Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah Most Merciful Most Kind
Short Answer
Yes it is true that Satan loves divorce, as seen in the hadith below.
Evidence
عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” إِنَّ إِبْلِيسَ يَضَعُ عَرْشَهُ عَلَى الْمَاءِ، ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُ سَرَايَاهُ، فَأَدْنَاهُمْ مِنْهُ مَنْزِلَةً أَعْظَمُهُمْ فِتْنَةً، يَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ: فَعَلْتُ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَيَقُولُ: مَا صَنَعْتَ شَيْئًا، قَالَ ثُمَّ يَجِيءُ أَحَدُهُمْ فَيَقُولُ: مَا تَرَكْتُهُ حَتَّى فَرَّقْتُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ امْرَأَتِهِ، قَالَ: فَيُدْنِيهِ مِنْهُ وَيَقُولُ: نِعْمَ أَنْتَ
(Sayidina) Jabir (May Allah Most High be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “‘Iblis (the devil) places his throne upon water. Then he sends detachments; the one who is nearest him in rank is the one who can cause the most immorality. One of them comes and says: ‘I did such and such.’ And he says: ‘You have done nothing.’ Then one of them comes and says, ‘I did not leave him till I separated him from his wife. He draws him close and says, how great you are.’ “(Sahih Muslim, 2813 – 67).
Classical Scholars
وأجمعت الأمة على صحة هذين الكتابين، ووجوب العمل بأحاديثهما (تهذيب الأسماء واللغات)
The Ummah is unanimously agreed that these two books are Sahih, and that their Hadith narrations must be acted upon. (Imam al-Nawawi, Tadheeb al-Ismaa wa al-Lughaat).
Explanation
The Hadith above is Sahih (authentic) without doubt. This is because all Musnad Hadith narrations in Bukhari and Muslim are Sahih. In this Hadith, it illustrates the pleasure and delight that Iblis (the devil, Shaytan) expresses when discord is created between spouses and they separate.
Therefore, this Hadith provides a serious reminder to Muslims that they must not allow the insinuations and whispers of Satan (Shaytan) to dictate their behaviour. Rather, Muslims should learn and follow the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
Additionally, it is important for the Muslim to remain vigilant regarding the Shaytan (Satan). Consequently, one must recognise that not everything that occurs to him is in fact his own analysis. As such, very often the Shaytan (Satan) is planting destructive thoughts in his mind in order to destroy the relationship.
Not only is divorce loved by Shaytan, but more importantly, divorce is hated or detested by Allah (Most High). Therefore, one should try to avoid it as much as possible. One should make every effort to mend the marriage. However, if despite one’s best efforts there is no way to reconcile, then divorce is permitted as a last resort.
And Allah Most High Knows Best.
–Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (12.04.23)