Chapter 68

Divorce

Althoughdivorceislawfulact, itisthe mostdetested andworst ofall
deeds. "Imam Sadiq (AS)stated: 'Get married but do not divorce, be-
cause a divorce would tremble the 'Arsh (empyrean) of Allah'.

ImamSadiq(AS)alsostated:'Allahlikesthehousewhichisinhabited
inthe wake ofmarriageanddislikes thehouse whichisabandoned in
the wake of divorce. Thereis nothingmore detestableto Allah thana
divorce'."

Marriageisnot likebuyinga pairof shoesandsocksthat whenever
not likedone disposes the shoes andbuysanotherpair of shoes.Mar-
riage isa spiritualcovenant that two peoplemake inorder to stay to-
getherlikefriends,sympathisersandloverstilltheirdeath,itisbasedon
these great hopes that a young girl leaves her parents and joins her
husband.

Amanmakeseffortsandworkshardonthebasisofsuchadivinecov-
enant. He pays for his wedding andbuys the necessary goods forhis
newlifeandworksforhisfamilycomfort.Marriageisnotalustfulaffair
anda couple cannotdestroy itfor trivialexcuses. Althoughdivorceis
lawful.itisseriouslydetestedandpeoplearerecommendedtoavoidit
as much as possible.

Unfortunately, this very detestable act has become so common in
Islamic countries and the foundationsof family units havebecome so
shaky that there is generally little faith in marriage any more.

Divorceispermittedbutonlyinveryexceptionalandcompellingcir-
cumstances."TheProphet(SA)of'Allahstated:'Jibrail(Gabriel)advised
meabout womensomuchthat Ithought oneshouldnot divorcethem