What is the ruling on a husband saying to his wife via text message, "You are unlawful, unlawful, unlawful to me until I pay off all my debts," and does this take effect merely by sending the message?

The reference for a husband's prohibition of his wife is his intention and purpose, which has four possibilities:

1. Intention of Divorce:

If he intended to initiate divorce with the three phrases (intention of establishment), a triple divorce occurs, and she becomes unlawful to him until she marries another husband. This is the view of the majority of scholars.

If he intended to initiate divorce with only the first phrase and made the subsequent phrases an affirmation of it (intention of affirmation), then only one divorce is binding.

2. Intention of Zihar: He is liable for one expiation if he has intercourse before settling his debt. If he does not have intercourse with her until he settles his debt, then there is no obligation upon him.

3. Intention of an Oath by Allah the Almighty or No Intention at All: He is liable for only one expiation for an oath.

The husband is advised to consult a Sharia court or trustworthy scholars to clarify what he has uttered.