The Search for Peace in Times of Chaos—Volume Although divorce, being allowed in Islam, is a sign of the lenience and practical nature of the Islamic legal system, keeping the unity of the family is considered a priority for the sake of the children For this reason, divorce is always a last choice, after exhausting all possible means of reconciliation For example, Allāh addresses men, asking them to try hard to keep the marriage even if they dislike their wives Divorce comes in effect once the husband utters or writes down any of the legal formulae of divorce such as: “I divorce you,” or “you are divorced,” etc The husband can these either by himself or through a messenger Moreover the procedure of divorce in Islam is such as to encourage reconciliation where possible After divorce the woman should wait three monthly cycles during which her husband remains responsible for her welfare and maintenance He is not permitted to drive her out of the house during this period She has been advised not to leave the house of the divorcing husband, in order to enhance the chances of reconciliation, as well as to protect her right of sustenance during the three months waiting period The main purpose of this waiting period is to clarify whether the divorced wife is or is not expecting a child Its second use is as a cooling-off period during which the relatives and other members of the family or of the community may try to help toward reconciliation and better understanding between the partners.14 Death and Afterlife Belief in the ¢ or “Day of Resurrection,” also known as “the Last Hour” is also crucial for Muslims They believe that the time of Qiyāmah is preordained by God but unknown to man The trials and tribulations preceding and during the Qiyāmah are described in the Qur’an and the Hadith, and also in the commentaries of Islamic scholars The Qur’an emphasizes bodily resurrection, a break from the pre-Islamic Arabian understanding of death It states that resurrection will be followed by the gathering of mankind, culminating in their judgment by God.15 ~ 10 ~