Back to search

What is the religious ruling on saying, "You are divorced," and then, "You are forbidden to me," with the intention of emphasis, not of repeating the number of divorces? And is it permissible to take back the wife two days after this incident?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Your statement to your wife, "You are divorced," is an explicit pronouncement of divorce. Your statement, "You are forbidden to me," when intended to emphasize the divorce, does not result in another divorce. If this is the only time you have divorced your wife, then your divorce is revocable (raj'i), and you have the right to take her back before the expiration of her waiting period ('iddah) by saying, "I have taken my wife back," or by engaging in intercourse with her. The 'iddah concludes after three menstrual cycles for women who menstruate, upon delivery for a pregnant woman, and after three months for a woman who has reached menopause.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy