Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Badat
Question:
I was joking around with my wife about a second marriage. She said, “How will you please her in the bed when you cannot please me. You last only 1 minute.” I said, “Are you not ashamed talking like this?” She said, “I can talk like this because it is my right [the right to get pleased sexually].” I said in anger [without any intention of divorce, just to hurt her], “Get your right fulfilled by somebody else.”
I immediately regretted what I said and I was unsure if my nikāḥ is still valid. By searching on the internet, I think my nikāḥ is still valid. However, I wanted to ask for myself. So, is my nikāḥ still valid? Also, for clarification, are these words considered to be allusive (kināya)? I am asking the last question, because arguments occur between husband and wife and not everything is intended to be about divorce or threats about divorce. It could be profanity or to hurt each other by saying the things I said.
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.
The statement, “Get your right fulfilled by somebody else.” does not constitute divorce in Islamic law unless the husband intended those words to mean “divorce”. Yes, the words used are kināya (ambiguous) therefore, if there is no intention of divorce by the husband then the quoted statement cannot constitute a divorce. – (See: Rad Al-Muḥtār, Vol 3, Page 296, Dār Al-Fikr, Al-Fatāwā Al-Hindiyyah, Vol 1, Page 376, Dār Al-Fikr)
“‘Abd Allāh Ibn Yazīd bin Rukānah narrated from his father, from his grandfather (may Allāh be pleased with them) who said, “O Messenger of Allāh! I irrevocably divorced my wife.” So he asked, “What did you intend by that?” I replied, “One (divorce pronouncement).” He then questioned, “[Do you swear] By Allāh?” I stated, “[Yes] By Allāh.” He clarified, “Then it is as you intended.”” – (Tirmidhī 1177)
Only Allāh knows best
فالْكِنَايَاتُ لَا تَطْلُقُ بِهَا قَضَاءً إلَّا بِنِيَّةٍ أَوْ دَلَالَةِ الْحَالِ وَهِيَ حَالَةُ مُذَاكَرَةِ الطَّلَاقِ أَوْ الْغَضَبِ – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ج ٣/ ص ٢٩٦ دار الفكر
وَلَوْ قَالَ لَهَا اذْهَبِي فَتَزَوَّجِي تَقَعُ وَاحِدَةٌ إذَا نَوَى – كتاب الفتاوى الهندية ج١/ ص٣٧٦ دار الفكر
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ بْنِ رُكَانَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي طَلَّقْتُ امْرَأَتِي الْبَتَّةَ فَقَالَ مَا أَرَدْتَ بِهَا قُلْتُ وَاحِدَةً قَالَ وَاللَّهِ قُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ قَالَ فَهُوَ مَا أَرَدْتَ – الترمذي ١١٧٧
