Fatwa No : 84986
Divorcing One’s Wife Unintentionally and Without Intention Due to Ignorance

Divorcing One’s Wife Unintentionally and Without Intention Due to Ignorance

What do the honorable scholars say regarding this issue: A few months ago, I performed a court marriage with a girl. Neither my family nor her family knew about it. After about six months, both families came to know of the marriage. Her family then demanded that I divorce her, but I refused. Eventually, they convened a local council (jirga) where I was again pressured to divorce her. At first, I refused, but when I was heavily compelled, I uttered without intention and out of ignorance: “Sabah! I divorce you, divorce, divorce.” My question is: Did this divorce actually take place or not? Kindly guide me in the light of Shariah.
Note: Intimacy (intercourse) had already taken place between us.
Further details: The girl is from Attock, and her father works in welding. I am from Peshawar, and my work is related to internet services. The mahr was set at one lakh rupees. Her parents were not in favor of this marriage.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

If the questioner and the mentioned girl performed a secret court marriage without the knowledge of their guardians, then if this nikah was with proper compatibility (kufu) and an appropriate mahr al-mithl (customary dowry), the nikah did take place. However, afterwards when, under the insistence of the girl’s family, the questioner uttered these explicit words of divorce: “Sabah! I divorce you, divorce, divorce,” then by these words all three divorces have been effected, and an irrevocable divorce (hurmat-e-mughallazah) has been established. Therefore, there is no possibility of taking the wife back (rujuʿ), nor can a new marriage between them take place without a proper halalah sharʿiyyah. This is because, in explicit words of divorce, intention is not considered, and ignorance of the ruling is not a valid excuse. Thus, it is obligatory upon both husband and wife to immediately separate from each other. After completing her waiting period (ʿiddah), the woman is free to marry whomever she wishes.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في صحيح البخاري: حدثني محمد بن بشار، حدثنا يحيى، عن عبيد الله، قال: حدثني القاسم بن محمد، عن عائشة، أن رجلا طلق امرأته ثلاثا، فتزوجت فطلق، فسئل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: أتحل للأول؟ قال: «لا، حتى يذوق عسيلتها كما ذاق الأول» (7/ 43)
و في الفتاوى الهندية: إذا كان الطلاق بائنا دون الثلاث فله أن يتزوجها في العدة وبعد انقضائها 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 اھ (1/ 473)
و في الدر المختار: [فروع] كرر لفظ الطلاق وقع الكل، وإن نوى التأكيد دين. (3/ 293)
وفيه ايضا: باب الصريح (صريحه ما لم يستعمل إلا فيه) ولو بالفارسية (كطلقتك وأنت طالق ومطلقة) (إلى قوله) (ويقع بها) أي بهذه الألفاظ وما بمعناها من الصريح، (إلى قوله) بلا فرق بين عالم وجاهل اھ (3/ 249، 247)
و في حاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار): (قوله ولو بالفارسية) فما لا يستعمل فيها إلا في الطلاق فهو صريح يقع بلا نية اھ (3/ 247) واللہ اعلم بالصواب