Fatwa No : 83125
The ruling on divorce given in a state of intoxication

The ruling on divorce given in a state of intoxication

I use intoxicants, and on that particular night, I was under the influence. I had an argument with my wife during which I uttered the words of divorce once or twice. My wife says that I said the word 'divorce' either two or four times. It is not confirmed how many times exactly — whether it was two or four.
After that incident, my wife stayed with me for 4 or 5 days, and during that period, we resumed marital relations. Later, all family members came to know about the matter, and my wife went to her mother’s house. It has now been approximately three years since then. We request guidance on this matter.
Note: The husband is now acknowledging two divorces based on the wife’s statement, as he himself does not remember anything. The wife is uncertain whether the word was said two or four times. Despite careful thought and reflection, she is unable to determine with reasonable certainty whether it was two or four."

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It should be clearly understood that, according to Islamic law, divorce issued in a state of intoxication is considered valid.
In the case of uncertainty about the number of divorces issued, the lesser (minimum) number is considered certain. Therefore, if the details mentioned in the question are accurate and truthful — with no false statements or dishonesty — and the husband indeed issued divorce while intoxicated but does not recall the exact number, and the wife is also uncertain whether it was two or four divorces and has made a sworn statement to that effect, then in such a case, the ruling will be based on two divorces.
As such, two revocable divorces (Talaq-e-Raj'i) have occurred. Since the husband and wife resumed relations during the waiting period (iddah), their marriage remains valid as before, and they may continue to live together as husband and wife.
However, the husband has now only one divorce left. Therefore, extreme caution must be exercised in any future matters related to divorce.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی الھندیۃ: وطلاق السكران واقع إذا سكر من الخمر أو النبيذ، وهو مذهب أصحابنا رحمهم الله تعالى كذا فی المحيط، ولو أكره على شرب الخمر أو شرب الخمر لضرورة وسكر وطلق امرأته اختلفوا فيه والصحيح أنه كما لا يلزمه الحد لا يقع طلاقه ولا ينفذ تصرفه كذا فی فتاوى قاضی خان، الخ (كتاب الطلاق، الباب الأول فی تفسير الطلاق وركنه وشرطه وحكمه ووصفه وتقسيمه، فصل فيمن يقع طلاقه وفيمن لا يقع طلاقه، ج 1، ص 353، ط: مکتبۃ ماجدیۃ)-
وفی شرح الأشباہ و النظائر: ومنھا شكّ ھل طلق أم لا ؟ لم یقع، شكّ أنّہ طلق واحدۃً أو أکثر بنی علی الأقل، کما ذکر الإسبیجابی إلا أن یستیقن بالأکثر، أو یکون أکبر ظنہ علی خلافہ، الخ ( ‌‌الفن الأول قول فی القواعد الكلية، القاعدة الثالثة اليقين لا يزول بالشك، قاعدة من شك هل فعل شيئا أم لا فالأصل أنه لم يفعل، ج 1، ص 196، المرقم: 391، ط: ادارۃ القرآن و العلوم الاسلامیۃ )-
وفی الھدایۃ: و أذا طلّق الرجل إمرأتہ تطلیقۃ رجعیۃ أو تطلیقتین، فلہ أن یراجعھا فی عدّتھا رضیت بذٰلك أو لم ترض، و الرجعۃ أن یقول: راجعتک أو راجعت إمرأتی أو یطأھا أو یقبّلھا أو یلمسھا بشھوۃ أو ینظرھا إلی فرجھا بشھوۃ، و یستحبّ أن یشھد علی الرجعۃ شاھدین، فإن لم یشھد صحّت الرجعۃ، الخ ( باب الرجعۃ، ج 2، ص 88، ط: مکتبۃانعامیۃ)-