Does a divorce take effect if the husband says "You are divorced" into the air, without directing it at his wife, knowing that it was said under duress from the wife?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a husband says to his wife, "You are divorced," but intends another meaning by it other than divorce, it is accepted from him religiously (between him and Allah), but it is not accepted judicially (before a court); because the judiciary rules by outward appearances. If you trust your husband's sincerity, do not take the matter to court. Otherwise, prosecution is preferable. A woman is not permitted to seek divorce except for a legitimate excuse.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/9768
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 9768
- Added here
- . 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