Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
A husband and wife got into a heated argument and the husband uttered the words below and acknowledged it as a divorce at first but then rejected it and says it was not his intention. Would this be considered a divorce or not according to Islam? If so, what type?
“Let’s call it a day. Relieve yourself of this misery!”
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathābah Institute.
The words, “Let’s call it a day.” and “Relieve yourself of this misery!” are words of ambiguous (kināya) divorce. When a husband says these words with the intention of divorce, they constitute ṭalāq bāin. In the described scenario, the husband did acknowledge the intent of divorce but later went back on his word. Therefore, the divorce did take place. – (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