Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
Can you please tell me if a civil divorce in a Canadian or European court, in front of a non-Muslim judge is a valid islamic divorce as well? The husband gave his consent verbally in front of the judge, lawyer and wife. The judge asked him if he agrees to the request of divorce from the wife and also wishes to get divorced? He answered “Yes, that’s right.”. Now after the ‘iddah is over, he is saying that it was only a Canadian or European divorce, not an islamic one, and that the wife needs to apply for a religious divorce from a Muslim Judge or the husband needs to say the word ṭalāq. Can you please guide me in this situation? Divorce is a serious issue. How can someone say, “Yes” and give their consent thereafter say that the woman is still in the marriage because it does not count form an islamic divorce?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathābah Institute.
Yes, in the described case, the divorce is effective. Both legally and islamicaly. The husband’s response with “yes” when questioned, and his consent materializes the divorce. There is no need for the husband to say the word “ṭalāq” neither any other procedure to obtain an Islamic divorce, in your described scenario. – (See: Rad Al-Muḥtār Vol 3, Page 297, Dār Al-Fikr[1], Al-Fatāwā Al-Hindīyyah Vol 1, Page 402, Dār Al-Fikr[2], Fatāwā Dār Al-‘Ulūm Zakarīyya Vol, 4 Page 275)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “There are three things which, whether undertaken seriously or in jest, are treated as serious; marriage, divorce and taking back a wife [after a divorce which is not final].” – (Abū Dāwūd 2194)[3]
Only Allāh knows best.
[1] قَوْلُهُ وَهِيَ حَالَةُ مُذَاكَرَةِ الطَّلَاقِ أَشَارَ بِهِ إلَى مَا فِي النَّهْرِ مِنْ أَنَّ دَلَالَةَ الْحَالِ تَعُمُّ دَلَالَةَ الْمَقَالِ قَالَ وَعَلَى هَذَا فَتُفَسَّرُ الْمُذَاكَرَةُ بِسُؤَالِ الطَّلَاقِ أَوْ تَقْدِيمِ الْإِيقَاعِ كَمَا فِي اعْتَدِّي ثَلَاثًا وَقَالَ قَبْلَهُ الْمُذَاكَرَةُ أَنْ تَسْأَلَهُ هِيَ أَوْ أَجْنَبِيٌّ الطَّلَاقَ – الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين ج٣/ ص٢٩٧
[2] إذَا قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ طَلِّقْ امْرَأَتِي وَقَرَنَهُ بِالْمَشِيئَةِ فَهُوَ كَذَلِكَ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْرِنْهُ بِالْمَشِيئَةِ كَانَ تَوْكِيلًا وَلَمْ يَقْتَصِرْ عَلَى الْمَجْلِسِ وَيَمْلِكُ الْعَزْلَ عَنْهُ كَذَا فِي الْجَوْهَرَةِ النَّيِّرَةِ – كتاب الفتاوى الهندية ج ١/ ص٤٠٢
[3] ثَلاَثٌ جِدُّهُنَّ جِدٌّ وَهَزْلُهُنَّ جِدٌّ النِّكَاحُ وَالطَّلاَقُ وَالرَّجْعَةُ – أبو داؤد ٢١٩٤