« HarryTho 3/29 Natalee Holloway Commentary | Main | Breaking: Kidnapped American Reporter Jill Carroll Freed in Baghdad (Update) »

March 29, 2006

The Accidental Divorce

Topics: Understanding Islam

A Muslim man was ordered to leave his wife after he accidentally, well unconsciously, divorced her:

Aftab Ansari uttered the Urdu word for divorce, "talaq," three times in his sleep, prompting his worried wife to discuss the matter with her friends, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

Under Islamic law, a husband need only say "I divorce you" three times to secure a permanent end to his marriage.

Muslim leaders in the couple's village in West Bengal state found out and decreed that Ansari's unconscious utterances constituted a divorce, PTI reported.

But 30-year-old Ansari said he had no intention of leaving his wife of 11 years.

"I have not given talaq. When I uttered talaq three times I had taken medicines to help me sleep," he was quoted as saying in the report.

The religious leaders said that before remarrying, the couple would have to be apart for at least 100 days and that the wife, Sohela, would also have to spend a night with another man and then be divorced by him.

PTI reported that the couple has been ostracized because of their refusal to abide by the decision of the village leaders.

Yes, marriage counseling Islamic style.

Posted by tim at March 29, 2006 10:42 PM

Articles Related to Understanding Islam:

• Robert Spencer Addresses ISNA's Attack On McCain For Calling Islamic Terrorism - Islamic Terrorism - May 01, 2008
• Muslim Woman Suing Over Niqab is Lying To Federal Judge - Apr 30, 2008
• Pakistani Senate condemns Motoons, Fitna, urges UN to take 'all necessary legal, political and administrative steps to curb this trend' - Apr 26, 2008
• More Than 'A Little Unhinged' - Apr 26, 2008
• Muslim Groups Complain About McCain Referring To "Islamic terrorists" As "Islamic Terrorists - Apr 21, 2008
• Book ''Why We Left Islam' may face Muslim wrath - Apr 21, 2008
• Arab And Muslim Countries, With Help From The UN, Are Out To Destroy Our Right Of Free Speech - Apr 18, 2008
• Robert Spencer On Freedom Of Speech In The Age Of Jihad - Apr 13, 2008
• Behold the wisdom (despotic logic) of the Saudi cleric, Muhammad al-Munajid - Apr 12, 2008
• Here's The 'New' Fitna (Updated) - Apr 09, 2008