Is legislation on verbal divorce a way of adapting Islamic shari’a to modern times?

Islamic customs with a modern twist are not a novelty, so why is the issue of banning verbal divorce such a big no-no for Al Azhar? May Azzam muses on the question in her latest column for AMAY, arguing that certain guidelines of Islamic shari’a have been adapted—in practice rather than essence—to cope with changing times and social conditions. Azzam says that while a culprit would still be punished by law for stealing, for example, it is no longer socially or morally acceptable to cut off their hand, which had been a widely-held practice in different times. The writer argues the same for the legislation on verbal divorce, saying it would not strip a man of his rights, but merely give people time to think and reconcile their differences, ultimately for the benefit of society.