Talaq

Talaq, from the Arabic term for divorce, is an act in Islamic family law by which a husband ends a marriage. The practice is discussed across Sunni and Shia jurisprudence and is applied within different legal frameworks in Muslim-majority countries. Its exact procedures and consequences vary by school of law (madhab) and by national legislation, but the core idea is the termination of the marital bond through a pronouncement or formal decree.

Talaq is commonly categorized as revocable or irrevocable. Revocable talaq (talaq raj'i) is pronounced during the iddah, a waiting period after divorce during which the couple may reconcile and restore the marriage without another marriage contract. If reconciliation does not occur, the waiting period ends and the marriage may transition to irrevocable status. Irrevocable talaq (talaq bain) results in a permanent separation, after which remarriage to the same partner typically requires a new marriage contract and, in many cases, a period of practice known as halala in some traditions. Some modern practices allow a single or rapid sequence of pronouncements; in many jurisdictions, triple talaq (three pronouncements in one sitting or in quick succession) is either restricted or prohibited by law.

In addition to unilateral divorce, family law often recognizes other avenues to end a marriage, such as khula, where a wife seeks divorce with the husband’s consent or a settlement, and faskh or judicial dissolution for specified grounds. The iddah remains a common feature in many systems, serving as a period of reflection and potential reconciliation.

Talaq thus sits at the intersection of religious doctrine and civil law, with significant variation in procedures, rights, and protections across countries and communities.