Running for over the past two decades and headed by Maulana Abdul Hadi Al-Umari, Islamic Judiciary Board (IJB) has been serving the Muslim community by providing them guidance on religious, communal and social issues.

When families going through marital hardships approach IJB, it assists them in taking the following constructive methods:

• Attempts are made for reconciliation where possible, using religious sources as well as family mediation. For example, if a wife demands a divorce, the board will first clarify whether this demand is genuine or a temporary reaction.
• The other party involved is contacted to confirm the matter and discussions are then made through various means of correspondence, including personal interviews, to help resolve the matter.
• If IJB does not receive any response to its correspondence from the respondent, then it makes an effort to visit the given address in person to discuss the matter. If all efforts to contact the respondent fails, then an announcement is made in a national newspaper before a decision is made.
• If divorce is found to be the only solution in the interest of both parties, then we seek assurance that it does not affect other family members because traditionally it is seen that one divorce can lead to another and affect three or four families (more common in exchange marriages).
• If required, IJB arranges a mutual meeting of both parties to minimize the effects of the divorce and to resolve all matters in good understanding.
• Wherever needed, IJB checks the legality of the marriage (Islamic nikah or British registration). If only an Islamic nikah has been conducted, in an unregistered place, and no registration has taken place in the UK, then the situation is dealt with as a matter of Islamic Shariah only. However, if legally registered in the UK or approved according to the British system, then the parties are advised to seek the assistance of a solicitor and obtain a divorce from the civil court also. But, a divorce from the civil court is sometimes not enough to resolve the situation, especially for women.
• Having fulfilled all the requirements, religious and legal, the board takes final action to dissolve the Islamic marriage.