We should be relieved now that the leadership has decided short message service (SMS) cannot be used by Muslim men to divorce their wives. Words of caution have been given against imprudent use of SMS especially in relation to the sacred family institution of marriage.

Marriage and divorce - as Islamic practice goes - should always be by way of pronouncement and not just by way of intention or indication.

Pronouncement or 'lafaz' is mandatory and is required to validate divorce; as much as marriage could not be solemnized and perfected just by way of a letter. A letter or certificate of marriage is suppose to evidence that a religious ritual has taken place .

The institution of marriage in Islam is not just a matter of signing a secular contract of marriage, which makes it legally binding. Equally important is the ritual that solemnise the marriage which involves the citation or pronouncement of the contract of marriage by way of offer and acceptance (ijab kabul) by the party representing the bride and the bridegroom himself, and duly witnessed by competent parties.

This ritual makes the marriage sacred. A divorce, despite being normally unceremonious and non-ritual, also needs to satisfy the basic cannon of citation or pronouncement to dissolve the sacred relationship of a husband and wife.

It must always be remembered that rituals take precedent over the secular aspects of a religious ceremony - otherwise, why have a religious ceremony at all? You might as well go to the Registry.

The people would argue what is significant of that piece of paper? If you are in love you could just cohabit. Is a marriage valid if it is done through SMS? What would become of our children then? When the time comes, would they only need to press a template for "marriage and divorce" in the conduct of the most significant events in their lives? Dare we allow that to happen?

Certainly it is the profound loss of the sense of self-respect and the sacredness in our lives that have thrown the so-called modern society into decadence. Perhaps it is the signs of the times.