Sania Mirza reveals why she divorced Shoaib Malik
In January 2024, Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik surprised the sports and entertainment world when he announced that he is marrying Pakistani actress Sana Javed.
Fans bombarded the couple with congratulations, but it brought up the earlier marriage of Malik to Indian tennis superstar Sania Mirza again.
The news made Sania a spotlight celebrity, forcing her to talk about circumstances of her divorce.
For long, Sania Mirza did not speak of her life at all by not conceding to comment on anything that has to do with her personal life.
This is until it was confirmed and revealed that Sania indeed ‘freed’ her ex-husband through the Islamic legal proceeding known as ‘khula, which grants a wife divorce even without her husband’s agreement.
According to reports, another said extra-marital affair with Malik had greatly helped in this matter of Sania.
It cites reasons for the divorce, the cultural and legal implications of ‘khula,’ and Sania Mirza’s journey towards reclaiming her independence.
A High-Profile Love Story: Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik’s Marriage
The most high-profile cross-border event involving two of the biggest sports personalities in South Asia was the marriage between Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik in April 2010.
This marriage symbolized a link between India and Pakistan, who have been next-door neighbors and arch-rivals over political issues for several decades.
The cross-border marriage put a lot of attention on media and celebrated both ways across the countries.
The most public couple were, without any doubt, Sania and Shoaib. They were everywhere- from public places, being interviewed together, and even being professionally partnered.
When the couple finally decided to marry and had their son Izhaan Mirza Malik in 2018, their love story seemed even more adorable.
Both Sania and Shoaib would let fans see glimpses of their family life, creating a picture of happiness and balance in the relationship despite being professionals.
Early Signs of Trouble
Whereas on public platforms, it seemed they had a pretty solid relationship, signs were also emerging that things might not be quite right.
Sania, for the last few years, often hinted through social media activity at emotional issues. Fans picked on the occasional relationship-related post with resilience, for instance this very popular post said:
” Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.”
The post elicited guesswork about trouble in paradise, but Sania had not much to say. But months passed, and more reports came stating that their relationship was strained as Shoaib Malik was reported to have had an affair with another woman.
Bombshell Revelation: Shoaib Malik Marries Sana Javed
The first public announcement of divorce came in January 2024 when Shoaib Malik publicized that he was married to Pakistani actress Sana Javed. Fans were shocked because there had been no public statement about his separation from Sania Mirza.
However, soon, Sania’s family came up with a clarification regarding their statement in which they mentioned that the couple was already into the divorce procedure through ‘khula’ even before Malik could be remarrying.
This statement emphasized that Sania did not want privacy and that her son’s father should not be having any association with her ever again.
According to reports, Sania reasons for the divorce were based on Malik’s outside marriage affairs. The Pakistan Daily stated
Shoaib Malik’s third marriage to divorced actress Sana Javed did not have any attendance of his relatives.
Malik sisters have raised fierce objections over Shoaib divorce with tennis ace Sania Mirza. Reportedly, Sania was fed up with the illicit affairs Malik was involved with.
Further insight in the matter from SAMAA TV’s Lahore Bureau Chief, Naeem Hanif, was that Sania had known about Malik’s meetings with Sana Javed three to four months before her final word with Malik. According to Hanif:
“Shoaib Malik had been dating Sana Javed for the past three years, and at that time, Sana was married to famous singer and composer Umair Jaiswal.”
These allegations only ignited the fire and proved that the cracks in Sania and Shoaib’s marriage had widened with time.
Understanding ‘Khula’: A Woman’s Right to Divorce in Islam
There are two types of divorce in Islam:
1. Talaq: It is a type of divorce that is initiated by the husband.
2. Khula: It is a type of divorce requested by the wife.
Unlike talaq, it is only up to the will of the husband, but through khula, a woman has the right to seek divorce directly from Islamic authorities.
In the majority of these cases, usually, the wife has to surrender the mahr or provide her husband with any form of indemnity for ending the marriage.
Sania Mirza decided to go for khula. It was the right she chose to exercise for leaving a marriage that no longer served her principles and well-being. It was not just a legal move but a powerful assertion of her autonomy.
Public Reaction and Sania’s Graceful Response
All the news related to Shoaib Malik’s marriage and every detail about his divorce from Sania Mirza has captured the whole town.
The fans, media personalities, and fellow athletes are all speaking about Sania in support of her strength and dignity during such tough times.
Sania did not let the public become curious about her instead; she remained silent and began to work on herself.
Instead of finding her way out in public debates about her marriage, she silently started sharing fragments of her new life. Perhaps the most symbolic act was changing the nameplate at her home to:
“Sania and Izhaan.”
This small yet powerful move said that she was committed to a future based on her child.
Life After Marriage: Sania’s Journey Beyond Matrimony
Despite the turmoil in her personal life, Sania Mirza has proved that she is very resilient and optimistic. She keeps herself busy in tennis, mentoring programs, and philanthropic works.
On a recent visit to The Great Indian Kapil Show, when the host asked about her love life, she humorously replied,
“Abhi mujhe pehle love interest dundna hai” (I have to find a love interest first).
Her light humor about the issue showed that she is ready to take life in stride with positive and open-mindedness.
Role Model for Many
Sania Mirza has experienced marriage, motherhood, and then divorce. She is an example of a woman who had all the qualities to be strong and independent in front of society and stood like a rock against those societal pressures who cannot come out of an unhappy relationship.
Sania’s personal happiness and self-respect are much more important than the expectations of society and the requirements it poses.
The khula would make her an inspiration not only to her fans but to women around the world in her onward journey with dignity and dignity.
It is the end of an important chapter in the lives of Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik as well. Though the journey was painful, Sania has emerged stronger and, in a way, is dedicating herself to her son and her career.
Her story reminds me that personal battles can be dealt with grace, and endings are often only a start to something new.
Sania Mirza moves further, making her a true icon of resilience, as she goes along proving that it is in embracing change and marching on with dignity that one can define true strength.
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