Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
Assalāmu Alaykum, my husband was really angry over a trivial issue and whilst I was at my mum’s house, he said, “Do not bother coming back, I do not want you!” Does this constitute a divorce? He says he did not mean a divorce.
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of God, Most Merciful, Most Kind
Wa Alaykum Salām/ Greetings of Peace
Thank you/ Jazāk Allāh Khayr for contacting Mathabah with your query.
In response to your question, kindly note that the wordings used can only constitute an Islamic divorce if the husband had intended divorce. Otherwise, the described wordings would not establish an Islamic divorce. In your case, there is no divorce. – (See: Rad-Al-Muḥtār, Page 528, Kitāb Al-Ṭalāq, Volume 4, Dār Al-Ālam Al-Kutub, [1] Al-Fatāwā Al-Hindīyyah, Page 412, Volume 1, Dār Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmīyyah [2])
“‘Abd Allāh Ibn Yazīd bin Rukānah narrated from his father, from his grandfather (may Allāh be pleased with them) who said, “O Messenger of Allāh! I irrevocably divorced my wife.” So he asked, “What did you intend by that?” I replied, “One (divorce pronouncement).” He then questioned, “[Do you swear] By Allāh?” I stated, “[Yes] By Allāh.” He clarified, “Then it is as you intended.”” – (Tirmidhī 1177) [3]
Only Allāh knows best
[1] فَ) الْكِنَايَاتُ (لَا تَطْلُقُ بِهَا قَضَاءً (إلَّا بِنِيَّةٍ أَوْ دَلَالَةِ الْحَالِ) وَهِيَ حَالَةُ مُذَاكَرَةِ الطَّلَاقِ أَوْ الْغَضَبِ، – رد المحتار كتاب الطلاق )
[2] وَلَوْ قَالَ لَمْ يَبْقَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَك شَيْءٌ وَنَوَى بِهِ الطَّلَاقَ لَا يَقَعُ وَفِي الْفَتَاوَى لَمْ يَبْقَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَك عَمَلٌ وَنَوَى يَقَعُ – الفتاوى الهندية
[3] عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ بْنِ رُكَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي طَلَّقْتُ امْرَأَتِي الْبَتَّةَ . فَقَالَ ” مَا أَرَدْتَ بِهَا ” . قُلْتُ وَاحِدَةً . قَالَ ” وَاللَّهِ ” . قُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ . قَالَ ” فَهُوَ مَا أَرَدْتَ – الترمذي ١١٧٧