Civil Divorce & Islamic Divorce – Solicitors in East London
For many Muslim couples, marriage is both a spiritual commitment and a legal union. If you are separating, an Islamic divorce solicitor and a civil divorce solicitor can help you complete the right process in faith and in law so your status is clear. Our East London team supports families across Tower Hamlets, Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Hackney, and beyond.
For many Muslim couples, marriage is both a spiritual commitment and a legal union. If you are separating, an Islamic divorce solicitor and a civil divorce solicitor can help you complete the right process in faith and in law so your status is clear. Our East London team supports families across Tower Hamlets, Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Hackney, and beyond.
A Nikah or Islamic marriage is a sacred covenant before Allah, while a civil marriage in England and Wales provides legal recognition under the law. When a marriage ends, the process of separation can involve both an Islamic divorce and a civil divorce.
At Rashid Solicitors, we understand that your faith is not an afterthought but rather at the heart of who you are. We help you navigate both systems with respect, care, and clarity so that your separation is handled in a way that aligns with your beliefs and protects your rights.
A civil divorce ends a marriage under English law. An Islamic divorce ends a Nikah in faith. If you had both a Nikah and a civil registration, you usually need both.
This is not a “civil versus Islamic divorce” page. Our aim is to explain each process clearly, outline your options, and guide you toward the approach that works best for your circumstances. We know that for many, the relationship with their Creator and the values of faith holds more importance than anything of material or financial value. At the same time, we ensure you are aware of the remedies available under both Islamic and English law, so you can make informed decisions.
Understanding the Two Processes
Civil Divorce (England and Wales)
It brings legal closure to the relationship and allows either party to remarry in a civil or religious ceremony (subject to the rules of that faith). The main purposes of a civil divorce include
- Legally dissolving the marriage
-
Resolving financial matters, including property, pensions,
and maintenance - Establishing legal arrangements for children
-
Protecting inheritance rights under intestacy
(where someone dies without a valid will) -
A civil Final Order does not create an Islamic divorce,
and an Islamic divorce does not create a civil Final Order.
Islamic Divorce
It is carried out according to Sharia principles, with variations in process depending on the madhab (Hanafi, Shafi, Maliki, or Hanbali) and local practice. There are several forms of Islamic divorce, including
- Talaq – Initiated by the husband
- Khula – Initiated by the wife, usually with the husband’s consent
- Faskh – Annulment granted by an Islamic authority in specific circumstances
We work with qualified Islamic scholars, imams, and sheikhas (Female Sheikhs) who can provide faith-based advice where needed. This ensures that your religious rights and obligations are properly understood alongside your legal position in England and Wales.
Why You Might Need Both
In England and Wales, an Islamic divorce alone does not legally end a registered marriage. If you have had a Nikah and registered your marriage through the civil process, you will need a civil divorce to dissolve it legally. Without it, your marriage will still be valid in the eyes of the law, even if it has ended religiously.
Similarly, a civil divorce does not automatically end your marriage under Islamic law.
You may still be considered married in faith, which can prevent you from remarrying Islamically.
Having both processes completed ensures that your marriage is fully dissolved in both legal
and religious terms, giving you clarity and certainty.
When Things Are Amicable
If both parties agree, we can arrange for the civil divorce and Islamic divorce to proceed in parallel. This often reduces stress, avoids unnecessary conflict, and allows the couple to part on respectful terms.
We can
- Liaise with your mosque or Islamic authority to coordinate the religious process
- Handle all the legal paperwork for your civil divorce
- Advise you on financial settlements, custody arrangements, and property division
- Keep the process private and confidential
- We regularly coordinate mosques and councils across East London, including Whitechapel, Ilford, Barking, Stratford, and Walthamstow.
When One Party Refuses or Delays
Sometimes a spouse may refuse to participate in either the civil or Islamic divorce process. This can leave the other party in a difficult position and still legally married in one system, even if the relationship has broken down completely.
In these situations, we can
- Use the civil court process to obtain a divorce even without the other party’s agreement
- Assist you in applying for an Islamic annulment (Faskh) where appropriate
- Work with recognised scholars and sheikhas who can support your case in faith matters
- Protect your financial and parental rights under English law
Islamic Rights and Protections
Under Islamic law, depending on the circumstances and madhab, a wife may be entitled to
- Payment of the mahr (dowry) if it has not been fully paid
- Maintenance during the iddah (waiting period)
- Custody of children where permitted under Islamic principles
- A fair and dignified dissolution of the marriage
We will never give false assurances about entitlements, but we will explain clearly what your rights may be under Islamic law and how they intersect with your rights under English law.
Example Scenario
A couple in East London were married both Islamically and in a civil ceremony. After several years, the marriage broke down. The husband gave talaq, which was accepted by both parties as ending the marriage under Islamic law. However, they remained legally married under English law, meaning the wife could not finalise financial arrangements, resolve liabilities, or update official records.
She was also concerned about securing her share in the family home, protecting her pension rights, and ensuring parental responsibility arrangements were clear for their children.
We helped her
- Secure a civil divorce –Through the courts, even without his active cooperation
-
Apply for a financial order – To fairly divide property, savings, and pensions,
and to address joint debts and liabilities - Confirm parental rights and arrangements – To protect her role as the children’s primary carer
How We Can Help
Book a free, confidential call to map your civil and Islamic options before you decide.
We provide
- Private and confidential consultations with a qualified solicitor
- Faith-sensitive advice that respects your religious values
- Clear explanations of both legal and Islamic processes
- Liaison with mosques, scholars, and sheikhas on your behalf
- Guidance on protecting your financial, parental, and personal rights
- Representation in court if required
Fees
Civil Divorce
from £500 plus court fee
Islamic Divorce Advice
from £250
Combined packages available for those needing both processes
Included
- Initial confidential consultation with a qualified solicitor
- Advice on your Islamic and civil divorce options
- Drafting and filing your civil divorce application
- Liaising with Islamic scholars or authorities (if requested)
- Advice on financial orders and parental responsibility arrangements
- Guidance throughout the process
Not included
- Court representation at contested hearings (quoted separately if required)
- Interpreter or expert report fees
- Applications for enforcement of orders (quoted case-by-case)
- Overseas document service or translations
We confirm all costs in writing before proceeding. If further steps are needed, we provide a fixed quote in advance.
Disbursements and Additional Costs
Disbursements are expenses that we pay to third parties on your behalf during your case. They are separate from our legal fees and may include costs such as court application fees, translation or certification of documents, expert reports, or fees payable to an Islamic council for processing your divorce application.
We will never incur any disbursement without discussing it with you first and obtaining your agreement. From time to time, certain steps in your case may require these payments, but you will always receive a clear explanation of what the cost covers, why it is necessary, and when it will be due. Our approach is to ensure there are no unexpected charges, giving you full control and transparency over your case from start to finish.
Working with Islamic Scholars and Sheikhas
We work closely with both male Islamic scholars and female sheikhas to ensure our advice is balanced, culturally sensitive, and representative of the diverse perspectives within the Muslim community.
This approach gives clients the option to receive guidance from someone they feel most comfortable with and helps ensure that the religious aspects of divorce are addressed in a way that complements the legal process. It also provides a safe space for women to raise questions or concerns with someone who understands their perspective and can guide them in line with both Sharia principles and English family law.
You choose who you speak to, and we prepare clear summaries so scholars see the facts quickly and fairly.
Language Support
We understand that discussing divorce, whether civil or Islamic, is a sensitive and often emotional process. For many clients, it is important to communicate in their first language to ensure full understanding.
We can arrange professional interpretation and translation in Arabic, Bengali, Urdu, and other commonly spoken languages in East London and beyond. This ensures that you are confident in every decision you make, fully informed about the process, and able to ask any question without language being a barrier.
Written translations are available where letters or certificates must be used with a court or a Sharia council.
Helping a Friend or Relative
If you are seeking guidance on behalf of someone else, we can speak with you confidentially to provide the information you need to support them. Our role is to help you understand their legal and religious options so you can pass that on in a clear and sensitive way.
We never pressure individuals to take immediate action, recognising that divorce is a deeply personal decision. Our focus is on safety, wellbeing, and ensuring that when the time comes, the person concerned knows they have the right support in place.
If safety is a concern, we show you low-risk ways to help before the person is ready to engage.
Confidentiality and Safety
We recognise that seeking a civil or Islamic divorce can sometimes involve risks such as family pressure, retaliation, or reputational harm within the community. Protecting our clients is our highest priority.
We provide secure and discreet channels of communication, offer practical advice on protective measures, and ensure that all contact with us is handled with strict confidentiality. Where there are safety concerns, we work with you to put appropriate safeguards in place and can connect you with trusted support services if needed.
Address withholding and safe-contact methods can be arranged so sensitive details stay private.
When to Apply
It is always best to seek legal and religious advice as soon as you begin to consider ending your marriage. Early guidance from an experienced Islamic divorce solicitor can help you understand your rights, identify the steps required in both civil and Islamic processes, and avoid unnecessary delays.
Acting promptly means you are better placed to protect your interests, secure any necessary financial arrangements, and ensure the welfare of children is addressed from the outset.
Early advice also helps preserve evidence for Khula or Faskh where grounds need explaining.
Call in Confidence
Call us
Weekdays 9am to 7pm.
Saturday and Sunday appointments available.
- Fixed-fee advice with no hidden costs
- Flexible appointments, including out-of-hours
- You choose how we stay in touch
Request a confidential callback
Frequently Asked Questions
If you had both a Nikah and a registered civil marriage in the UK, you will usually need to complete both processes. A civil divorce ends your marriage in English law, while an Islamic divorce dissolves the marriage in the eyes of your faith. Completing both ensures you are free to remarry in both legal and religious contexts, and prevents any future uncertainty about your status. Our East London Islamic divorce solicitors can guide you through both processes in a coordinated and efficient way.
Yes. Running your civil and Islamic divorce in parallel is often the most efficient approach. This can help you avoid delays, reduce stress, and ensure that decisions about children, finances, and religious obligations are aligned. We frequently help clients manage both applications side by side so there are no conflicting outcomes.
Yes. In a civil divorce, the court can progress the matter even if the other party refuses to engage. For an Islamic divorce, options such as Khula (with consent) or Faskh (annulment granted by an Islamic authority) are available if a spouse will not issue a Talaq. Our solicitors can prepare the necessary applications, liaise with reputable Islamic councils or scholars, and represent you throughout.
An Islamic divorce alone is not recognised under English law. You will still need a civil divorce to legally end your marriage in England and Wales. Without this, you remain married for legal purposes such as inheritance, property, and financial claims. We ensure both your civil and Islamic divorces are handled properly to avoid gaps or disputes later.
Yes. We work closely with both male Islamic scholars and female Sheikhas to ensure advice is balanced, faith-compliant, and representative. This gives clients the option to speak to someone they feel comfortable with, especially on sensitive matters, and ensures rulings are recognised by reputable bodies across the UK.
Yes. We regularly assist clients whose marriages took place overseas, particularly in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and other countries in the subcontinent. We confirm whether your overseas marriage is recognised in English law, then guide you through the required civil and Islamic divorce processes to bring matters to a clear and lawful conclusion.
If you only had a Nikah and did not register your marriage under civil law, you are not legally married under English law. You will still need an Islamic divorce for religious purposes, and you may have rights under family law for children or financial matters. Our East London Islamic divorce solicitors can explain your position and the protections available.
The timeframe depends on the process — Talaq, Khula, or Faskh — and whether both parties cooperate. Some Islamic divorces are completed within weeks, while contested or complex cases can take months. We provide a realistic timescale from the outset so you know what to expect.
Under the no-fault divorce system, the minimum timeframe is six months. Delays may occur if there are disputes over finances or childcare, but we work to keep your case moving without unnecessary interruptions.
Not automatically. Most mosques and Islamic councils require their own process before issuing an Islamic divorce certificate. We can manage both matters in parallel so you have the correct documentation for both law and faith.
You can start either process independently, but professional guidance helps avoid delays, missing information, or results that fail to meet legal or religious requirements. Our solicitors ensure your divorce is compliant in both systems from the start.
Yes. We understand that divorce in Muslim communities can attract unwanted attention or pressure. All your information is kept strictly confidential, and we use secure, discreet communication channels to protect your privacy.
You should wait until your civil divorce has reached the Final Order. An Islamic divorce alone does not end a civil marriage under English law, so remarrying before the civil process is complete may cause legal and religious complications.
In English law, you are not legally married, so a civil divorce is not needed. You may still require an Islamic divorce for religious purposes, and we can advise you on your rights in relation to finances and children under English family law.
We Work Across East London
We support clients across
- Tower Hamlets (Whitechapel, Mile End, Bethnal Green, Bow, Wapping, and Isle of Dogs)
- Redbridge (Ilford, Seven Kings, Gants Hill, Clayhall)
- Barking and Dagenham (Becontree, Chadwell Heath, Dagenham East)
- Havering (Romford, Rainham, Elm Park)
You don’t need to go through this alone. Whether you’re ready to act now, or just want to talk, we’re here for you.
Disclaimer: This page gives general legal information. It’s not a substitute for tailored legal advice.
Contact us to discuss your situation privately.
