Fatwa ID: 07314

 

 

Answered by: Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

 

Question:

 

I would just like to ask a quick question.

 

My wife and I were having conversation and she said” what would you do if another woman comes to you and says let’s do something together? What would you do? She said Without me thinking about my words I said “when you are my wife? But she is my wife! She asked why did you say that? I am your wife” and I said yes I know you’re my wife maybe it’s just the way I said it Is this considered divorce?

 

Bear in mind I have no intention of the d word whatsoever, we were only having a conversation.

 

 

 

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

 

Answer:

 

In Islamic law, particularly Hanafi Fiqh, the intention (Niyyah) behind words spoken is crucial in determining the occurrence of a divorce (Talaq). Words that explicitly indicate divorce (Sarih) result in divorce regardless of intention, while ambiguous words (Kinayah) require intention for them to be considered as divorce.

 

The statement you made, “when you are my wife?”, does not explicitly indicate divorce. It is an ambiguous (Kinayah) statement. According to Hanafi Fiqh, ambiguous statements do not result in divorce unless there is a clear intention of divorce behind them.

 

In Hanafi jurisprudence, ambiguous words need an intention for divorce to occur. “Words that do not explicitly denote divorce (Kinayah) require the intention of divorce for them to result in a separation.”¹

 

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Actions are judged by intentions, and everyone will be recompensed according to what he intended” (Sahih Bukhari- Riyadus Saliheen 1). This hadith underscores the importance of intention in determining the outcome of actions.

 

Conclusively, given that you had no intention of divorce, and the statement was made in the context of a casual conversation, and not the customary wordings of divorce² it does not constitute a divorce (Talaq) in Hanafi Fiqh.

 

Your marriage remains intact. The statement made was ambiguous and lacked the intention required to affect a divorce.

 

1 أَيْضًا أَنَّهُ أَرَادَ طَلَاقَ صَرِيحٍ وَطَلَاقَ كِنَايَةٍ وَطَلَاقًا فِي مَعْنَى الصَّرِيحِ وَلَيْسَ بِصَرِيحٍ وَلَا كِنَايَةٍ وَهُوَ ثَلَاثَةُ أَلْفَاظٍ يَقَعُ بِهَا الرَّجْعِيُّ وَلَا يَقَعُ بِهَا إلَّا وَاحِدَةً وَهُوَ قَوْلُهُ اعْتَدِّي وَاسْتَبْرِئِي رَحِمَك وَأَنْتِ وَاحِدَةٌ قَوْلُهُ (فَأَحْسَنُ الطَّلَاقِ أَنْ لَا يُطَلِّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ تَطْلِيقَةً وَاحِدَةً فِي طُهْرٍ لَمْ يُجَامِعْهَا فِيهِ وَيَتْرُكُهَا حَتَّى تَنْقَضِيَ عِدَّتُهَا) فَإِنْ قِيلَ قَوْلُهُ أَحْسَنُ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ فِي الطَّلَاقِ مَا هُوَ حَسَنٌ وَهَذَا أَحْسَنُ مِنْهُ قِيلَ هُوَ كَذَلِكَ؛ لِأَنَّ الطَّلَاقَ ثَلَاثًا فِي ثَلَاثَةِ أَطْهَارِ لَا يُجَامِعُهَا فِيهِ حَسَنٌ، وَهُوَ طَلَاقٌ السُّنَّةِ وَهَذَا أَحْسَنُ مِنْهُ.

 

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ص31 – كتاب الجوهرة النيرة على مختصر القدوري – طلاق السنة – المكتبة الشاملة

2 Qawaaid Fiqiyya page 47-48- العادة محكمة

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham