What is the ruling on uttering the words "divorce thrice if you pass in front of me" if it was unintentional and without knowing what was said, and then what was sworn upon occurred a few minutes later?
The majority of jurists hold that swearing by divorce results in divorce upon breaking the oath, and that pronouncing divorce three times counts as three divorces. However, Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah is of the opinion that swearing by divorce, when not intended to make the divorce contingent but rather as a threat or emphasis, falls under the ruling of an oath by Allah. In such a case, if the oath is broken, an expiation for an oath is due, and divorce does not occur. He also holds that pronouncing divorce three times counts as a single divorce. The phrase "divorce three times" is an explicit oath of divorce. If the utterance of divorce was an unintentional mistake (a slip of the tongue), then divorce does not occur. However, if it was intended as an oath, then according to the majority of jurists, three divorces occur upon breaking the oath, whereas according to Ibn Taymiyyah, an expiation for an oath is due. The occurrence of breaking the oath depends on the swearer's intention and what he meant by his oath, as intention particularizes the general and restricts the absolute.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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