Is divorce the most hated by Allah of all Halal things?


ⓘ Supported by Al Medina 313.

Quran

Hadith

Islamic Text

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind

Short Answer:

Yes, it is true that of all Halal things, divorce is the most hated by Allah (Most High). This is because authentic Hadith narrations have mentioned it.

Evidence

عَنْ مُحَارِبِ بْنِ دِثَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَا أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ شَيْئًا أَبْغَضَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الطَّلَاقِ. هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحُ الْإِسْنَادِ، وَلَمْ يُخَرِّجَاهُ. قال الإمام الذهبي (بعد تصحيح الحاكم للحديث) على شرط مسلم

(Sayidina) Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah Most High be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Allah did not make anything Halal (lawful) that was more detested to Him (Most High) than divorce.’ This Hadith has a sound chain, but they (the two Imams) did not narrate it. After narrating the authentication of al-Hakim, Imam al-Dhahabi said, it is (Sahih) according to the conditions of (Imam) Muslim. (Mustadrak al-Hakim, 2794).

Further, there is another Hadith with a slightly variant wording that also mentions that divorce is hated or detested by Allah (Most High).

عَنْ مُحَارِبِ بْنِ دِثَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: أَبْغَضُ الْحَلَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى الطَّلَاقُ

(Sayidina) Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah Most High be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘The most detested of Halal (permissible) matters to Allah (Most High) is divorce.’ (Abu Dawood, 2178).

Classical scholars

حديث مُعَرِّف بن واصل، عن محارب بن دثار، عن ابن عمر مرفوعاً: “ما أحل الله شيئاً أبغض إليه من الطلاق“. (مختصرُ استدرَاك الحافِظ الذّهبي على مُستدرَك أبي عبد اللهِ الحَاكم)

The Hadith of Muarif bin Wasil from Muharib bin Dithaar, from Ibn Umar from the Prophet ﷺ (Marfu): ‘Allah did not make anything Halal (lawful) that was more detested to Him (Most High) than divorce.’ He said it is Sahih. I say, upon the conditions of Muslim. (Imam Ibn al-Mulaqin, Mukhtasar Istidraak al-Imam al-Dhahabi).

Explanation

The first Hadith narration in Mustadrak al-Hakim is authentic according to Imam al-Dhahabi.

The second Hadith narration in Abu Dawood has sound narrators. However, there was a dispute amongst Hadith scholars regarding it being Mursal or not. Nevertheless, the second hadith further supports the narration from al-Hakim as both converge upon the fact that divorce is hated by Allah (Most High). Additionally, divorce is loved by Shaytan.  

Despite that, however, the issue of divorce is widely misunderstood in our communities. Likewise, many misconceptions are rife. Furthermore, it is generally obligatory for Muslims to study the Fiqh of marriage and divorce prior to marriage. Despite that, if that is not done, then it is an urgent obligation when married. Furthermore, in an environment where there is so much confusion this obligation is intensified.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (12.04.23)