What is the ruling on someone who jokingly said to his wife, "You are forbidden to me today," and then had intercourse with her?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Divorce, as well as ẓihār (a pre-Islamic form of divorce) and oaths, takes effect whether uttered in jest or in earnest. Thus, if a man says to his wife, "You are forbidden to me," and does not intend anything specific, he must offer expiation for a broken oath. However, if he intended divorce or ẓihār by his words, then what he intended takes effect, even if he was joking. Anything that Allah has made lawful, if a person declares it forbidden upon himself, then its ruling is that of an oath: he must offer expiation for a broken oath, and then he may do it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 8959
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- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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