What Does Divorce Mean in Islam? The Explanation You're Looking For

Hi all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of “what does divorce mean in Islam?”? If your answer is “Yes”, congratulations! Now you are reading the right article! Why? Because that is what I will explain in this article. As Muslims, we must understand that. That's why I wrote this article. So, you have to read it to the end.

Specifically, there are three important things about "what does divorce mean in Islam?" which I will explain in this article. The three important things I mean are as follows:

The Literal Meaning of Divorce

The first important point about “what does divorce mean in Islam?” what I will explain now is the literal meaning of divorce. I want you to understand that before you read any further explanation in this article because it is one of the basic things about divorce that must be understood very well. In addition, there are some Muslims who do not understand it well.

The word for "divorce" in Arabic is talaq. The writing is الطَّلَاقُ. If we read some Arabic literacies about the word "divorce", then we will find several "literal meanings of divorce" as follows:

اِنْفِصَالُ أَحَدِ الزَّوْجَيْنِ عَنِ الْآخَرِ

The separation of one partner from the other (separation of husband and wife).

التَّحَرُّرُ مِنَ الشَّيْءِ وَالتَحَلُّلُ مِنْهُ

Separated from something and free from something.

التَّحَرُّرُ وَالْإِطْلَاقُ ، وَتَطَلَّقَتْ الْمَرْأَةُ أَيْ تَحَلَّلَتْ مِنْ زَوْجِهَا وَخَرَجَتْ مِنْ عِصْمَتِهِ

Separated and detached. (So, the meaning of the sentence) “a woman has been divorced” is that she has been separated from her husband and separated from his care.”

If we read some literal meanings of divorce as I have explained, then we will understand that divorce is literally separation. It means that the husband is separated from his wife or the wife is separated from her husband. We must understand that because there is a difference between the literal meaning of divorce and the meaning of divorce in Islam or in Islamic law. I'll explain that in a moment.

That's a brief explanation of the literal meaning of divorce. As Muslims, we must understand that.

What Does Divorce Mean in Islam?

The second important thing about “what does divorce mean in Islam?” what I'm going to explain now is a specific answer. I want you to understand that because it is one of the important things about divorce in Islam or in Islamic law that must be well understood by Muslims, especially Muslims who are married or Muslims who want a divorce.

In general, if we read some Islamic legal literature on divorce, then we will find an explanation that "the meaning of divorce in Islam" is as follows:

إِزَالَةُ عَقْدِ النِّكَاحِ بِلَفْظٍ مَخْصُوْصٍ ، أَوْ بِكُلِّ لَفْظٍ يَدُلُّ عَلَى الطَّلَاقِ

Eliminate the marriage contract with certain words or with all words that mean divorce.

حَلُّ عَقْدِ النِّكَاحِ بِلَفْظٍ صَرِيْحٍ أَوْ كِنَايَةٍ مَعَ النِّيَّةِ

Cancel the marriage contract (aqd an-Nikah) with clear or unclear words (satire or parable) with niyyah for divorce.

If we read two meanings of divorce in Islam or two definitions of divorce in Islam as I have quoted above, then we do not find much difference. The difference is only in the explanation of "what is divorce in Islam".

Two meanings of divorce in Islam or two definitions of divorce in Islam" as I have quoted explained that divorce is annulling the marriage contract with a divorce sentence, a clear divorce sentence or an unclear divorce sentence.

What is meant by "clear divorce sentences" are divorce sentences that can be understood easily. People can understand that the utterance is a divorce sentence, such as "I divorced you" or "you are not my wife anymore".

What is meant by "unclear divorce sentences" are divorce sentences that cannot be understood easily but are sentences that are spoken to divorce a wife, such as, "you are like my mother", or "your body is like my sister's body to me".

One important thing that must be understood is that if the husband wants to divorce his wife with "clear divorce sentences" or "unclear divorce sentences", when he pronounces these sentences, he must intend to give his wife a divorce. If he says that without the intention of giving a divorce, then the divorce is invalid.

That is a brief explanation of "what is the meaning of divorce in Islam?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

Difference in Literal Meaning of Divorce and Meaning of Divorce in Islam

The third important thing about “what does divorce mean in Islam?” what I will explain now is "the difference in the literal meaning of divorce and the meaning of divorce in Islam". I want you to understand that well because it is one of the important things about divorce that some Muslims don't understand very well.

If we understand the explanation of "the literal meaning of divorce" and "the meaning of divorce in Islam", then we can conclude that some of the differences are as follows:

1. The literal meaning of divorce is the linguistic meaning of divorce or in Arabic, while the meaning of divorce in Islam is the meaning of divorce in Islamic law which explains divorce in Islam which can separate a husband from his wife or a wife from her husband. There are many things about it which I will explain in the next few articles, insha Allah.
2. The literal meaning of divorce describes something general, while the meaning of divorce in Islam describes something specific.

That is a brief explanation of the difference in the literal meaning of divorce and the meaning of divorce in Islam. As Muslims, we must understand that.

That's a brief explanation of "what does divorce mean in Islam?" and some important things about it. Do you understand? If you want to ask, please ask!

I think that's enough for this article. Hope it is useful. Amen.

See you again in the next article!