Does a verbal divorce take effect, and is one who marries a woman divorced verbally considered an adulterer?
If a husband pronounces a divorce, being conscious, exercising free will, and not under duress, his divorce takes effect immediately upon utterance. Its occurrence is not contingent upon witnessing or official documentation. According to the Council of Senior Scholars at Al-Azhar, a verbal divorce that fulfills its pillars and conditions is effective. The divorcer must immediately document it to safeguard the rights of the divorced woman and her children, and whoever refrains from documenting it must be punished. There is no difference between marrying a woman divorced by a recorded divorce or a proven verbal one, but documentation preserves rights and prevents denial.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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