Fatwa No : 77683
Giving Talaq on text messages

Giving Talaq on text messages

What do the muftis say about the issue that our brother-in-law has sent the following message to us and two or three relatives? Please guide me on how many divorces will occur based on this message. I, Malik Muhammad Hasnain son of Malik Aamir Abdullah, with all my senses, divorce, divorce, divorce Hira Hashmi, daughter of Ehsanuddin Hashmi.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It should be clear that even by giving divorce via text message, a divorce is legally established. Therefore, if the explanation mentioned in the question is factually correct and based on reality, and the questioner's brother-in-law sent the words mentioned regarding his adopted wife, "I, Malik Muhammad Hasnain bin Malik Amir Abdullah, divorce, divorce, divorce, divorce, with all my senses, Hira Hashmi, daughter of Ehsanuddin Hashmi, to the questioner and other relatives via text message, then this has resulted in the three divorces being pronounced on the wife of the said person and has proven her absolute prohibition. Now, there is no recourse and without the permission of the Sharia, they cannot remarry. Therefore, it is obligatory on both of them to immediately separate from each other and never establish marital relations, otherwise both of them will be guilty of grave sins, while the woman is also free to marry elsewhere after completing the waiting period.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی رد المحتار تحت : ( قولہ طلقت بوصول الکتابۃ ) أی الیھا ( الی قولہ) ولو استکتب من آخر کتاباً بطلاقھا و قرأہ علی الزوج فأخذہ الزوج و ختمہ و عنونہ و بعث بہ الیھا فأتاہ و قع الخ ( کتاب الطلاق ، ج 3 ، ص 246 ، ط : سعید )۔
و فی الھندیۃ: وإن كان الطلاق ثلاثا في الحرة وثنتين في الأمة لم تحل له حتى تنكح زوجا غيره نكاحا صحيحا ويدخل بها ثم يطلقها أو يموت عنها كذا في الهداية الخ ( فصل فیما تحل بہ المطلقۃ، ج 1، ص 473، ط: ماجدیہ)۔