Fatwa ID: 07696

Answered by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

Question:

My husband wrote “I divorce you” three times in a WhatsApp message but he did not have any intention of doing so. In light of the fatwa I am attaching, can this be considered as one divorce?

Attached  https://daruliftabirmingham.co.uk/home/giving-3-talaq-but-intending-1-with-emphasis/ (Fatwa ID: 03726)

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

Answer:

Wa alaykumasalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

In Hanafi Fiqh, when the wording of divorce (talaq) is explicitly stated three times—such as writing “I divorce you” three times—the default ruling is that three separate talaqs (divorces) have been issued, this is due to the explicit nature of the statement, which carries weight in Islamic jurisprudence. In cases of explicit talaq statements, intentions do not alter the rulings.

The fact you mentioned, he did not have an intention is unclear. Was he unclear in issuing the divorce, or did he not intend to divorce?

If his intention was to issue you one divorce then one divorce would be issued if his intention for the other two were an emphasis. If his intention was the three divorces (which is not recommended according to the Hanafi Fiqh) then the three divorces would be intended.

The fatwa you attached from Darul Ifta Birmingham discusses scenarios where three talaqs were issued with the intention of emphasis rather than separate instances of divorce. However, in Hanafi Fiqh, if the wording of talaq is repeated explicitly (such as “I divorce you” three times in text or verbally), the divorces are generally considered cumulative as three, irrespective of an “emphasis” intention.

The Quran has also shown guidance irrespective  of matters of divorce:

“So, if a husband divorces his wife three times, then it is not lawful for him to remarry her until after she has married another man and then is divorced. Then it is permissible for them to reunite if they feel they can maintain the limits of Allah. These are the limits set by Allah, which He makes clear for people of knowledge.”()Surah Baqarah:230)

Therefore, in summary, based on Hanafi Fiqh three written talaqs are binding as three divorces, making the separation final. Intent is not typically factored in for explicit statements.

I hope that this answers the question.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 فإذا نوى واحدة: كانت واحدة، بمنزلة قوله: أنت طالق تطليقة.

وإن نوى ثلاثًا: فثلاث؛ لأنه أراد جميع أعداد الطلاق

ص76 – كتاب شرح مختصر الطحاوي للجصاص – باب صريح الطلاق – المكتبة الشاملة

 لطَّلَاقُ الصَّرِيحُ يَلْحَقُ الطَّلَاقَ الصَّرِيحَ بِأَنْ قَالَ أَنْتِ طَالِقٌ وَقَعَتْ طَلْقَةٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَنْتِ طَالِقٌ تَقَعُ أُخْرَى وَيَلْحَقُ الْبَائِنُ أَيْضًا بِأَنْ قَالَ لَهَا أَنْتِ بَائِنٌ أَوْ خَالَعَهَا عَلَى مَالٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا أَنْتِ طَالِقٌ وَقَعَتْ عِنْدَنَا وَالطَّلَاقُ الْبَائِنُ يَلْحَقُ الطَّلَاقَ الصَّرِيحَ بِأَنْ قَالَ لَهَا أَنْتِ طَالِقٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا أَنْتِ بَائِنٌ تَقَعُ طَلْقَةٌ أُخْرَى وَلَا يَلْحَقُ الْبَائِنُ الْبَائِنَ بِأَنْ قَالَ لَهَا أَنْتِ بَائِنٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهَا أَنْتِ بَائِنٌ لَا يَقَعُ إلَّا طَلْقَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ بَائِنَةٌ لِأَنَّهُ يُمْكِنُ جَعْلُهُ خَبَرًا عَنْ الْأَوَّلِ وَهُوَ صَادِقٌ فِيهِ فَلَا حَاجَةَ إلَى جَعْلِهِ إنْشَاءً لِأَنَّهُ اقْتِضَاءٌ ضَرُورِيٌّ حَتَّى لَوْ قَالَ عَنَيْت بِهِ الْبَيْنُونَةَ الْغَلِيظَةَ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُعْتَبَرَ وَتَثْبُتَ بِهِ الْحُرْمَةُ الْغَلِيظَةُ إلَّا إذَا كَانَ الْبَائِنُ مُعَلَّقًا بِأَنْ قَالَ إنْ دَخَلْت الدَّار فَأَنْت بَائِنٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَنْتِ بَائِنٌ ثُمَّ دَخَلَتْ الدَّارَ وَهِيَ فِي الْعِدَّةِ تَطْلُقُ كَذَا فِي الْعَيْنِيِّ شَرْحِ الْكَنْزِ

ص377 – كتاب الفتاوى العالمكيرية الفتاوى الهندية – الفصل الخامس في الكنايات في الطلاق – المكتبة الشاملة

 فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُۥ ۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يَتَرَاجَعَآ إِن ظَنَّآ أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍۢ يَعْلَمُونَ ٢٣٠