What is the Sikh attitude to divorce?
Sikhism favour family life and monogamy.
เจเจเจพ เจจเจพเจฐเฉ เจเจคเฉ เจนเฉเจ เจชเจฐ เจจเจพเจฐเฉ เจงเฉ เจญเฉเจฃ เจตเจเจพเจฃเฉ เฅฅ
"Be faithful to your 'one wife', see others as your daughters and sisters, (for women you must be faithful to one husband and see others as your sons and brothers)"
(Bhai Gurdaas Ji, Vaar 6: Pauri 8)
Marriage is highly regarded and both man and woman must respect one another as they join together to share their spiritual path and goal in life. The ideal family is one where there is mutual love and respect between the husband and the wife and their children and grand children if any. The Anand Marriage Act, 1909, gave a wife status equal to that of her husband. The marriage establishes a permanent relationship between the partners and there is no provision for a divorce under this Act, for the Sikh marriage (Anand Karaj) is a sacrament and not a civil contract.
Divorce in Sikhism is considered a very grave matter. When the marriage takes place the husband and wife agree in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to stay with each other and love and honour each other for life. If marital discord takes place, the community intervenes. Panj Pyaaray can be asked to help resolve the situation.
In the extreme and very rare case where one side simply refuses to reconcile one party may ask the permission of the Sangat or Panj Pyaaray to divorce and re-marry. Marriage is not however considered something that can be formed and broken at will. It is a commitment made in front of God and to be relieved of that commitment to the other person some very extenuating circumstances must be present.
Sikhism teaches us how to become rational thinker moral beings. Guru Sahib has taught His Sikhs how to think in a moral way. This shows how much free thinking Guru Sahib has given to His Sikhs. It is a fact that divorce is not a simple thing as it involves lives of two human beings. There can be many different situations and circumstances related to divorce. Stating every different situation is ridiculous because a divorce can involve a simple reason to many complex reasons. There can be numerous possible solutions to one case.
Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not a rule book. Gurbani teaches us how to think and how to tackle every problem and find the best solution. This is why Guru Sahib gave the power to Sikhs to make decisions that are best for everyone. Gurbani gives freedom of free thinking whereas archaic and inflexible rules would not. Generally, grounds like cruelty, adultery, change of religion, suffering from an incurable disease and in some cases incompatiblity of temperaments are accepted by Courts for purposes of divorce. A second marriage after divorce is permissible. The remarriage of a widow or widower is encouraged in Sikhism.