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Does a divorce occur by text message if the husband says to his wife: "Know that if you do this, you are divorced and forbidden to me," and is the woman divorced if she does the thing based on a fatwa that divorce by text message does not occur? And is a woman deprived of Paradise if she seeks a divorce due to her inability to bear her husband marrying another?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Divorce occurs by writing if the husband intends it; if he does not intend it, it does not occur. As for a written prohibition, the husband's intention is referred to: if he intended divorce, two divorces are incumbent upon him (unless he intended emphasis or clarification, then it is one divorce). If he intended ẓihār, then a divorce and ẓihār are incumbent upon him. If he intended an oath or had no intention, then an expiation for an oath is incumbent upon him. The expiation for an oath is feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave; if he is unable, then fasting three days. The expiation for ẓihār is freeing a slave; if he is unable, then fasting two consecutive months; if he is unable, then feeding sixty poor people. The husband must be informed of what happened and asked about his intention. You are permitted to seek a divorce if your husband marries another woman and you cannot bear to remain with him and fear neglecting his rights.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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