Does a divorce occur with the word "divorced" uttered once during a verbal argument and intense anger without the intention [of divorce], and is expiation required for that?
The jurists have agreed that whoever utters an explicit divorce, intending the word, it becomes binding upon him. There is no difference whether he intended its meaning or not, whether he was serious or joking, due to the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "There are three matters, serious when serious, and serious when joking: marriage, divorce, and رجعة (revocation of divorce)." What was issued by the questioner is considered a divorce. He may take back his wife after it, as long as her waiting period (iddah) has not ended, if this was the first or second divorce. As for merely retracting the divorce or apologizing for it, that is not a رجعة (revocation). The state of anger has no effect unless it is so severe that he does not know what he uttered.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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