What is the ruling on a divorce that occurs under duress and without the desire of the spouses, and before consummation?

A man's divorce takes effect if he is a sane, adult, and acting of his own free will, whether the divorce occurs before or after marriage.

As for the divorce of one who is coerced, it does not take effect if the coercion is unlawful, such as the threat of killing or severe beating, provided that the coercer is capable of carrying out his threat. This is based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "There is no divorce and no manumission in duress (or compulsion)," and his saying: "Indeed, Allah has pardoned for my Ummah their mistakes, their forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."

If a man divorces his wife before consummation under pressure that does not amount to coercion, the divorce takes effect and has consequences, including: an irreversible separation (baynunah), and the non-obligation of the waiting period (iddah), based on the Almighty's saying: "O you who have believed, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them, then there is not for you any waiting period to count concerning them. So provide for them and release them with a gracious release." She is also entitled to half of the dowry, based on the Almighty's saying: "And if you divorce them before you have touched them but have already specified for them an obligation, then [give them] half of what you specified." And it is most likely that she is entitled to a gift of comfort (mut'ah), based on the Almighty's saying: "And for divorced women is a provision [mut'ah] by agreement - a duty upon the righteous."