Is the utterance "It's over" considered a divorce, and is divorce valid through insinuation followed by a later confirmation, and is the intention to reconcile during the 'iddah sufficient for the wife to return after the 'iddah expires, without agreement on the details?
A man's statement to his wife: "The matter between us is considered over" is an كناية (indirect or allusive expression) of divorce, by which divorce occurs if the husband intends it. His affirmation of it by explicitly stating the divorce to her brother makes it effective. If he takes her back by saying: "I have taken my wife back" or by having intercourse with her before her waiting period (iddah) expires, then she has returned to his marital bond. However, if he does not utter the words of رجعة (revocation of divorce) and does not have intercourse with her until her waiting period expires, then she has become irrevocably divorced from him. For رجعة (revocation) does not occur merely by intention, according to the preponderant opinion. If she becomes irrevocably divorced from him, and this is the first or second divorce, then he may contract a new marriage with her.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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