Fatwa ID: 06411

 

Answered by: Alimah Zakiratul Hoque

 

Question:

 

If the husband said to the wife in anger ” our relationship is finished” call his parents, and he did not intend to divorce, does divorce occurs?

 

 

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

 

Answer:

 

There are two types of words which may cause a divorce: clear, unambiguous words (Sareeh); and unclear, ambiguous words (Kinaayah)

 

Kinaayah refers to those words which may be used in and out of the context of divorce (i.e., they are not exclusive to divorce but may hint at it) (Badai Al Sanai, Vol 4, Pg 281). ⁽¹⁾ When such words are used, the intention of the husband and the circumstances under which he uttered them would be considered (Fatawa Hindiyyah, Vol 1, Pg 410) ⁽²⁾

 

When a Kinayah phrase is said in anger, then the ruling depends on the type of phrase. If it is such a phrase that can only be for divorce and not as a slur or response in the state of anger (i.e., it cannot mean 1 of these 2 things), then divorce would occur regardless of the husband’s intentions. If it is such a phrase that may be used as a slur or response in the state of anger, then the husband’s intention will be considered (Fatawa Qazi Khan, Vol 1, Pg 411 ⁽³⁾; Fatawa Hindiyyah, Vol 1, Pg 410 ⁽⁴⁾).

 

“Our relationship is finished” would fall in the first category, as it cannot be used as a slur and, given the context, most likely was not uttered as a response. Therefore, divorce would occur.

 

 

⁽¹⁾

فهو كل لفظ يستعمل في الطلاق و يستعمل في غيره

 

 

⁽²⁾

الفصل الخامس في الكنايات : لا يقع بها الطلاق الا بالنية او بدلالة حال كذا في الجوهرة النبرة

 

 

⁽³⁾

و في حالة الغضب يقع الطلاق بثلاثة من هذا الثمانية ، و اذا قال لم انو الطلاق لا يصدق قضاء و تلك الثلاتة اعتدي امرك بيدك اختاري ، و في الخامسة الباقية من الثمانية عند ابي حنيفة رحمه الله تعالي اذا قال لم انو الطلاق لا يقع و يصدق قضاء لانها تصلح للشتم فتحمل علي الشتم في الغضب و الخصومة

 

 

⁽⁴⁾

و في حالة الغضب يصدق في جميع ذلك لاحتمال الرد و السب الا فيما يصلح للطلاق و لا يصلح للرد و الشتم كقوله اعتدي و اختاري و امرك بيدك فانه لا يصدق فيها كذا في الهداية

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Zakiratul Hoque

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham