[3] Explain to him that you are only asking for a verbal Islāmic divorce and that you are not requesting him to go in front of an imām or committee. He simply has to say, “I give you one ṭalāq bāʾin.”
2. Khulʿah: You offer to pay your husband something to divorce you Islamically. This also results in an irrevocable divorce.[4]
3. If options A and B fail, you can go to a committee of scholars who will hear your case and see if there are grounds to dissolve the marriage (faskh).[5] Please inform us of your location, and we can, Inshāʾ Allāh, try to refer you to a reputable council.

2. Issuance of a certificate will vary on the policies of various masājid and imams. Some may not feel comfortable issuing an Islāmic divorce certificate without the civil divorce being finalized due to various administrative reasons. As stated earlier, neither the civil divorce nor certificate of Islāmic divorce are requirements for the validity of an Islāmic divorce. Your husband’s statement alone, as described in #1, will suffice.

And Allah Taʿāla Knows Best

Muftī Mohammed Wahaajuddin
Farmington Hills, MI
U.S.A

Checked and Approved by:

Muftī Faisal bin Abdul Hamīd al-Mahmūdī
Darul Iftaa Canada, Edmonton
www.fatwa.ca

[1]

قال الله تعالى: }ولَن يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ سَبِيلًا{ سورة النساء: ١٤١

الحيلة الناجزة مع جديد إضافات، ص١٧، دار الاشاعت، م٢٠١٨ 
اگر دعویٰ دائر کریں تو بعض دفعہ حاکم غیر مسلم اس کا فیصلہ کرتا ہے جو شرعاً نافذ نہیں ہوتا

كفاية المفتي، موجودہ دور حکومت میں حاکم غیر  مسلم کو نکاح فسخ کرنے کا اختیار ہے یا نہیں؟، ج٦ ص١٦٦، دار الاشاعت 
اگر غیر مسلم حاکم نکاح فسخ کردے تو عورت آزاد نہ ہو گی  اور دوسرا نکاح نہ کر سکے گی

https://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/32419

https://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/17904

[2]

الفتاوى الهندية، كتاب الطلاق، الباب الأول، ج١ ص٣٤٨، مطبعة الكبرى 
(أما تفسيره) شرعا فهو رفع قيد النكاح حالا أو مآلا بلفظ مخصوص كذا في البحر الرائق (وأما ركنه) فقوله: أنت طالق. ونحوه كذا في الكافي.

رد المحتار، كتاب الطلاق، ج٣ ص٢٤٨، سعيد 
في الدر المختار: (صريحه ما لم يستعمل إلا فيه) ولو بالفارسية (كطلقتك وأنت طالق ومطلقة)

[3]

الاختيار، كتاب الطلاق، فصل في وصف الطلاق، ج٢ ص١٥٤، مكتبة العمرية 
البائن: هو الشديد الذي لا يقدر على رجعتها، بخلاف الرجعي، لأنه ليس بشديد عليه حتى يملك رجعتها بدون أمرها اهـ

الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية، ج٢٩ ص٢٩
فإذا طلق زوجته طلقة بائنة واحدة أو اثنتين جاز له العود إليها في العدة وبعدها، ولكن ليس بالرجعة، وإنما بعقد جديد. فإذا طلقها ثلاثاً كانت البينونة كبرى.

[4]

قال الله تعالى: {فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا افْتَدَتْ بِهِ} سورة البقرة: ٢٢٩

الفتاوى الهندية، كتاب الطلاق، باب الثامن في الخلع وما في حكمه، ج١ ص٤٨٨، مطبعة الكبرى 
إذا تشاق الزوجان وخافا أن لا يقيما حدود الله فلا بأس بأن تفتدي نفسها منه بمال يخلعها به فإذا فعلا ذلك وقعت تطليقة بائنة ولزمها المال كذا في الهداية.

الاختيار، كتاب الطلاق، باب االخلع، ج٢ ص١٨٤، مكتبة العمرية 
قال: (وهو أن تفتدي المرأة نفسها بمال ليخلعها به، فإذا فعلا لزمها المال ووقعت تطليقة بائنة) والأصل في جوازه قوله تعالى: {فإن خفتم ألا يقيما حدود الله فلا جناح عليهما فيما افتدت به} [البقرة: ٢٢٩] ، وإنما تقع تطليقة بائنة لقوله – عليه الصلاة والسلام -: «الخلع تطليقة بائنة» ولأنه كناية فيقع به بائنا لما مر ولا يحتاج إلى نية، إما لدلالة الحال، أو لأنها ما رضيت ببذل المال إلا لتملك نفسها وتخرج من نكاحه، وذلك بالبينونة وهو مذهب عمر وعثمان وعلي وابن مسعود – رضي الله عنهم

[5]

الحيلة الناجزة، ص٦٣، مكتبة رضي
اگر کسی عورت کا شوہر کسی طریقہ سے نہ ما نے یا شوہر کے مجنون یا لا پتہ ہونے کی وجہ سے خلع وغیرہ ممکن نہ ہو اور عورت کو صبر کر نے کی ہمت نہ ہو تو مجبورامذہب مالکیہ کے مطابق دین دار مسلمانوں کی پنچائیت میں معاملہ پیش کرنے کی گنجائش ہے کیونکہ مالکیہ کے مذہب میں قاضی و غیرہ نہ ہونے کی حالت میں یہ صورت جائز ہے کہ محلہ کے دین دار مسلمانوں کی ایک جماعت جو کم از کم تین افراد پر مشتمل ہو پنچائت مقرر کرےاور واقعہ کی تحقیق کر کے شریعت کے موافق فیصلہ کردے تو فیصلہ بھی فیصلئہ قاضی کے قائم مقام ہوتا ہے۔