How can a woman obtain a divorce from her husband such that he cannot reconcile with her without her knowledge, given his refusal to grant an irrevocable divorce (Talaq al-Bainunah al-Kubra)?

It is incumbent upon the wife to strive for the continuation of the marital relationship and to obey her husband in matters that do not involve disobedience (to Allah). It is forbidden for her to seek divorce without a legitimate Shar'i (Islamic legal) excuse, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Any woman who asks her husband for divorce without any strong reason, the scent of Paradise will be forbidden to her." If the husband divorces his wife with a revocable divorce (talaq (definition) raj'i), he may take her back without her knowledge. However, in the case of a major irrevocable divorce (three divorces), she is not lawful for him until she marries another husband and he consummates the marriage with her, and then he divorces her. In the case of a minor irrevocable divorce (such as khul' — divorce at the wife's instance with compensation — or divorce before consummation, or upon the completion of the waiting period, or a court-ordered divorce for reasons other than an oath of abstention (ila') or inability to provide maintenance), she is not lawful for him except with a new marriage contract. A woman can obtain khul' by offering her husband a mutually agreed-upon sum of money.