Is the husband's threat to divorce his wife—should she speak to another man—considered an actual divorce if the husband did not intend it?

If a man suspends his wife's divorce upon a past action, such as saying: "You are divorced if you had spoken to a man," and this action indeed occurred in the past, then the divorce takes effect immediately, whether the husband knew about it or not. The intention of threatening is not beneficial in this case.

It is cautioned against suspending divorce upon something the husband does not know except from his wife's statement, because she might lie, leading to the divorce taking effect without his knowledge. Some jurists have commanded separation from the wife in such a situation. The wife must be advised and reminded of the gravity of lying and its consequence of living in a state of haraam.