Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
If a husband says “take 3” to the wife, does it constitute as a religious divorce? Is saying “take 3” a metaphor of divorce/ ṭalāq? The person in question wanted to say “take 3 capsules” but due to waswās (devilish whispers), he is having doubts. Is saying “take 3” a metaphor of divorce in every and any case?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.
In the described scenario, the words, “take 3” can only constitute Islamic divorce if the husband articulating the words has an intention of divorce before or during the pronunciation of the words. – (See: Rad Al-Muḥtār, Vol 3, Page 296, Dār Al-Fikr)[1]
“‘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)[2]
Only Allāh knows best.
[1] فالْكِنَايَاتُ لَا تَطْلُقُ بِهَا قَضَاءً إلَّا بِنِيَّةٍ أَوْ دَلَالَةِ الْحَالِ وَهِيَ حَالَةُ مُذَاكَرَةِ الطَّلَاقِ أَوْ الْغَضَبِ – كتاب الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ج ٣/ ص ٢٩٦ دار الفكر
[2] 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