Does what is stated in the divorce certificate regarding divorce in consideration of the wife's release of her rights to 'iddah (post-divorce waiting period) maintenance, mut'ah (compensatory gift), and deferred mahr (dowry) nullify her right to them merely by her saying: "I absolve you"? And is the wife sinful for seeking divorce from her husband?
The decisive factor is what was agreed upon between the spouses at the time of divorce, not what was written in the divorce certificate. If the husband was absolved only from the 'iddah (waiting period) maintenance, then this specific maintenance obligation falls away, but other rights of the wife remain. Mubara'ah (mutual release) is an agreement for divorce in exchange for the wife waiving certain financial rights. According to the majority of scholars, no right is forfeited by it unless it is explicitly named. As for requesting a divorce, if there is a valid justification for it, it does not fall under the threat mentioned in the Hadith. Divorce is not always evil; Allah may grant expansion (ease and bounty) to both spouses after separation.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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