Do the following phrases: "We are divorcing," "Therefore, we are divorcing," and "If you are not happy, then divorce me," constitute explicit divorce pronouncements that effect a divorce, or does divorce not occur through them if they are said with the intention of threat and without the intention of divorce?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Divorce does not occur with a word indicating the future, such as "I will divorce you," because it is a promise. Nor does it occur with a present tense word, such as "we are divorcing," except with the intention [of divorce], because it can refer to both the present and the future. And the husband's statement to his wife, "If you are not happy, then divorce me," does not constitute a divorce, because the wife does not possess the right to divorce. It is advised to avoid words of divorce and to strive to solve problems through dialogue.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 7717
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- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy