Islamic marriage, English divorce: For growing numbers of British Muslim women, the results can be devastating

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Rising divorce rates among British Muslim communities have prompted questions over the status of Islamic marriage.
Updated 19 May 2018
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Islamic marriage, English divorce: For growing numbers of British Muslim women, the results can be devastating

  • Rising divorce rates among British Muslim communities have prompted questions over the status of Islamic marriage — known in Arabic as “nikah” — in the UK.
  • In 2017, a survey by UK TV station Channel 4 of 1,000 British Muslim women found that almost two-thirds had a nikah-only marriage.

LONDON: Farida Miah was still reeling from the shock of learning that her husband had taken a second wife when she found out he had divorced her and ended their 18-year marriage.

Miah, a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin, contacted a UK civil court and learned that her husband had managed to bypass the dowry settlement due to her under the terms of their Islamic marriage, leaving her with nothing.

“He has all we owned,” said Miah, who lives in London and whose name has been changed to protect her identity. 

Her problems arose because — like many Muslim women in the UK — she had “an Islamic marriage, but an English divorce” via a British civil court. More than a decade later, she is still struggling to put her life back together after finding herself stuck between these conflicting cultural and legal codes.

“The UK courts say there is nothing they can do — there is no law to help. Everywhere I turned was blocked to me,” she told Arab News. 

Rising divorce rates among British Muslim communities have prompted questions over the status of Islamic marriage — known in Arabic as “nikah” — in the UK. Lacking formal legal recognition, it denies couples the protections available in civil unions if the relationship breaks down.

“The state only affords you rights through the institution of marriage, without that you have no access to support,” said Samia Bano, a senior lecturer specializing in Muslim family law at SOAS University of London, a leading institution for Middle East studies. While the fallout can negatively affect both parties, women, in particular, are “often left in precarious situations,” she said.

In 2017, a survey by UK TV station Channel 4 of 1,000 British Muslim women found that almost two-thirds had a nikah-only marriage and that more than a quarter did not realize this meant they would be denied rights and protections they would have had for a marriage union that was legally recognized.

For these women, the discovery can be “devastating,” said Sarah Khan-Bashir, a lawyer specializing in sharia divorce. “They think they’ve got all the rights that husbands and wives should have, but they don’t, and they find out when it’s far too late.”

One client faced losing her home after her husband of 23 years died as she was unable to produce proof that he had divorced his first wife. Khan-Bashir had to explain to her that she was effectively a cohabitee with a nikah, news that left the client shaking visibly. 

Family lawyer Siddique Patel said that nikah-only marriage is becoming more popular. “Among the under-30s, a lot of Muslim men and women who were born and bred in the UK are coming to us with unregistered marriages.” 

Lack of awareness is a major factor, but sometimes the wealthier partner — usually the man — bypasses a civil ceremony to escape equal division of assets in a civil divorce. “They’re scared 50:50 splits will happen,” Patel said, adding that “women lose out more (often) than men.” 

Patel is part of the team behind the Register Our Marriage campaign, which is calling for compulsory registration of all marriages and the reform of the 1949 Marriage Act to cover all faiths. This 69-year-old law is no longer “fit for purpose” in a modern multicultural society, said Islamic law expert Aina Khan, who launched the campaign. The Act only recognizes religious ceremonies conducted in the Anglican, Quaker Christian and Jewish traditions.

Although people of all other religions are affected, others tend to register, while the campaign estimates that around 80 percent of newly married Muslims do not.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Dubayan, director general of the Islamic Cultural Center and the London Central Mosque, said UK Muslims need to have both ceremonies. “As British citizens, or people living in the UK, we make the civil marriage a condition because it’s required by law,” he said. 

Some couples prefer the nikah-only marriage, which can be resolved without recourse to the courts if the relationship breaks down.

“The Islamic marriage is easy. We don’t need an imam, we don’t need a registry office, we don’t need a specific building, it’s simple,” said Dr. Haitham Al-Haddad, a British Muslim scholar who sits on the board of the Islamic Sharia Council. “The civil relationship, if they want to end their marriage, is a nightmare for both sides,” he added.

Couples seeking an Islamic divorce can arrange their affairs through sharia councils or local imams. Contrary to concerns that they provide a “parallel legal system,” these bodies have no jurisdiction in the UK, but have significant sway among British Muslim communities.

Waiting outside Dr. Al-Haddad’s office above the East London Mosque to discuss dissolving her 18-year marriage, Sumaiya Ali, whose name has also been changed to protect her identity, said this route is “a lot easier” and cheaper than going through the UK divorce courts. “It’s good for me because I don’t have to do that,” said Ali.

In Islam, husbands can divorce their wives by saying the Arabic word “talaq” — meaning repudiation or divorce — three times, but wives are required to obtain consent from their husbands to end the marriage. Failing that, the sharia council is a woman’s only recourse for pursuing “khula” — the Islamic procedure in which the wife initiates the divorce.

Based on personal experience, Dr. Al-Haddad estimated that 75 to 80 percent of cases heard by Islamic councils in the UK are granted, but in other European countries where sharia councils are not available, women are “really suffering because there are no bodies to end their marriages,” he said.

With cuts to legal aid increasing the cost of civil divorce ceremonies, more British Muslim couples than ever are turning to sharia councils. In December 2016, the Casey Review on integration in UK communities suggested that the influence of sharia councils was growing and highlighted concerns over their “discriminatory practices against women.”

Across the UK, “experiences of sharia courts vary vastly” and while some provide the support women seek, there are “undoubtedly instances” where women’s rights are compromised, said Sajda Mughal, CEO of the JAN Trust, a non-profit organization supporting marginalized women.

Southall Black Sisters, a non-profit organization representing ethnic minority women in London, believes there should be one law for all marriages in England and Wales. It cites “incompetence”, “maladministration” and “flagrant human rights abuses” among the problems faced by women who use religious forums and tribunals to resolve family disputes.

When Miah, 44, told her story to an east London sharia council, hoping it would help her retrieve the money due under the terms of her nikah marriage, she said the response was “appalling.” She was advised her to go back to the husband as the divorce had been “English” rather than Islamic.

Having used Miah’s documents to secure his right to remain in the UK and lived off her earnings during their marriage, her husband — a cousin on her father’s side — began proceedings to bring a new wife over from Bangladesh. 

“He invited a relative to the wedding — that’s how I found out he had a second wife,” said Miah. This was the last straw after being forced to marry a man 13 years her senior who she accused of marrying her to get a UK passport.

Feeling let down by the law in the land of her birth as well as representatives of the faith she grew up with, Miah suffered a series of health and psychological setbacks.

Working with counsellors at Southall Black Sisters helped her to find stability, but she still feels hurt that her parents forced her to marry at the age of 12 when she was “still a little girl playing with my dolls.” 

More than 13 years after the divorce came through on March 16, 2005 — Miah’s birthday — she is still trying to put the past behind her. “When I see the date on the certificate, I think, that day I was born free and now on my birthday I am free again. I just look at it like that.” 


Pakistan stocks drop over 1,900 points amid Israel-Iran tensions

Updated 17 min 38 sec ago
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Pakistan stocks drop over 1,900 points amid Israel-Iran tensions

  • Analysts cite fears of broader regional escalation following Israeli strikes on Iran
  • Israel struck Iran, claiming Tehran was “close” to developing a nuclear weapon

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) plunged more than 1,900 points on Friday, as investor sentiment soured following Israel’s strikes on Iran, triggering fears of wider regional escalation.

The benchmark KSE-100 index fell 1,949.56 points, or 1.57 percent, closing at 122,143.56, down from the previous close of 124,093.12.

Shares traded largely in the red, mirroring losses across regional and global markets after the Israeli attacks shook investor confidence, according to a market review by Pakistani brokerage Topline Securities.

“Geopolitical tensions after Israel’s attack in Iran weighed down on world equities, including the KSE100,” Raza Jafri, Head of Intermarket Securities, told Arab News. “In particular, if a geopolitical risk premium gets added to international oil prices on a prolonged basis, it could negatively affect the outlook for the current account deficit and inflation, given more than 25 percent of Pakistan’s import bill comprises of petroleum products.”

He noted that Pakistan was now “much more disciplined” economically, having avoided fuel subsidies and refrained from using foreign exchange reserves to support the currency. This, he said, would help the country better withstand a potential oil price shock than in the past.

Ahsan Mehanti, Chief Executive of Arif Habib Commodities Ltd, said stocks declined across the board in response to the strikes.

“Slump in global equities on geopolitical risks and weakening rupee played catalyst role in panic selling at PSX,” he said.

Israel launched strikes on Iran earlier on Friday, claiming Tehran was “very close” to developing a nuclear weapon. The attacks reportedly targeted nuclear facilities, scientists, and senior military commanders.
 


Pakistan stocks drop over 1,900 points amid Israel-Iran tensions

Updated 17 min 45 sec ago
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Pakistan stocks drop over 1,900 points amid Israel-Iran tensions

  • Analysts cite fears of broader regional escalation following Israeli strikes on Iran
  • Israel struck Iran, claiming Tehran was “close” to developing a nuclear weapon

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) plunged more than 1,900 points on Friday, as investor sentiment soured following Israel’s strikes on Iran, triggering fears of wider regional escalation.

The benchmark KSE-100 index fell 1,949.56 points, or 1.57 percent, closing at 122,143.56, down from the previous close of 124,093.12.

Shares traded largely in the red, mirroring losses across regional and global markets after the Israeli attacks shook investor confidence, according to a market review by Pakistani brokerage Topline Securities.

“Geopolitical tensions after Israel’s attack in Iran weighed down on world equities, including the KSE100,” Raza Jafri, Head of Intermarket Securities, told Arab News. “In particular, if a geopolitical risk premium gets added to international oil prices on a prolonged basis, it could negatively affect the outlook for the current account deficit and inflation, given more than 25 percent of Pakistan’s import bill comprises of petroleum products.”

He noted that Pakistan was now “much more disciplined” economically, having avoided fuel subsidies and refrained from using foreign exchange reserves to support the currency. This, he said, would help the country better withstand a potential oil price shock than in the past.

Ahsan Mehanti, Chief Executive of Arif Habib Commodities Ltd, said stocks declined across the board in response to the strikes.

“Slump in global equities on geopolitical risks and weakening rupee played catalyst role in panic selling at PSX,” he said.

Israel launched strikes on Iran earlier on Friday, claiming Tehran was “very close” to developing a nuclear weapon. The attacks reportedly targeted nuclear facilities, scientists, and senior military commanders.
 


Saudi FM holds calls with Kuwaiti, Palestinian and Norwegian counterparts on regional tensions

Updated 22 min 47 sec ago
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Saudi FM holds calls with Kuwaiti, Palestinian and Norwegian counterparts on regional tensions

  • Calls came amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Friday held a series of phone calls with regional and international counterparts to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a call with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, the two sides reviewed the recent Israeli strike on Iran, its regional repercussions, and stressed the importance of de-escalation and safeguarding regional security, SPA added.

Prince Faisal also spoke with Palestinian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Mustafa, with discussions also focused on the latest developments in the region and their wider implications.

In a separate call, the Saudi minister discussed regional and international issues of common interest with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.


Saudi airports issue travel alert after airspace closures amid Israel-Iran tension

Updated 30 min 26 sec ago
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Saudi airports issue travel alert after airspace closures amid Israel-Iran tension

  • Major airports authorities in the Kingdom have advised those traveling to check with their airlines before heading to the airport to avoid delays or flight changes

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday issued a travel alert for citizens and residents after airspace closures following the Israeli attacks on Iran ramping up tensions between the regional rivals.

Increased tensions in the region could pose security risks and several countries in the Middle East closed their airspace, resulting in travel disruptions, including flight cancellations.

Major airports authorities in the Kingdom have advised those traveling to check with their airlines before heading to the airport to avoid delays or flight changes.

In advisories on social media, King Khalid International Airport Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, King Fahd International Airport, Dammam and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah, said: “In the interest of your safety and comfort and due to the current developments in some countries in the region, travelers heading to destinations affected by airspace closures are kindly advised to contact their respective airlines directly before proceeding to the airport.

“This is to confirm the latest updates on their flights and to avoid any unexpected delays or changes. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and we are always pleased to serve you.”

After Israel attacked Iran early on Friday, airlines diverted flights affected by airspace closures.

Airlines cleared out of the airspace over Israel, Iran and Iraq, Flightradar24 data showed, with carriers scrambling to divert and cancel flights to keep passengers and crew safe.

Joanne Serrieh, a journalist working with Alarabiya, on Friday afternoon posted on X: “Currently on Emirates flight EK216 from LAX to DXB. We’re being diverted to avoid closed Iranian airspace. We’ll be landing in Jeddah to refuel then will hopefully be able to continue to Dubai.”

Shamim Akhter, an Indian expat who worked in Riyadh for decades and is flying back home tonight on final exit, told Arab News: “After learning about airspace closure and flight diversion from Arab News, I contacted my airline, so far, the flight is expected to depart as scheduled. There is no change in timing, so I will proceed on time.

“If there is a change, I will be informed by the airline,” he said, adding: “The heightened tension following the Israeli attack on Iran has created unnecessary chaos. I hope and pray things return to normal soon.”

Due to the heightened tension Iranian airspace has been closed until further notice, state media reported. Jordan also closed its airspace to all flights.

Israel has suspended flights to and from Israel, its flag carrier El Al Airlines said. Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice.

Conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations. Six commercial aircraft have been shot down unintentionally and three endured near misses since 2001, according to aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions.


Pakistan urges religious devotees to postpone travel to Iran, Iraq amid regional tensions

Updated 13 June 2025
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Pakistan urges religious devotees to postpone travel to Iran, Iraq amid regional tensions

  • A senior government official says currently there are an estimated 5,000 Zaireen in Iran
  • Israel launched strikes against Iranian military and nuclear facilities earlier in the day

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday advised its citizens planning religious travel to Iran and Iraq to reconsider their plans, citing security concerns after Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities earlier in the day.

The advisory mentions Pakistani “Zaireen,” or Shi’ite Muslim pilgrims who travel to Iran and Iraq to visit sacred religious sites, particularly in Mashhad, Qom, Najaf and Karbala.

The region has seen heightened tensions following Israeli attacks on key installations in Iran, prompting fears of broader instability.

“In view of the evolving security situation in the region, the Zaireen from Pakistan are advised to reconsider their travel plans to Iran and Iraq,” the foreign office said in a brief statement issued in Islamabad.

According to a senior government official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the number of Zaireen traveling to Iran fluctuates, and most do not contact the Pakistani diplomatic missions.

“Currently, there are an estimated 5,000 Zaireen in Iran,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s embassy in Tehran and its consulates remain available to assist citizens.

“Any Pakistani requiring guidance or support is encouraged to contact our relevant diplomatic missions, which will, as always, provide necessary assistance and facilitate their return to Pakistan,” the official added.

While no evacuation plans have been announced, the authorities say they are closely monitoring the regional situation.