Istih

Istih refers to a specific method of Islamic divorce initiated by the wife. It is a form of khul, which is a divorce where the wife returns the dower or provides other compensation to the husband in exchange for his agreement to divorce her. The term "istih" specifically denotes the wife's action of seeking this divorce.

The Quran mentions the concept of khul in Surat Al-Baqarah (2:229), which states that if a wife fears injustice or aversion from her husband, there is no blame on them if she redeems herself. This verse is often cited as the basis for the permissibility of istih. The process typically involves the wife proposing to return the mahr (dowry) she received or offering other financial compensation. The husband must then consent to the divorce.

In practice, istih can be initiated through mutual agreement or, if the husband refuses, by appealing to a religious court or Sharia council. The conditions and procedures for istih can vary slightly depending on different Islamic legal schools of thought. However, the core principle remains that the wife initiates the divorce by offering compensation to her husband, and his acceptance is crucial for the divorce to be valid. It is distinct from talaq, which is the husband's unilateral right to divorce.