What is the ruling on the divorce of one afflicted by obsessive doubts, who experiences obsessive thoughts of divorce throughout the day and does not know whether a divorce has been issued by him or not? Does his divorce take effect if he preponderantly believes that he intended divorce? Is he obliged to investigate past events, or should he disregard that? Does his divorce take effect if he utters it while not intending it? And does preponderant belief apply in his case?

The divorce of the one afflicted with obsessive-compulsive disorder (waswas) does not take effect, as he is overwhelmed in his mind most of the time, and thus is considered to be under duress. The more the person with waswas thinks about divorce, the more the obsession takes hold of him.

Therefore, the cure for obsessions is to completely disregard them and to infuriate Satan by not paying attention to them. Marriage is established with certainty and is not dissolved except by a certainty of equal measure.

This person is advised to perform ruqyah (Islamic exorcism/spiritual healing), to maintain the morning and evening remembrances (adhkar), to observe the obligatory prayers, and to beware of sins and disobedience.