Fatwa ID: 06755
Answered by: Mufti Nazrul Islam
Question:
A husband initially offered talaq to his wife including getting the talaqnama from the mosque.
He then told his wife to get a khula. He then again changed his mind and said he would give talaq if the wife agreed to a 50% reduction in haq mehr. The couple has been living separately for months and the husband has made it clear he does not want reconciliation.
Questions
- In a letter from the husband’s solicitor she is referred to as the client’s “ex-wife” – does this constitute a talaq?
- If the wife gets the full haq mehr back through the English courts can she keep it, if the husband still refuses to give talaq, (even though he has no intention of taking the wife back)?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
If the husband refers to his wife as ex-wife, the intention of the husband will be considered. (1)
If he intended divorce by “ex-wife” it would constitute an irrevocable divorce. (2)
The Mahar (dowry) is the right of the wife. If he doesn’t give you Talaq (divorce), you can absolutely keep the Mahar as it is your right. (3)
If there’s absolutely no chance of reconciliation and no divorce either, I’d suggest following up with the local scholars in the community.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Mufti Nazrul Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
(1)(الْفَصْلُ الْخَامِسُ فِي الْكِنَايَاتِ) لَا يَقَعُ بِهَا الطَّلَاقُ إلَّا بِالنِّيَّةِ أَوْ بِدَلَالَةِ حَالٍ كَذَا فِي الْجَوْهَرَةِ النَّيِّرَةِ. ثُمَّ الْكِنَايَاتُ ثَلَاثَةُ أَقْسَامٍ (مَا يَصْلُحُ جَوَابًا لَا غَيْرُ) أَمْرُك بِيَدِك، اخْتَارِي، اعْتَدِّي (وَمَا يَصْلُحُ جَوَابًا وَرَدَّا لَا غَيْرُ) اُخْرُجِي اذْهَبِي اُعْزُبِي قُومِي تَقَنَّعِي اسْتَتِرِي تَخَمَّرِي (وَمَا يَصْلُحُ جَوَابًا وَشَتْمًا) خَلِيَّةٌ بَرِيَّةٌ بَتَّةٌ بَتْلَةٌ بَائِنٌ حَرَامٌ
الفتاوى الهندية ج١، ص٣٧٤
المطبعة الكبرى الأميرية ببولاق مصر
(2)والضرب الثاني: والكنايات ولا يقع بها الطلاق إلا بنية أو دلالة حال وهي على ضربين منها ثلاثة ألفاظ بها الطلاق الرجعي ولا يقع بها إلا واحدة وهي قوله: اعتدي واستبرئي رحمك وأنت واحدة
وبقية الكنايات إذا نوى بها الطلاق كانت واحدة بائنة
مختصر القدوري ، ص١٥٥، دار الكتب العلمية
(3)وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأُحِلَّ لَكُمْ مَا وَرَاءَ ذَلِكُمْ أَنْ تَبْتَغُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْهُنَّ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا تَرَاضَيْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْفَرِيضَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
(An-Nisaa : 24)
