A Palestinian Judge, Mahmoud al-Habbash, has ruled that no divorce applications will be heard during Ramadan as the fasting results in extreme hunger which affects people’s ability to make sound decisions.

During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims go without food, water, smoking and sex during sunrise and sunset. Ramadan fasting is an essential element in a Muslim’s life as it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The Judge who is the head of the Palestinian Islamic sharia court system ordered that any application for divorce made during this time will not be considered until the fasting is over.

He officially banned divorce during Ramadan, claiming that based on “the experience of previous years”, the fasting periods lead to people becoming irritable which then “creates problems” in their relationships.

They get hungry, grumpy and can then make “quick and ill-considered decisions” which result in the end of their marriages.

This year Ramadan began on the evening of 26 May and will run until the sun sets on 24 June. The end will be marked by a celebratory festival called Eid al-Fitr (the festival of breaking of the fast), which can last up to three days.

Published by: Divorce Resource