Fatwa #4683810 January 2021India
Will a divorce take place if I tell my wife "get out of the house"?
Question
Salaam
As an example, if I have said something to my wife in a fight like 'Get out of the house'originally without intention of divorce. While repeating it to check whether I said it with intention or not, I sometimes end up saying the words with the apparent intention of divorce in mind although in my heart I know I am saying this for the purpose of reassuring myself that the original sentence was not divorce.
Will this result in divorce
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Respected Brother,
There are two types of words which affect a divorce.
1) Clear and plain words (sareeh)
2) Ambiguous and allusive words (Kinaya)
Sareeh means to expressly pronouncing the word divorce or words derived from it, such as: "I divorce you" or "you are divorced" etc.[1]
Kinaya means using words that are not exclusively used for issuing a divorce, but the word alludes and hints to a divorce. However, when using Kinaya words, it is necessary for one to have an intention of divorce for a divorce to be affected.[2]
If an intention of divorce was found at the time of the statement then one irrevocable divorce (Talaaq e Baain) will fall. The woman will have to sit in Iddat. If the husband wishes to take her back as his wife, he may do so only after renewing the Nikah.[3]
In the enquired case, you state that you said to your wife 'get out of the house'. These words are (kinaayah) allusive and would constitute a (talaaq-e-bain) irrevocable divorce only if you had the intention of giving her talaaq. However, you mention that initially you said the specific statement without the intention of divorce. This is a matter between you and Allah Ta'ala. You should be sincere to yourself when making a decision. If you did not have an intention of divorce when mentioning the statement, then no divorce will take place. However, you should exercise caution in the use of your words in the future.
You further explain that you repeat the words to yourself and you mention the thoughts that go through your heart and mind. These thoughts are wasaawis (insinuations) from shaitaan. Shaitaan is man's arch enemy and it's his goal and objective to sew discord and cause problems in any aspect of a man's life that he can. You should abstain totally from repeating these words and entertaining these thoughts. If these thoughts come to mind, immediately seek protection from shaitaan by reciting:
أعوذُ باِللهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيم
Translation: I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected devil.
And Allah Ta'āla Knows Best
Abdullah Noorgat
Student Darul Ifta
South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[1] مختصر القدوري (ص: 155)
والطلاق على ضربين: صريح وكناية فالصريح قوله: أنت طالق ومطلقه وطلقتك فهذا يقع به الطلاق الرجعي ولا يقع به إلا واحدة وإن نوى أكثر من ذلك ولا يفتقر إلى النية
وقوله: أنت الطلاق أو أنت طالق الطلاق أو أنت طالق طلاقا فإن لم تكن له نية فهي واحدة رجعية وإن نوى به ثلاثا كان ثلاثا
والضرب الثاني: والكنايات ولا يقع بها الطلاق إلا بينة أو دلاله حال وهي على ضربين منها ثلاثة ألفاظ بها الطلاق الرجعي ولا يقع بها إلا واحدة وهي قوله: اعتدي واستبرئي رحمك وأنت واحدة
وبقيه الكنايات إذا نوى بها الطلاق كانت واحدة بائنة
[2] شرح مختصر الطحاوي للجصاص (5/ 138)
وأما الكنايات التي توجب البينونة: فإنها لا تلحق البائن، من قبل أن من شرطها أن لا تقع باجتماع اللفظ والنية في صحة الإيقاع.
ألا ترى أنه لو وجد منه اللفظ من غير نية: لم يعمل، ولو نوى الإيقاع، ولم يلفظ به: لم يقع.
كنز الدقائق (ص: 276)
باب الكنايات
لا تطلق بها إلّا بنيّته أو دلالة الحال فتطلق واحدةً رجعيّةً في اعتدّي واستبرئي رحمك وأنت واحدةٌ وفي غيرها بائنةٌ وإن نوى ثنتين