According to the consensus of Muslim scholars doubt alone does not have any weight concerning divorce of one’s wife.

The issue remains whether the words were uttered “intentionally” and “freely.” Most of the writings I have seen concerning these issues deal with compulsion or sanity. No one is saying this man was threatened or compelled, or insane. Hypothetical or real, the case seems to be one in which it is emminently possible to read Shari’a as procla9iming him divorced, whether he wants to be or not.

When you say ‘Islamic law doesn’t factor in intent’ it is totally the opposite! one of the most important rules in Islam is ‘intent’!!!!

Well, let’s see a link to that then.

When you say ‘Islamic law doesn’t factor in intent’ it is totally the opposite! one of the most important rules in Islam is ‘intent’!!!!

As I have read, in at least some of the major Sunni Islamic legal schools, the plain words that make a lawful divorce are legally effective whether one intends divorce by them or not. Only evidence of coercion or insanity can negate them.

So, yes, Islam pays careful attention to “intent,” but in some cases that means deciding that intent has no effect on outcome, and this appears to be one such case.

I can not but help feeling that following (and publicising) these kinds of “events” in Islam could only be paralleled by having someone like Jerry Falwell, or Pat Robinson as the primary interpreter of the Christian faith.

On that basis then, to what extent should we accept news of this kind as representative of all Islam?

About as far as Falwell and Robinson represent true Christianity.

Shouldn’t this situation be a matter of actual *intent?*

This is obviously not a case of conscously-uttered intent.

Or am I finding too much of a parallell with the construction of “intent and action” that underlies much of christian theology?

Hell, I’m not of Islam and I know what talaq is (I also know what the Jewish “Get” means). Why did this woman tell her friends? Are they the ones who told the local Islam leaders? What kind of friends does she have? Are all of these people unaware of the weirdness of our times, such that they would feel free to talk casually about this sleeping pillowtalk? Was there some level on which the wife wanted to be away from her husband but then had second thoughts? There are a raft of unanswered questions here, or at least gaps in the story as presented by CNN.

Probligo, I believe you’re thinking of the Britney Spears Does Vegas incident, in 2004.

Because obviously those ‘local Islamic leaders’ are the shining example of what Muslim is.

Way to be a bigot.

Ha! Do you even know Islamic law Serg? My guess would be no. And to throw the term “bigot” around so liberally speaks incredibly poorly of you.

I have defended Islam on this blog many times before, but there are some big problems with the religion. This is one glaring example. There are others. I urge you to seek them out and start debating why people have to live under such repressive and nonsensical rules.

The Islamic procedure known as “triple talaqâ€Â?? Is that like saying “there’s no place like home” three times or saying “bloody mary” three times”? How about saying “Beetlejuice” three times?

So, let me get this straight … Sohela and Aftab’s marraige is “colateral damage in an (UN)holy war?

Who was the film/song star with the 8 hour marriage - not that long back?

Way to be a bigot.