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How does the true religion view the widespread phenomenon of divorce in Arab countries?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The default ruling for divorce is that it is disliked (makrooh). It may become forbidden (haram), obligatory (wajib), recommended (mustahabb), or permissible (ja'iz) depending on the necessity for it. However, Islamic law does not encourage it. It is reported from Imam Ahmad that he considered it forbidden (haram) without need, basing his argument on the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” Ibn Taymiyyah said: “Divorce is, in principle, something Allah dislikes, and it is the most detested of permissible things to Allah. He only permitted from it what people need.” The verse: (And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them – perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good) encourages retaining one's wife even with dislike, because a person does not know the various aspects of goodness, and one can hardly find a beloved thing that has no disliked aspects within it.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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