In general, Quran gives us the laws/rules and the principles surrounding such things, but in general, does not discuss what to do in every possible scenario for every law etc.

Of course, my husband and his knowledgeable friend were not willing to look at the Qur'an to see what it said. His friend even said to him "Why are you letting a woman lead you through Islam/the deen?"

This situation truly strengthened my resolve that Qur'an alone is the correct way, and I thank those of you who provided answers to my question.

May Allah guide us all on the straight path.

Peace,

Amina

~God knows Best~

This is what I told my husband...that the Qu'ran requires the witnesses only once the waiting period is complete. Apparently this other brother told my husband that a witness must be present when divorce is announced and then again when the waiting period is done, yet I went to the Islam Q&A site (since he is all about the scholars and sharia) and even found where it said that a text message pronouncing divorce is sufficient...if a text message is sufficient, does that mean that you have to send it in front of two witnesses for it to be in effect? Of course, I got no answer on that one.

The Qu'ran makes it very clear what has to happen if one wishes to end their marriage....yet they still turn to their scholars and imams for guidance. ???

From http//www.quran434.com/wife-beating-islam.html#part3

To understand the sequence of events, we must fully understand the divorce procedure according to The Quran

'cooling-off' period for those who swear away from their wives sexually, limited to 4 months *
after this 4 month 'cooling-off' period, the options are revert to normal relations or divorce/talaq
post-divorce interim/waiting period is 3 menstruation periods or 3 months, if pregnant it is until they deliver, if widowed it is 4 months and 10 days
if no sex has taken place after marriage, then no interim period is required after divorce/talaq . Compensation may be due however if dower was agreed upon
during post-divorce interim period, wife remains in the same house, and is compensated by way of maintenance during this period in the same living standard as the husband, each according to their means **
divorce is automatically retracted if sex between the couple takes place during the interim period ***
if couple reconciles, then divorce/talaq may be retracted twice during interim-period. If divorced a third time it is final unless she marries another then they divorce, only then can original partners re-marry. If the couple fear they will not maintain God's bounds, then wife may give some dowry back to release herself
if couple still wishes to follow through with the divorce/talaq after the end of the interim period and undergo final separation, then two witnesses are required to complete the process
exceptions exist, in certain situations
the onus is upon the person in the wrong to rectify the situation or initiate divorce/release, and it is an obligation upon the contract-breaking party to compensate the other
As a side note, the last point is also mentioned in traditional Islamic law and sources, see M.Asad's note on 2229. This system would also protect the male if he were to marry a female who only did so for his money or the marital gift then she wished to end the marriage later, because since the contract-breaking party compensates the other partner, she would have to do so accordingly. Similarly, this would protect the female if she were to marry a male who only did so for lustful reasons then wished to end the marriage later, as he would then have to compensate her.

*Also possibly provides a time limit due to a practice of the time in which husbands did not have sex with their wives but also did not divorce them, see 581-4, 334; i.e. leaving them in a state between marriage and divorce. Similar to what is implied by 4129.

**And the same goes for the lesser situation of 'cooling-off' period. Obviously, the wife would not be removed from the home for the lesser serious 'cooling-off' period then brought back just for the post-divorce interim period.

***Inference from 2226 is that resumption of sexual relations is equated to reconciliation, thus no initiation of divorce. Hence, same proviso for post-divorce interim period, i.e. sex = reconciliation.