Is There Any Consequence and Ruling if One Uttered Hypothetical Conditional Statements of Divorce While Single?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I am single and looking to get married. I have doubts that a while ago, whilst still single, I said something to my friends along the lines of  ‘if my wife was ever to do….. to me,’ ‘I will divorce her on the spot, talaq talaq talaq’ or ‘its a divorce, talaq talaq talaq’ (with the intention that I would give her those three talaqs). At the time, I’m sure conditional talaq was not even in my head, I was meaning that if that were to happen, I would then give 3 talaqs. I am now worried that my wording meant a conditional talaq, although I didn’t mean it to be so. I am also in doubt as to what the exact scenario was, what exact words were used, what exactly my intentions were etc. I’m trying to paint a picture in my head. I suffer from severe misgivings.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

There is no consequence or ruling if a person uttered hypothetical statements like the above while being single and unmarried. This is just a misgiving you are having. Don’t worry, remain assured and positive. It will have no effect on your future marriage.

There is a fiqh maxim; no significance is given to mere possibility.

[Da’as, Al-Qawa’id al-Fiqhiyya]

Regularly perform two rakats of Prayer of Need (Salat al-Haja) that Allah Most High to give you relief from this uncomfortable illness, amin.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

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I would like you to go through this 2-hour long podcast. It will be highly beneficial and guide you through.

• Being Balanced – Emotional and Mental Health – Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
• How Does One Perform The Prayer Of Need (salat al-haja)? – SeekersGuidance

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.