Fatwa ID: 08132

Answered by: Moulana Sakib Shadman

Question:

Assalamualaikum, I had a question. If a man says “I am divorced if I get married” before he gets married, can he take these words back before getting married, or will he be divorced immediately after he gets married?

JazakAllahu Khairan!

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Firstly, it is extremely important for Muslim men to control their tongue, especially when it comes to Talaq. Countless divorces occur due to men not being able to control their tongue when divorce comes to their mind.

Secondly, before marriage, if a man says, “I am divorced if I get married,” then this is NOT considered as Ta’leeq ut-Talaq (conditional divorce). This is because the man is the one who owns the right to issue divorce. The wife is the recipient of the divorce. The phrase “I am divorced” indicates that the man is receiving divorce. A man cannot receive divorce; he can only issue it. This is the same as if he said to his wife: “I am divorced from you.” No divorce takes place even if he had the intention of divorce due to his statement being phrased in such a way where he is the one receiving divorce, not issuing it. But if he says: “You are divorced from me,” that statement counts as divorce since he is issuing divorce and not receiving it.

For this reason, if a man says before marriage, “If I get married, my wife is divorced,” that DOES count as Ta’leeq ut-Talaq, which is essentially an oath that cannot be retracted once it is uttered. His wife receives one revocable Talaq once they are married. Then the oath will end, and no further divorces will take place in the future. The husband may take her back during her Iddah (waiting period of three cycles after divorce) as long as this is not the third Talaq.

In conclusion, since your statement was phrased in such a way where the man is receiving divorce, your statement will not have any effect, since a man owns the right to issue divorce, not receive it.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by: Maulana Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

References:

1.
قَوْلُهُ: (أَنَا مِنْك طَالِقٌ لَغْوٌ، وَإِنْ نَوَى وَتَبِينُ فِي الْبَائِنِ، وَالْحَرَامِ)…
– البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق، ص302

2.
(وَمَنْ قَالَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ: أَنَا مِنْك طَالِقٌ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ…)
– فتح القدير للكمال بن الهمام، ص38

3.
إِذا قال الرجل لامرأته: أنا منك طالق، فعندنا: لا يقع الطلاق…
– رؤوس المسائل للزمخشري، ص412

4.
وَلَوْ قَالَ: كُلُّ امْرَأَةٍ تَدْخُلُ فِي نِكَاحِي فَهِيَ طَالِقٌ…
– الفتاوى الهندية، ص419

5.
وَعَلَى هَذَا الْخِلَافُ إذَا قَالَ: كُلُّ امْرَأَةٍ أَتَزَوَّجُهَا فَهِيَ طَالِقٌ…
– بدائع الصنائع، ص132

6.
وإذا قال الرجل: كل امرأة أتزوجها أبداً فهي طالق، فهو كما قال…
– الأصل لمحمد بن الحسن، ص501

7.
إضافة الطلاق إلى الملك أو العتاق، يصح: عندنا، وعند الشافعي: لا يصح…
– رؤوس المسائل للزمخشري، ص407