Islamic Divorce

A Talaq (Arabic: الطلاق‎) is the Islamic term for divorce and is used to end a marriage, or Nikāħ (Arabic: النكاح‎).

The rules for talaq vary among the major Islamic schools of jurisprudence. Most importantly Shia and Sunni Muslims have different rules for performing a talaq. Sunni practice requires no witnesses, and allows a husband to end a relationship by saying the triple talaq. Shi'a scholars view the triple talaq as a jahiliyya ("pagan pre-Islamic") custom, forbidden by Muhammad, but reinstated by Umar ibn al-Khattab, and thus haraam ("forbidden"). Sunni scholars agree to the facts, but deem it halal ("acceptable") anyway. Some Sunnī countries have debated whether the triple talaq can be performed with the help of modern technology such as by text message.[citation needed]
In some Sunni schools of jurispurdence it is possible for a woman to petition a qadi ("judge of Muslim jurisprudence") for a divorce under certain conditions. In a very few circumstances, Shafii qadis will allow a woman a divorce.