Glossary of Islamic Terms

This section provides definitions of relevant islamic terms.

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IDDAH

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Iddah: The Quran mandates that a divorced woman should keep the iddah, a waiting period, after divorce. This lasts 3 menstrual cycles or 3 lunar months for those who do not menstruate. If she is pregnant, it will last until the pregnancy ends. The only restriction during the iddah is that she may not enter a new marriage.

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TALAQ (DIVORCE)

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Revocable: If a husband has pronounced a first or second Talaq, the husband is permitted to reconcile within the iddah period if the objective is to reconcile and not to oppress her. This is known as Ruju’. The ISC does not issue a certificate in this instance.

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Irrevocable: Dissolution of a marriage by a Muslim Qadi (Judge) or Sharia Council or if Ruju did not happen during the iddah period. The couple may marry each other again in the future if both so wish, and will require a new Nikah with all the necessary conditions.

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Absolutely irrevocable: When a husband has given 3 separate Talaqs which have been verified by the ISC, the couple are not permitted to reconcile during the iddah or to enter a fresh marriage with each other.

However, the Quran permits them to enter a fresh marriage with each other later in life if the woman has married someone in full honesty, but the marriage has ended due to death or legitimate divorce. It is forbidden for the woman to enter a fake marriage in which a second husband is contracted to marry and divorce her in order make her halal for her first husband.

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KHUL’A

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Khula: The woman requests and receives her husband’s consent to divorce; the husband is permitted to ask for a financial consideration, such as the return of Mahr.

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FASKH- DISSOLUTION

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Faskh: A Qadi or Shari’a Council may dissolve a procedurally incorrect marriage, or a marriage in which the wife has made a valid application for divorce but the husband refuses to give consent.