Divorce and What It Entails of Poverty and Homelessness

Among the factors that lead to children's perversion is divorce due to the disunity and separation it entails. When the child misses the caring mother, or the responsible father, he will grow up corrupt and perverted. What makes such a situation even worse is the marriage of a divorced woman to another man, or her poverty that compels her to look for work outside her home.  Islam instructed both spouses to give each other's rights. Among these rights is that,

A wife:

• Must obey her husband beneficently.

• To guard her husband’s property and her chastity.

• To not reject her husband's call whenever he desires her.

The husband:

• Must provide for his wife and children.

• Must consult his wife in household affairs.

• Must live with his wife beneficently and be kind to her.

• Must help his wife at home, following the conduct of the Prophet.

In case it is difficult to attain harmony, because of the husband's or the wife's ill manners, the husband must take these precautions before divorce:

1. Admonishment and guidance. If this fails then,

2. Forsake her in bed. If this also fails to work then,

3. Slight beating  so  that  it leaves  no  marks  on  her  body,  the  beatings are away from the vulnerable areas, and the face is to be avoided.

4. Resorting to arbitration; mediation with wise people from his and her families to investigate the problems held between the two spouses, and suggest practical solutions to regain harmony and understanding between them. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said:

"As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first),  (next),  refuse to share their beds, (and last)  beat them (lightly, if it  is useful); but if they return to obedience ,seek not against them means (of  annoyance), Surely, Allah is Ever Most High, Most Great. If you fear a breach between them twain (the man and his wife), appoint (two) arbitrators, one from his family and the other from her's; if they both wish for peace, Allah will cause their reconciliation. Indeed Allah is Ever All-Knower, Well-Acquainted with all things," (Surah An-Nisa’:  34-35)

In  case  they could  not  come  to  a  compromise  after  going through these stages, the husband divorces his wife once at a time when she is free from menstruation and during which time he has not had sexual intercourse with her. The aim is to give a chance to retain marital life after the first divorce, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says:

"And if he has divorced her (the third time), then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she has married another husband. Then, if the other husband divorces her, it is no sill on both of them that they reunite, provided they feel that they can keep the limits ordained by Allah, These are the limits of Allah, which He makes plain for the people who have knowledge." (Surah Al-Baqarah: 230)

"But bestow on them (a suitable gift), the rich according to his means, and the poor according to his means, a gift of reasonable amount is a duty on the doers of good." (Surah Al-Baqarah: 236)

In case the husband is poor and unable to provide for his children, the state has to sponsor those children to meet their needs and expenditures.