Fatwa ID: 05445

Answered by: Alimah Sofia Mirza

Question:

If someone writes to me talaq deta hoon three times on paper and signs it, will it be considered three

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

Answer:

Divorce which is written down on paper is of two types:

A formal letter is written according to the normal style of writing i.e., it has the sender’s and the receiver’s name written on it as well as the title, etc. If the divorce was written formally according to this format the divorce will take place whether the person intended, it or not. According to this if the husband wrote the divorce instantly after beginning to write the letter or document it will come into effect immediately and the wife will commence her Iddah (waiting period), however, if the husband conditioned the divorce to her receiving the letter, e.g. “once you receive this letter or my wife is divorced as soon as she receives this letter” divorce will come into effect only after she receives the letter and thereafter she will commence her Iddah

An informal letter:

• Which is written clearly on paper, book, the ground, and such. In this instance divorce will only take place if the divorce was intended, otherwise, it will not.
• That which is written unclearly on something which cannot be read or understood e.g., in the air or on water. In this instance, divorce does not take place even if the divorce was intended.[1]

According to your situation, three divorces will occur since he had written in a formal manner by signing and clearly intending a divorce.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Sofia Mirza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Fatawa al Hindiyyah, Darul Kutub Al Ilmiyyah, Vol 1, Pg. 414

.الكتابة على نوعين مرسومة و غير مرسومة و نعني بالمرسومة ان يكون مصدرا و معنويا مثل ما يكتب للغائب و غير المرسومة ان لا يكون معنويا و مصدرا و هو على وجهين مستبينة و غير مستبينة فالمستبينة ما يكتب على الصحيفة و الحائط و الارض على وجه يفهم قراءته و غير المستبينة ما يكتب على الهواء و الماء وشيء لا يمكن قراءته و فهمه ففي غير المستبينة لا يقع الطلاق و إن نوى و ان كانت مستبينة لكنها غير مرسومة ان نوى الطلاق يقع و الا فلا و ان كانت مرسومة يقع الطلاق نوى او لم ينو