Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Badat
Question:
Can an English (British) divorce result in a ṭalāq (islamic divorce)? What if a British judge grants us divorce and we get back together within 3 months? Do we still have to do ḥalālah?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.
A legal divorce in a British or Canadian court can only be considered an islamic divorce if the husband has signed and or consented to the divorce in the proceedings. If the intent of the husband was ṭalāq raj’īe (retractable divorce) then he may reconcile the marriage within three months. If the intent of the husband was ṭalāq bāin (a severe divorce), the couple can reconcile with a new nikāḥ contract at any time within 3 months and also after three months. In the case of three divorce pronouncements, it is not possible for the couple to reconcile unless the process of ḥalālah takes place. – (See: Al-Fatāwā Al-Hindīyyah, Vol 1, Page 470, Dar Al-Fikr, Mukhtaṣar Al-Qudūrī Page 159, Dār Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmīyyah)
“Divorce is twice. Then, either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment.” – (Qur’ān 2:229)
“And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him. And if the latter husband divorces her [or dies] there is no blame upon the woman and her former husband for returning to each other if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allāh. These are the limits of Allāh, which He makes clear to a people who know.” – (Qur’ān 2:230)
Only Allāh knows best
وَإِذَا طَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ تَطْلِيقَةً رَجْعِيَّةً أَوْ تَطْلِيقَتَيْنِ فَلَهُ أَنْ يُرَاجِعَهَا فِي عِدَّتِهَا رَضِيَتْ بِذَلِكَ أَوْ لَمْ تَرْضَ كَذَا فِي الْهِدَايَةِ – الفتاوى الهندية ج١/ ص٤٧٠ دار الفكر
وإذا كان الطلاق بائنا دون الثلاث فله أن يتزوجها في عدتها وبعد انقضاء عدتها وإن كان الطلاق ثلاثا في الحرة أو اثنتين في الأمة لم تحل له حتى تنكح زوجا غيره نكاحا صحيحا ويدخل بها ثم يطلقها أو يموت عنها – مختصر القدوري ص١٥٩ دار الكتب العلمية
الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ – البقرة ٢٢٩
فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِن بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ ۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا أَن يَتَرَاجَعَا إِن ظَنَّا أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ – البقرة ٢٣٠
