What is khula and how does a wife initiate it?

Khula is a divorce initiated by the wife when she wishes to end the marriage, typically by returning her mahr or offering some agreed compensation to her husband in exchange for his release of her from the contract. Its basis comes from the case of the wife of Thabit ibn Qais, who came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying she found no fault in her husband's character or religion but simply could not continue living with him; he instructed her to return the garden Thabit had given her as mahr, and the Prophet then separated them. Unlike talaq, khula does not require the husband's fault or wrongdoing — a wife may seek it simply because she is unhappy in the marriage, though scholars differ on whether the husband's agreement is strictly necessary or whether a judge can grant it despite his refusal if the marriage has clearly broken down. Many contemporary Muslim-majority countries have formalized judicial khula, allowing courts to dissolve the marriage even without the husband's consent, provided the wife forfeits her financial claims. Khula is generally treated as one irrevocable divorce.

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