Sent wife divorce papers with “Talaq” written three times Fatwa No: 87687
- Fatwa Date:11-5-2004
Please advise. If a man sent divorce papers to her wife and wrote three times the word Talaq instead of saying it verbally is it considered as final and the marriage is null, or will it be considered as only one time. According to Sunni law, if wife wants to come back after realizing her mistakes can she be taken back, after one month of receiving papers. Please guide us in this manner, Allah knows best.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Written divorce without uttering the words of divorce or reading what is written is valid only if the divorce is intended since writing is considered among the illusive expressions that might be understood in more than one way.
If one writes that his wife is divorced thrice whether it is considered as divorced thrice or not, the four schools of thoughts are of the opinion that it is a divorce three times.
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah is of the opinion that it is considered only one divorce.
We would like to say that the matter of divorce is critical, hence we advise you to consult an Islamic court or an Islamic Centre.
Allah knows best.