Connie -this may be of some help

Submitted by Isis (Australia), Jun 22, 2008 at 08:35

Connie - I found the following on the internet regarding Muslim divorce in India. Might not be much but at least it's a start.

"Divorce after marriage for reasons of infertility and incompatibility in the case of both man and woman. Both men and women are allowed to seek divorce. For males, they can divorce by uttering the word ‘talaak' three times. However, the words talaak have to be said on three different occasions, after reasonable sufficient interval which is not defined. It is believed that Prophet Mohammed once said that of all the rights given to males and females regarding divorce, this aspect is the one he liked least. Normally, a witness is not required, but in case of infidelity, a witness is required.

In case the woman does not feel compatible with the husband, "darul-Qaza" -she can go to the cleric and present her case, and she can get a divorce. This may occur for many reasons: wife beating, impotency, drunkard, does not give her enough to eat. She gets ‘khula'. The meher amount is given back to the girl.

Although so many elaborate provisions exist for divorce, it is not at all common to divorce among middle classes. A man can have 4 wives according to sharia, but in India, it is not at all common. Most Muslims marry only once. A man can marry a second time only when he gets consent of his wife, and he has to share equally with both. He can only marry more than one woman, if he can treat them equally. If he does not follow this practice the man will not be pardoned even in death. If his wife dies, he can marry her sister."

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