Muslim Women Seeking Divorce: An Analysis on Socio-Religious Practice

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 1 - 20, 23.06.2021

Fazalul Haq Maryaniwal , Sanaa Talwasa

Abstract

Islamic regulations about Muslims’ private life attract attention since it bolds women’s rights from several perspectives in society. Marriage and divorce concepts reflect the core approach of Islamic law toward women’s rights, and not surprisingly, the Islamic traditional interpretations pulse cultural and social norms render women vulnerable in the private sphere of life. Accordingly, religious institutions fail to develop an inclusive procedure for women seeking a divorce when needed. Muslim society has snowballed divorce to an extent that Muslim women prefer to live with toxic, torturous, and extremely abusive marriages rather than being labeled as a “divorcee,” and religious institutions exacerbate this approach. Nevertheless, pre-modern jurisprudence and interpretation of Islam struggle to secure its role in the private aspects of Muslims’ life, protecting women’s fundamental rights and adapting social norms as well. The paper tends to highlight the significance of religious institutions’ role to combat the social stigma of divorce targeting Muslim women, especially those who face domestic violence in a marital relation. The paper points out the absence of any religious instructions encouraging women to get along with toxic and violent marital relations for spiritual assets. It is reiterated that Imams need to facilitate religious divorce for women when special conditions are met. The paper suggests adaptations to the social norms of Muslim society to secure women’s fundamental and religious rights. 

Keywords

Divorce, Religious institutions, Muslim women, Social Stigma, Community.

Boşanmak İsteyen Müslüman Kadınlar: Dini ve Sosyolojik Bir Analiz

Abstract

Müslümanların özel hayatıyla ilgili İslami düzenlemeler, toplumdaki çeşitli açılardan kadın haklarını tanımlamaları nedeniyle dikkat çekmektedir. Evlilik ve boşanma kavramları İslam hukukunun kadın haklarına yönelik temel yaklaşımını yansıtmaktadır ve şaşırtıcı olmayan bir şekilde, geleneksel İslam yorumları kültürel ve sosyal normlarıyla birlikte özel yaşam alanlarında kadınları savunmasız hale getirmektedir. Dini kurumlar gerektiğinde boşanmak isteyen kadınlar için kapsayıcı bir prosedür geliştirememişlerdir. Müslüman toplumu boşanma meselesini o denli büyütmüştür ki Müslüman kadınlar “boşanmış” diye yaftalanmaktansa zehirli, eziyetli ve aşırı suistimalli evliliklerle yaşamayı yeğler ve dini kurumlar da bu yaklaşımı güçlendirmektedir. Ancak pre-modern İslam içtihatı ve yorumu, Müslümanların yaşamının özel alanlarında temel kadın haklarının korunmasında ve aynı zamanda sosyal normları uyarlamada İslam'ın rolünü korumaya uğraşmaktadır. Bu makale, boşanmanın Müslüman kadınları, özellikle evlilik ilişkisinde aile içi şiddete maruz kalanları hedef alan bir sosyal damgalama olmasıyla mücadelede dini kurumların rolünün önemini vurgulama eğilimindedir. Makale, kadınları manevi değerler için zehirli ve şiddetli evlilik ilişkileriyle geçinmeye teşvik eden herhangi bir dini talimatın yokluğuna işaret etmektedir. İmamların özel koşullar sağlandığında kadınlar için dini boşanmayı kolaylaştırmaları gerektiği yinelenmektedir. Makale, kadınların temel ve dini haklarının korunması için Müslüman toplumun sosyal normlarına uyarlamalar önermektedir.

Keywords

Boşanma, Dini Kurumlar, Müslüman Kadınlar, Sosyal Damgalama, Topluluk.

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