Would Changing My Wife’s Name on My Phone Constitute Allusive (Kinaya) Word for Divorce?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I have my wife’s name recorded as Zawjati on my phone. We had a dispute about something. I got angry and then changed the info on my from Zawjati to her actual name. I am not sure if I was being spiteful or intending Kinaya; I didn’t know about Kinaya at the time.

Would replacing the name on my phone constitute kinaya if there was an intention? I don’t think I said any words, but want clarity on my actions.

This has happened a couple of times. Now that I know about Kinaya, I try not to go anywhere near the topic.

Any help would be appreciated إن شاء الله.

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.

Replacing one’s wife’s name with another name will not constitute an allusive word to divorce.

Allusive words are ambiguous words and statements, and they do not affect divorce unless used with intent or determined by the situation. Allusive words are not only used to issue divorces, but they can also be implied and hinted at. As a result, given each circumstance, other aspects must be considered and assessed in addition to the utterance and intention.

[Ibn ’Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

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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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.