Abstract

It is not only a husband who has been given a right to divorce his wife in case of any discord but the wife has also been given a right to ask for separation in Islam. Islam commands the husband to retain the wife in kindness and to take every possible measure for maximization of marital success. This paper provides an analytical study of the right of women in Islamic and Pakistani laws to get separation when her husband remains missing. It also analyzes the status of the missing of the husband and the problems faced by the wife while getting separation through court in case of a missing husband. A survey in the form of interviews was conducted to highlight the reasons of not filing the missing husband cases in the courts. 

Key Words

Marriage (Nikah), Dissolution of Marriage act 1939, Missing of Husband (Mafq?d-ul-Khaber), Fasakh

Introduction

Marriage is the basic unit of the society which is observed through the institution of Nik?? in Islam. The relationship between man and woman in marriage is sacred and based on love, cooperation, and affection. A Muslim Marriage is a civil contract which can be dissolved like any other contract. It was the general perception that the right of divorce belongs only to the husband and women had no rights to obtain a divorce through the court. But in Islam husband and wife doth have given the right to dissolve the marriage when they observed that they cannot live within the limits prescribed by the Allah Almighty.

A missing person is one whose whereabouts are not known and there is uncertainty about him whether he is alive or not (Al-Marghin?n?, 1416). A wife, whose husband has been missing for a long period, suffers from a great hardship regarding protection, companionship, enjoying the happy married life and financial support. It is, therefore, necessary for her interest as well as for the interest of the society to dissolve the marriage if she desires so.

Jurists differ over this issue whether a woman can seek divorce on her husband’s missing or not.

According to Im?m Ab? ?an?fah (Al-Zu?ayl?, Wahbah, 1989, Ibn ‘?bidd?n, 1407, Ibn Hum?m, sn, Dr. Mu?ammad‘Aqlah, 1989, Farang?, sn, Dr. A?mad Y?suf, 1994) and Im?mSh?fi?? (Al-Raml?, 1386) a woman whose husband’s whereabouts are not known, is not entitle to seek separation until the death of the husband is not make conform to certainty. They have fixed the time on the expiry of which the missing person shall be considered to dead surely. There are many traditions about the period fixed by the Ab? ?an?fah. Al-?ussan ibn ?iy?d has stated a report of Ab? ?an?fah that a person shall be deemed to dead on the age of one hundred and twenty years from his birth (Al-Marghin?n?, 1416). According to ??hir al-Riw?yah (A collection of consists of 6 books: J?ma‘ Kabir, J?ma‘ ?agh?r, Siyar Kab?r and Siyar ?agh?r, 5. Mab??? (Also called the Asl), 6. Ziyadat on  the rulings of the Hanafi imams namely Ab? Hanifah, Ab?Y?suf, and Mu?ammad) ?anaf? School of law hold the opinion that the missing person shall be deemed to be dead when none of coevals of the missing person remain alive. They hold this view because it is rarely possible that man lives after the death of his coevals. Im?m Ab? Yusuf has reported the time of a hundred years, and in another report, it is stated ninety years (Al-Marghin?n?, 1416, Al-Sarakhs?, 1398, Maw?al? al-Buldaj?, 1426. So according to ?anaf?’s a missing person would be declared to be dead when he would have attained an age at which he would die in the ordinary course of nature. 

However, there are some exceptional certain circumstances in which a missing person can is strongly assumed to be dead earlier then the time reported by the jurists. Therefore, a person took part in a war and gets missing and there is no news whether his is alive or dead, or he has left 

home in condition of serious death-illness and becomes untraceable. Or he had gone on a sea voyage and there is no news of his reaching at any port. In all these circumstances, a Q??? can declare a missing person to be dead and dissolve the marriage (Th?naw?, 1987, Al-Sh?fi??, 1400,). The wife then observes ?Iddah of a dead person (of four months and ten days) and shall have the right to contract another marriage (Th?naw?, 1987, Al-Sh?fi??, 1400).   

Some of the ?anaf? jurists hold the view that the matter should be left with Q??? and he shall decide the case according to the particular circumstances (Ibn ‘?bidd?n, 1407).

?anaf? and Sh?fi?? jurists’ argument in support of their opinion is the sayings of the Holy Prophet Mu?ammad (P.B.U.H) about the wife of the missing person. D?r al-Qu?n? (1316) stated the tradition as:

"????? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ????????? ???????????? ??????????? ?????? ??????????? ?????????"

     “Wife of the missing person will remain his wife until any news arrives”.

Another argument is the ruling of the ?a?rat?Al? (R.A) that the wife of the missing person is on trial. She has to be patient until she does learn of her husband’s death or of his pronouncing divorce to her (Al-Bay?iq?, sn). 

Another tradition is narrated by the ?akam Ibn ‘Utibah that if the husband of a woman is missing, he cannot remarry until he arrives or dies (Al-Bay?iq?, sn).

Moreover, they hold the view that there is uncertainty about the husband’s death and the marriage contract cannot be dissolved based on doubt (Al-Marghin?n?, 1416, Al-K?s?n?, 1406, Maw?al? al-Buldaj?, 1426). The M?lik? viewpoint on the issue of a missing person is opposite to ?anaf? and Sh?fi?? juristic. According to Im?m M?lik, a wife of a missing person can remarry after waiting four years from the time when she brings her case to the court and after seeking the court’s decree of dissolution of marriage and observing the ?Iddah period (Ibn Rushd, 1379, Al-Qur?ab?, sn, Al-Kalb?, 1404). Im?m ?anbal (Buh?t?, 1403, Ibn Qud?ma, 1401) has the same view on the issue of missing person as the M?lik?s. 

According to Im?m M?lik there are four kinds of missing persons whose whereabouts are not known:

1- Persons missing in an Islamic State.

2- Persons who get missing in an infidel’s country.

3- Persons missing in war between the Muslim themselves. 

4- Persons missing in war with infidels (Ibn Rushd, 1379).

The waiting period for the wife whose husband’s whereabouts are unknown in an Islamic State, is four years. This period of four years is that if a person is alive then it is not possible to be unknown for such a long time. Moreover, the basic purpose is to remove the damage (darar) from the wife. They have the view that in case of ??l?? and impotency a wife gets deprive of sexual relationship, but when the husband is missing then she is depriving of maintenance too along with the relationship (Ibn Rushd, 1379).

As for the person, whose whereabouts becomes unknown in an infidel’s country has have the same rule as for the prisoner, neither his wife can marry nor divide his wealth until the news of his death is received. 

As for the matter of a wife whose whereabouts are unknown in the battle amongst Muslims themselves, there are two opinions:

1- The wife shall be free for remarriage after observing ?Iddah period without any wait.

2- The wife shall have to wait for one year. 

The persons, missing in the battle of the infidels is subject to the doctrine of four sayings: 

1- There will be rule as same of prisoner.

2- It will be considered that the person has been killed and after one year, waiting the wife can do another marriage. However, when the wife is at a place from where she can have correct news about the husband then the waiting of one year is not necessary.

3- The third view is that the wife can remarry without any wait.

4- The fourth rule is that the person shall be deemed to be killed in case of wife, and in case of property it has the rule same as of missing person in an Islamic state (Ibn Rushd, 1379, Al-Kalb?, 1404). 

Im?m M?lik and Im?m A?mad bin ?anbal hold this view on the base of order of ?a?rat ‘Umar (R.A) which is passed him about the wife of a missing person.

It is reported by Ibn Ab? layl? that a wife appeared before ?a?rat ‘Umar (R.A) whose husband become unknown, He, therefore ordered her to wait for four years from the time she brought her case before him. She, then remarry after that period. Later the first husband appeared, ?a?rat ‘Umar gave him a choice between the wife and the Mehr and he chose to take beck the mehr (Al-Buldaj?, 1426, Anas bin M?lik, sn).

There are several versions of the tradition in which ?a?rat ‘Umar fixed the time of four years for the wife whose husband becomes unknown (Al-Buldaj?, 1426).

Calculation of the Period

There are several views as to when the time of four years would be calculated. According to Im?mM?lik, the period of four years commences from the time when the wife brings the case to the court and when the Q???passes his decree. After the four years wait, divorce shall take effect and the wife shall be free for marital-tie after observing the ?Iddah period. Im?mM?lik does not consider the time waited by the wife whose husband becomes unknown before she brings her case in the court (Anas bin M?lik, sn, Th?naw?, 1987).

However, the period of four years can be reduced to one year when the wife has already waited a lot for the husband before she brings the case in the court and if there is fear of indulging the wife in adultery (Th?naw?, 1987).

Return of the Missing Person

If a missing person reappear after the Q??? has dissolved the marriage and the wife is observing the ?Iddah period or has observed the ?Iddah period but still not contract a second marriage, then in these conditions the husband would be entitled to recourse her wife (Al-Kalb?, 1404). The right of the first husband shall not be lapse over his wife when he returns before the expiry of the ?Iddah period, or in the condition that she has not contracted another marriage. It is reported that ?a?rat ‘Umar gave a choice to the husband between the wife and mehr (Al-Bay?iq?, sn, Anas bin M?lik, sn, Anas bin M?lik, 1994).

 However, there are different opinions about the condition when the husband returns after the expiry of ?Iddah period and the wife has contracted second marriage. According to the opinion of Im?m M?lik if the wife has contracted second marriage after observing the ?Iddah period the first husband lapses his right to take her beck (Al-Bay?iq?, sn, Al-Kalb?, 1404).

According to decision of ?a?rat?Al?, the wife shall be entitled to the first husband irrespective to the fact that the second husband has consummated the marriage. If the second husband consummated the marriage, then he shall be entitled to pay the dower. And this view is hold by the ?anaf? jurists (Al-Bay?iq?, sn, Al-Sarakhs?, 1398, Ibn Hum?m, sn, Th?naw?, 1987).

?a?rat ‘Usman gave a choice the husband between the wife and the dower. If he wants to take back the dowery, then it shall have made to be return to him but if he wanted the wife then she shall be separated from the second husband and she shall be return to the first husband after she has observed the ?Iddah. The second husband shall be liable to pay the dower in case of cohabitation with her (Al-Bay?iq?, sn, Ibn Qud?ma, 1401, Buh?t?, 1403).

Basis of the Differences between the Jurists

There are two jurisprudential principles on which basis the jurists differ between themselves on the issue of a missing person, that are, Isti???b (in this rule a thing remains on its original state and subject to the shari’h accordingly until clear proof of material change of its original state does become available) and Qiy?s (analogical reasoning, through this process, the ruling of the sunnah and the Qur?n may be used as a means to solve or provide a response to a new problem that may arise). The jurists who do not entitle the wife to seek separation when the husband’s whereabouts becomes unknown rely on the rule of Isti???b (Maw?al? al-Buldaj?, 1426). However, the jurists who gave the right to a wife whose husband becomes unknown, to remarry after waiting a reasonable period rely on the fiqh rule of Qiy?s.  They have the view that the wife whose husband becomes unknown is equivalent to Illa or the imprisonment of the husband because the wife will suffer from great difficulty under all these conditions (Ibn Rushd, 1379). 

Therefore, the basic propose in this matter is to save the wife from damage or misery. It is difficult for a woman to wait for her husband whose whereabouts are unknown in whole of her life and to save herself from committing sin. Under the Islamic law, it is the rule that the wife is not to be subjected to injury or damage. 




Nature of Separation due to Missing

M?lik? jurists do not differentiate between the person either missing due to a valid reason for example is missing for seeking the knowledge or for the propose of earning or missing without any reason (Al-??b?n?, 1322). They hold the views that a person will be considered missing when his whereabouts becomes unknown more than one year. However, when the husband’s whereabouts becomes known then Q??? shall pass him order either to come back and take his wife with him or to divorce her. And if the husband is at unknown place and does not comply with the Q???’s order, then on the expiry of the time which court has given him to come back, the Q??? shall pass the decree of divorce on demand of the wife (Dr. Mu?ammad‘Aqlah, 1989, Dr. A?mad Y?suf, 1994). The separation through the court will be an irrevocable divorce. 

According to ?anbl? jurists, a wife cannot seek separation when the husband is missing due to a valid reason (Buh?t?, 1403). They fix the time of six months in which a person will be considered missing and the nature of the separation will be Faskh (Al-??b?n?, Dr. Mu?ammad‘Aqlah, 1989, Dr. A?mad Y?suf, 1994). 

 

Prevalent Pakistani Law about Missing of the Husband

Under the Dissolution of Muslim Marriage Act 1939 the time for the waiting has reduced to four years regarding the wife of the missing husband to contract a second marriage. Section 2 of the said act provides a woman to ask for separation on ground of missing of the husband (That the whereabouts of the husband have not been known for the period of four years. Provided that the decree passed on ground shall not take affect for a period of six months from the date of such decree, and if the husband appears either in person or through an authorized agent within that period and satisfies the court that he is prepared to perform his conjugal duties, the court set aside the said decree)

This section of the said act is based on the M?lik? School of law but the time of six months for the effect of the decree is not prescribed in Muslim law. The M?lik? view is based on the principle of Ijtihad as to save the wife from harm. Therefore, the time for waiting can be reduced by the court according to the circumstances of the case. In this age of communication when there is not difficult to find any news rather, then the rules can be modified by the way of Ijtihad. Moreover, in under the Muslim law when a husband returns before the wife has contracted second marriage then the husband can take his wife back but under the DMMA 1939 section 2 provides no such option to the husband. Once the marriage gets terminated after the six months from the court’s decree the husband shall not have right to ask for the return of his wife. 

Survey

To know about the implementation of the clause of the DMMA1939 about the missing of the husband a survey has been conducted.

Q.  Is There any Case File Under the Missing of the Husband?

Number of Lawyers to whom the interview was taken	1. Yes	2. No
5	1	4
	20%	80%

Missing of the husband is the issue on which no case is found in spite of searching a lot. Therefore, having unable to find a single case an interview was conducted from the lawyers to know the reasons for not filing a single case. As the above figure shows that only one lawyer told about the issue that there were some cases filed and decided on lower level but not reported nor had any proof of that as they gave the decision to the parties.

Q. What is the Main Reason that a Single Case is not Filed Under Missing of the Husband?

Number of Lawyers to whom the interview was taken	1.To avoid the court’s procedure	2.Ignorance about the law regarding the issue	3. To avoid the period of 4 years for waiting	4. The law absolute about the issue of missing of the husband.
5	5	2	3	5
	100%	40%	60%	100%

The figures show that court’s long procedure to prove the issue and the time of four years for wait are the major reasons for not filing the suits under the said ground. Most of the women are directed to ask just for khul? to avoid the long procedure. Two of the lawyers have the opinion that most of the women are unaware of the laws about the separation through the missing of the husband and they are obeyed as they were asked to do according to the customs. On the question about the prevailed laws in the Pakistan only one opinion is found that having no authority on the issue means a positive aspect of the law. He further explained that there is no ambiguity in the law, as the law about the missing of the husband is very clear.

Q. Is there a Need for Amendment in the Law Regarding the Separation on Ground of Missing of the Husband?

1.     Yes                  

2.     No

Number of Lawyers to whom the interview was taken	1. Yes	2.No
5	4	1
	80%	20%

One opinion is found that there is no need for the amendment in law as law is clear about the issue but the others have the opinion that there is a need of the amendments the law regarding the missing of the husband.

Conclusion

To conclude it is clear from the injunctions of Islam that a husband is advised to retain his wife in every best possible way and to save her from any kind of harm.

The ?anaf? Jurists have strict rule of waiting about 90-100 years then the wife can contract second marriage however, the M?lik? Jurists give a right of second marriage after the 4 years wait and observing the ?Iddah. Under the DMMA1939 the time for the waiting has been reduced to four years regarding the wife of the missing husband to contract a second marriage which is based on M?lik? School of law. Section 2 of the said act provides a woman the right to ask for separation on this ground when the whereabouts of the husband have not been known for the period of four years. Although the section of the said act is relied on the M?lik? School of law but the time of six months for the effect of the decree is not prescribed in the Muslim law.  This M?lik? view is based on Ijtihad therefore, the time of four years can be reduced by the court according to the circumstances and the rules also can be modified by the way of Ijtihad. There is a dissimilarity between both the laws as Islamic law provides a right to the husband that he can recourse to his wife when he returns before the wife has contracted second marriage but the prevalent law DMMA 1939 provides no such right to the husband. Once the marriage gets terminated after the six months from the court’s decree, the husband shall not have the right to ask for the return of his wife. There is not even a single case is found on issue related to missing of the husband. Section 2 of the said act also provides a ground to the wife to seek separation when the husband fails to maintain her for the period of 2 years. Most of the wives take the advantage of the clause of non-maintenance and Khul‘.

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