When does the divorce of one afflicted by obsessive-compulsive disorder (waswasah) take effect if he pronounces it or intends it unintentionally, or during his waswasah, or forgetfulness, or when recalling the matter?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
As long as the person afflicted with (obsessive doubts) does not intend to effect a divorce by his words, nor to suspend it, nor to swear by it, then no divorce occurs thereby. Rather, he should disregard such thoughts and say to Satan, "You have spoken the truth," and there is nothing upon him. However, if he intended divorce and aimed to effect it, then it occurs at that time just as it would for a sound person. The person afflicted with waswas is like the madman and the imbecile in that divorce is not binding upon him as long as he is overcome by his mental state.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/102970
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 102970
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy