# Can Muslim Women Divorce?

**Author:** Yaqeen Institute
**Series:** Does Islam Oppress Women? 5 Myths Animation Series
**Published:** 2019-12-17
**YouTube:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY8KtRQWzrg
**URL:** https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/animation/can-muslim-women-divorce-animation
**Topics:** Jurisprudence (fiqh), Sharia

## Description
What is the ruling on women initiating divorce in Islamic law and what rights is she entitled to? We cover the three types of divorce in the Shari’ah.

## Transcript
**[0:00]** Does Islamic law oppress women? Myth number 2.

**[0:15]** Muslim women cannot divorce. There are multiple types of legal divorce in Islam. The first is called talaq and it's when the husband initiates the divorce. The ex-husband is required to pay child support regardless of custody and the divorced woman

**[0:31]** is entitled financial maintenance until the end of her waiting period. The second type is called tafriq or fask. This is when a judge grants the woman a divorce without the consent of her husband because of any physical, social or financial harm he may be inflicting on his wife.

**[0:50]** It can be initiated by the wife or a blood relative on her behalf to ensure her protection. The third type is called khul and it's when the woman has a right to divorce her husband based on any legitimate concern. In a khul, the wife must return the dower her husband paid her at the commencement of

**[1:09]** the marriage. The complete rulings on these types of divorces are heavily detailed and circumstantial. But one thing is clear. Muslim women not only have clear ways to seek divorce and separation, but have assured protections

**[1:24]** in marriage. Stay tuned for the next myth in this series. Are Muslim women considered inherently less reliable than men?

## Other Episodes in "Does Islam Oppress Women? 5 Myths Animation Series"
- [Does Islam Call for Muslim Men to Oppress Women with Polygamy?](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/does-islam-oppress-women-5-myths-animation-series/does-islam-call-for-muslim-men-to-oppress-women-with-polygamy.md)
- [Do Islamic Inheritance Laws Favor Men Over Women?](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/does-islam-oppress-women-5-myths-animation-series/do-islamic-inheritance-laws-favor-men-over-women.md)
- [Is a Woman's Testimony Worth Half of a Man's?](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/does-islam-oppress-women-5-myths-animation-series/is-a-womans-testimony-worth-half-of-a-mans.md)
- [Does Islam Instruct Men to Beat Women?](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/does-islam-oppress-women-5-myths-animation-series/does-islam-instruct-men-to-beat-women-animation.md)