It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) that (in the time of ignorance) a man would divorce his wife and then say, "I was only jesting and joking," or free a slave and then say, "I was only playing." So Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed this blessed verse: And do not take the verses of Allah in jest [Surah al-Baqarah: 231]. Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever divorces or frees a slave and then says (to get out of it), 'I was only joking,' his saying is void and has no legal standing; rather, that divorce or emancipation takes effect upon him and becomes legally binding on him."
Sufyan (the narrator) said: This means that the act (divorce or emancipation) becomes binding on him in every case.
Hadith Referenceالمطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية / كتاب التفسير / 3529
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث المطالب العالیہ محققاً تنسیق د. سعد بن ناصر بن عبد العزيز الشَّثري- مکتبہ شاملہ :إسناده صحيح. » «أخرجه مصنف ابن أبي شيبة برقم: 5، وأخرجه إتحاف الخيرة المهرة بزوائد المسانيد العشرة برقم: 5630»