Said to His Wife in Anger: ‘I Grant You Divorce’
Fatwa No: 461881

Question

My husband said in extreme anger that he is giving me talaq but when he calmed down he told me that wasn’t his intention and that he doesn’t want our marriage to break I just wanted to know if it counts because from reading other fatwa it says the wording giving is a metaphor, I would really appreciate if you could help me clear this matter..

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Your husband’s saying to you “I grant you divorce” is an inexplicit form of divorce, but rather a promise to do so. Thus, the divorce does not take effect, nor is it recommended for the husband to fulfill his promise.

However, we call your attention to some points, as follows:

First, the husband should beware of hastening to pronounce words of divorce.

Second, you should also beware of anger since it is from Satan and the key to many doors of evil.

Third, anger does not render divorce ineffective unless the person reaches a level of anger under which he is unconscious of what he says.

For more benefit on divorce given in anger, please refer to Fataawa 220696, 243088, 245707, 322960, 388225, 395773, 121374, 126164 and 245707.

Allah knows best.

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