Does the divorce of a man who makes an oath while being extremely angry—to the point of severe beating—count, given that he claims he cannot control or possess himself, and he was undergoing treatment before marriage but did not complete it?
The husband is enjoined by Islamic law to treat his wife kindly and live with her honorably. Beating one's wife is a heinous sin. The wife has the right to seek divorce due to clear harm.
If the husband pronounces divorce, and he was unaware of what he was saying due to extreme anger, then the divorce does not take effect. However, if he was aware of what he was saying: 1. If he pronounced divorce three times or more, in an immediate manner, then she becomes unlawful for him and will not be lawful to him until she marries another husband. 2. If he pronounced less than three divorces, in an immediate manner, he may take her back before the 'iddah (waiting period) expires. 3. If he pronounced divorce conditionally, such as "If you do such and such, then you are divorced," then divorce takes effect upon the fulfillment of the condition, according to the majority of scholars. However, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah holds that divorce depends on the husband's intention; if he intended divorce, it takes effect, otherwise he must offer expiation for breaking an oath.
It is advisable to consult local scholars to clarify the specific details of divorce accurately.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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