Q. this is from Jennifer – she asks… – Is it only the husband who can say ‘Triple Talaq’ and get one? – What has a woman to do, if she wants to get divorce or ‘Talaq’?

A. (Dr. Zakir): The sister has asked a question, that a husband can divorce a woman – She has not asked about Triple ‘Talaq’, that is another answer. But the main question is –  A husband can divorce… Can a woman also divorce, or can she give ‘Talaq’? A woman cannot give ‘Talaq’ – because ‘Talaq’ is a Arabic word used for divorce, when a man gives to a woman – husband gives to a wife – but a woman can divorce. There are 5 types of divorce, in Islam – The first type is by unilateral… by unilateral agreement, between the husband and wife – Both may say… ‘Okay, we are not compatible… let us part’.  The second type, is by the unilateral will of the husband, that is called a ‘Talaq’, in which, he has to forgo his ‘Meher’. If he has not paid it, he has to pay it to her… and including the gifts, he has given to her. Third type, is by the unilateral will of the wife – I repeat, by the unilateral will of the wife… if she mentions it in her marriage contract. If she mentions it in her Nikah-Nama… in her marriage contract, that she has the right to give unilateral divorce, she can give it – It is call as ‘Isma’. I have never heard of anyone speaking of an ‘Isma’ – It is called as ‘Isma’ – Even a woman can give divorce, ‘Isma’.  Third category is, if the husband ill-treats her, or not give her equal rights, she has the right to go to a Kazi, and nullify the marriage – It is called as ‘Nikah-e-Fask’. In this, according to the Kazi, he may ask the husband to give the full ‘Meher’, or part of the ‘Meher’, depending upon the Kazi. And the last is ‘Kulah’– that even though the husband may be a very good husband, the wife has got no complaints against the husband, but for personal reasons, she does not like the husband – she has… she can request the husband, to divorce her – and that is called as ‘Kulah’. But very few people talk about women giving divorce, to the men. Some of the Ulemas have categorized these 5 types of divorce, into 2 or 3 different categories, but broadly there are 5 types of divorce, in Islam. Hope that answers the question.