a ▁wa ▁ra h ma , ▁ 3 0 : 2 1 ) ▁and ▁important ▁dec isions ▁concerning ▁both ▁sp ouses ▁should ▁be ▁made ▁by ▁mut ual ▁consent . ▁When ▁mar ital ▁harm ony ▁cannot ▁be ▁att ained , ▁the ▁Q ur an ▁allows ▁and ▁even ▁advis es ▁the ▁sp ouses ▁to ▁bring ▁the ▁marriage ▁to ▁an ▁end ▁( 2 : 2 3 1 ), ▁although ▁this ▁decision ▁is ▁not ▁to ▁be ▁taken ▁light ly , ▁and ▁the ▁community ▁is ▁called ▁upon ▁to ▁interven e ▁by ▁appoint ing ▁ar bit ers ▁from ▁the ▁two ▁families ▁to ▁attempt ▁a ▁recon c ili ation ▁( 4 : 3 5 ). ▁The ▁Q ur an ▁establish es ▁two ▁further ▁means ▁to ▁avoid ▁hast y ▁divor ces . ▁It ▁pres cri bes ▁two ▁waiting ▁periods ▁of ▁three ▁months ▁before ▁the ▁divor ce ▁is ▁final ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁give ▁the ▁husband ▁time ▁to ▁re cons ider ▁his ▁decision . ▁Moreover , ▁a ▁man ▁who ▁takes ▁an ▁o ath ▁not ▁to ▁have ▁sexual ▁inter course ▁with ▁his ▁wife , ▁which ▁would ▁lead ▁to ▁automatic ▁divor ce , ▁is ▁allowed ▁a ▁four - month ▁period ▁to ▁break ▁his ▁o ath ▁( 2 : 2 2 6 ). ▁ ▁The ▁Q ur an ▁substantial ly ▁reform ed ▁the ▁gender ▁in equ ity ▁of ▁divor ce ▁practices ▁that ▁existed ▁in ▁pre - I sl am ic ▁Arab ia , ▁although ▁some ▁patri arch ical ▁elements ▁surv ived ▁and ▁others ▁fl our ished ▁during ▁later ▁centuries . ▁Before ▁Islam , ▁divor ce ▁among