Seven Rulings of Khul'

**1. Khul' is Permissible for Poor Relations:** It is permissible when there is poor treatment between the spouses. It only occurs with financial compensation that the wife gives to the husband. **2. Only Valid from a Mature Woman:** It is not valid from anyone other than the mature, mentally sound wife (rashidah), because one who is not mature lacks the capacity to dispose of property. **3. After Khul', the Woman Owns Herself:** When a man gives khul' to his wife, she becomes owner of her own affairs. The husband has no authority over her, and he has no right to take her back. **4. No Divorce, Zihar, or Ila' Applies:** The woman cannot be affected by divorce, zihar (oath of estrangement), or ila' (oath of abstinence) during her waiting period from the husband who gave her khul', because she becomes a stranger to her husband. **5. Permissible During Menstruation or Pregnancy:** Khul' is permissible during menstruation and during the period of purity in which the husband had intercourse with her, because there is no harm to her in that. Allah permitted it without restriction to any specific time. **6. Forbidden for Husband to Force Khul':** It is prohibited for the man to harm his wife and withhold her rights to force her to seek khul'. - **Evidence:** Allah says: "And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality" [An-Nisa: 19] **7. Disliked for Wife Without Valid Reason:** It is disliked and prohibited for the woman to seek khul' from her husband when circumstances are good and without a reason that necessitates it - such as the husband having a physical defect she cannot tolerate, or bad character, or she fears she cannot fulfill Allah's limits with him. --- **Wisdom of Khul':** Marriage is a bond between spouses and living together in kindness, as Allah says: "And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy" [Ar-Rum: 21]. This is the fruit of marriage. If this meaning is not achieved - if affection is absent from both parties or from the husband alone, and treatment becomes poor and remedy difficult - then the husband is commanded to release his wife with kindness, as Allah says: "So either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment" [Al-Baqarah: 229]. If affection exists from the husband's side but not from the wife's - she dislikes his character, or dislikes the deficiency of his religion, or fears sinning by neglecting his rights - then in this case, it is permissible for the woman to seek separation in exchange for compensation she pays to ransom herself, as Allah says: "And if you fear that they will not keep the limits of Allah, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself" [Al-Baqarah: 229].