Does divorce take effect via a text message if the husband did not intend divorce, and is it valid to take the wife back during her iddah if this was not the third divorce?
Divorce via text message is like divorce in writing; it does not take effect unless intended by the husband. If the husband did not intend divorce, then nothing is binding on him. If he intended only one divorce, then that becomes binding.
If the spouses differ on the number of divorces, the husband's statement is to be accepted.
A woman divorced once or twice can be taken back (reinstated) before the 'iddah (waiting period) ends. As for a woman divorced thrice, she is not lawful for her divorcer until she marries another man, he consummates the marriage with her, and then he divorces her.
It is preferable to consult the Sharia court to clarify the situation.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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