Fatwa ID: 04589
Answered by: Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh
Question
Assalamu Alaikum.
My wife is involved in numerology, despite my stoppage. She suggests the name of babies using numerology, where she applies some mathematics and suggests the newborn babies' names. She has a book that she uses. I asked her that it is not permissible in Islam to use numbers for calculation and thereby suggesting names. She also does so when someone from her relative approaches her for a marriage proposal, where she uses some mathematics to come up with an idea of whether or not the match will be suitable.
I told her that this is not permissible, but she still does so in my absence. She says she knows that it is not permissible but she does so only for her relatives' sake and for her amusement. I tell her that believing in this is kufr. One day, she said to me that she used this method and if this has broken our Nikah. I said nikah is broken because of you.
Now I am anxious, given the above circumstances, if any talaq has occurred or if our Nikkah is intact in view of her indulgence in numerology/astrology and my utterance of "Nikah is broken because of you" without the intention of divorce.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Dear Questioner.
There are two kinds of divorce with regards to the expression or wordings, Sarih (explicit) and implicit (Kinaya) Explicit is when a husband says things like “You are Talaq” and you are “divorced with divorce”. Revocable (Raj’i) divorce occurs even if the intention was not present. This is because such expressions are only used in divorce.
The second type is the implicit (Kinaya). This is when the expression is ambiguous or indirect. The divorce will not occur except with intention or indication of the intention. This could be like expressions such as “enter the waiting period” or “Seek to keep your womb free” or “You are single”. The expressions are not clear or direct about divorce. (1)
From what you have explained, your words would fall under the second type (kinaya), and unless you have intended Talaq no divorce has occurred.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
DarulIfta Birmingham
