Is one who acts upon a fatwa by Ibn Uthaymeen, which contradicts the opinion of the majority, sinful based on his personal preference, and does the divorce of a person afflicted with waswasah (obsessive-compulsive disorder) take effect if he intended it without reassurance, and what is the ruling on the patient’s belief that his wife is unlawful for him and that he is considering annulling the marriage contract?

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen does not deviate from the majority opinion except when he finds a stronger evidence. And whoever imitates him among the common people does not sin, because the layman is not qualified to examine the evidence. The implication of the Shaykh's words is that the divorce of one afflicted by waswasah (obsessive whispering) does not occur, even if he utters it explicitly, unless he truly intends and wills it in a state of tranquility and peace of mind, because he is overwhelmed by his condition. So, if the one afflicted by waswasah pronounces divorce under the influence of waswasah, it does not occur. However, if his belief that the marriage contract is annulled is the cause of his pronouncing divorce, then if this belief is a result of waswasah, his divorce does not occur. But if this belief is due to ignorance and has no relation to waswasah, then his divorce occurs.