Divorce

• This lesson covers divorce, abuse, sex and gender transition, and STDs. If these are sensitive topics to you, we recommend checking with a trusted adult before starting or doing the lesson with a trusted adult nearby.
• Agenda


  • Reasons for divorce
  • Islamic, Secular and Christian views on divorce and remarriage
• Sacrament


  A Christian rite of passage. Something physical that represents a spiritual action
• Qur'an


  Islam's holy book
• Hadith


  A collection of Muhammad's sayings
• Divorce


  Legal ending of a marriage
• Shari'ah Law


  Islam's legal system
• Reconcile


  Restoring a broken relationship
• Annulment


  Ending of marriage that is was considered invalid at the start
• Valid Reasons for Annulment


  • Improper Consent (Under 16, Bigamy, Mental Illness, Coercion, Drunkenness)
  • Incomplete process (No consummation)
  • Hidden Information (Close Relation, Prior STD, Impotence/Infertility, Pregnancy for another person)
• Prerequisites for Reasons for Divorce: Residence in UK, Legally recognised in the UK, Married for over a year, Permanent break down of relationship
• Valid Reasons for Divorce

  • Adultery
  • Unreasonable Behaviour (Abuse, Addiction, Manipulation, Unfaithfulness)
  • Desertion
  • Living Apart (2 years)
  • Living Apart (5 years)
• Nikah (Marriage)


  Gift from husband
• The Muslim attitude to divorce is partly based on the Islamic teachings about marriage.
• Muslim Attitudes to Divorce

  • Divorce is allowed in Islam because: The Qur'an permits it, Legal contract, Unhappy marriages, Adultery
  • Divorce is discouraged in Islam because: It splits up the family unit, It weakens the Muslim community, Prophet Muhammad said 'it is the hated of all things that Allah permitted', Muhammad did not divorce, A husband and wife should be able to solve any problems they have
• Stages of Muslim Divorce

  1. Attempts to Resolve

  2. Three-Month Waiting Period (Iddah)

  3. Termination of Marriage (Divorce)
• Qur'an 4:128: '"And if a woman fears from her husband contempt or evasion, there is no sin upon them if they make terms of settlement between them - and settlement is best."'
• If they reconcile during the iddah, they can resume their marriage. The wife then leaves the house and is free to marry again after three months. If the wife were pregnant, the iddah would be extended for the duration of her pregnancy. The husband is still financially responsible for his ex-wife and children unless she remarries.
• Qur'an 651: '"O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period..... if you are in doubt, the period of waiting should be three months..."'
• Qur'an 2:241: '"And for divorced women is a provision according to what is acceptable - a duty upon the righteous."'
• Divorce must be timed well to ensure no pregnancy. Three months (iddah) waiting period (no sex). This is to allow time to reconsider and to ensure the wife is not pregnant. Support until remarriage. Responsibility for supporting his children always.
• Mark 10:7-9: '"And for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.' So they are no longer two, but one. No human being then must separate what God has joined together."'
• Matt 5:32: '"But now I tell you: if a man divorces his wife, for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit adultery if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits adultery also."'
• For Catholics, marriage is a sacred institution and a spiritual bond. Promises made before God cannot be broken. Separation without divorce or annulment is permitted.
• For Protestants, divorce is exceptional. Remarriage is permitted if a priest approves, based on the length of the marriage and the reason for divorce. Separation and counselling are also possibilities.
• In the Orthodox Church, divorce and remarriage are permitted up to three times.
• The humanist position on divorce is focused on the human cost of dysfunctional or even dangerous, abusive marriages and so supports the idea that divorce, while always tragic, may be necessary and should be an option so that people do not suffer unduly.