Do the Words “There Is a Solution” Imply Divorce?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

During an argument with my wife, because I did not agree to invite a person from her family into our house, which I judged as perverse, my wife indicated that her patience had limits. I have replied to my wife, “there is a solution,” by referring to divorce, although I never pronounced the word “divorce.” The objective was to threaten her with divorce following her words, not to pronounce an effective divorce.

Is the divorce effective in this specific case?

Answer

No, divorce did not come into effect with the above wording. There is nothing to worry about. I would, however, be careful about what you said. Something once said cannot be un-said.

Also, when necessary, divorce should only be done in a cool and collected way. Many a time, people initiate a divorce while the wife is on her menstrual cycle. This is an act of innovation. [Maydani, al-Lubab] You don’t want to be one of the people chased away by the angels from the Pool of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) for innovations. [Muslim]

It’s best to discuss matters with a cool head.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.