to the mursal version, as Ibn Abī Ḥātim—citing his father—preferred; the same judgment was endorsed by al-Dāraquṭnī and al-Bayhaqī. Al-Khaṭṭābī, followed by al-Mundhirī, likewise stated: “What is widely accepted regarding it is that it is mursal.”

Lessons drawn from the ḥadīth:
1 – The objective of marriage is permanence and continuity: to build a home and establish a family whose nucleus is the husband and wife.
2 – Divorce demolishes that home, dismantles its pillars, and erases its features.
3 – Divorce nullifies the many benefits of marriage—forming a family, producing children, and increasing the numbers of the Muslim community.
4 – Divorce is separation after happy harmony, sorrow after joy, and despair after great hope.
5 – Divorce breeds enmity and hatred between the spouses and between their two families after closeness, affection, and mutual familiarity had prevailed.
6 – Divorce scatters the existing children; it deprives them either of the father’s care, upbringing, education, and guidance, or of the mother’s tenderness, nurture, and compassion.
7 – Divorce is the most detested of lawful things to Allah Almighty because of the calamities it leads to, the disasters that follow it, and the hardships and harms it causes.
8 – Divorce is not praiseworthy, nor does the wisdom behind its legislation become evident, except when marital life has soured, love and affection have vanished, disputes and discord have multiplied, understanding and harmony have grown difficult, and living together has become impossible. At that point divorce is a mercy and separation a blessing. Allah the Exalted says: “If you fear that the two will not be able to keep within the bounds set by Allah, then there is no blame on either of them if she ransoms herself” (2:229), and He says: “But if the two separate, Allah will enrich each of them out of His bounty” (4:130).
9 – All this makes clear the majesty of this religion and the loftiness of its rulings—how they accord with sound reason and align with both public and private interests.