Does a divorce take effect when the husband says to his wife, "Then you are divorced," after she said, "So be it, if you wish," in response to his statement, "If I have no relation [with you], then we will separate," knowing that the husband intended the divorce to take effect upon the wife's wish or if what he commanded was not fulfilled?
The question is vague, but what is understood from it is that you uttered two sentences to your wife: "If I don't have a relationship, we will separate" and "Then you are divorced."
The first sentence, "If I don't have a relationship, we will separate," is merely a promise of divorce and does not result in a divorce.
The second sentence, "Then you are divorced," effects one divorce, whether you were angry or intended to threaten, because it is an explicit form of an immediate divorce and does not require intention. Ibn Qudamah said in Al-Sharh Al-Kabeer: "The explicit [form] does not need intention; rather, it occurs without intention. So, whenever he says 'You are divorced' or 'You are divorced' or 'I divorced you,' it occurs without intention, without dispute."
If this was the first or second divorce, you may reconcile with your wife as long as she is within her waiting period (three menstrual cycles), by word or deed.
If this was the third divorce, then your wife has become irrevocably separated from you and is not permissible for you until she marries another man in a valid marriage and then is divorced after consummation.
It is advisable to refer to the Sharia court or consult trustworthy scholars. One should not use divorce pronouncements for threatening; rather, one should act with wisdom.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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