Sania Mirza takes 'Khula' from Shoaib Malik; What does this term mean?

In a recent turn of events, the confirmation of the divorce between Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and former Pakistani cricket captain Shoaib Malik has made headlines. The revelation came after Shoaib Malik tied the knot with popular Pakistani actress Sana Javed on Saturday, January 20.

Shoaib Malik and Sania Mirza, once considered a power couple in the world of sports, got married in April 2010 in Hyderabad, India. The couple, who till now resided in Dubai, have a five-year-old son named Izaan. The son is known to be living with her mother, currently.

Sania Mirza's father, Imran, openly confirmed the separation, stating that it occurred through the process of “khula,” a right granted to Muslim women to unilaterally divorce their husbands under Sharia law. Imran Mirza straightforwardly stated, “It was a khula,” according to the Republic.

Sania, lauded as one of India's greatest Tennis pro, announced her retirement last year after a remarkable 20-year career. With 43 WTA Doubles titles and one singles trophy to her name, she is hailed as a trailblazer for women in sports. 

Sania Mirza shares heartbreaking Instagram story amid separation with husband Shoaib

The announcement of the divorce follows a cryptic post by Sania just two days before the confirmation. The Instagram story excerpt read, “Divorce is hard,” giving a glimpse of numerous emotional challenges she had been facing.

“Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard. Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely (sic),” reads the quote that Sania shared on her Instagram stories. 

“When something disturbs the peace of your heart, let it go,” is the caption of another post that Sania shared on January 8.

In the backdrop of Shoaib Malik's new marital alliance with Sana Javed, who tied the knot in 2020, it adds another layer to the complex narratives of relationships and the public eye. Sana, known for her roles in hit drama shows and Pakistani films, had her share of marital turbulence as reports about her divorce from singer Umair Jaiswal emerged just two months after their marriage.

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