Source: Fatawa Aman Puri by Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Aman Puri
Question:
Does a divorce given in anger take effect or not?
Answer:
Whether divorce occurs in a state of anger or not is detailed, taking into account the state of anger and the person's intellect and awareness.
❀ Allama Ibn Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, states:
الغضب على ثلاثة أقسام؛ أحدها: ما يزيل العقل، فلا يشعر صاحبه بما قال، وهذا لا يقع طلاقه بلا نزاع، والثاني: ما يكون فى مباديه بحيث لا يمنع صاحبه من تصور ما يقول وقصده، فهذا يقع طلاقه، والثالث: أن يستحكم ويشتد به، فلا يزيل عقله بالكلية، ولكن يحول بينه وبين نيته بحيث يندم على ما فرط منه إذا زال، فهذا محل نظر، وعدم الوقوع فى هذه الحالة قوي متجه.
❀ Anger is of three types:
The type that completely removes reason, so the person is not aware of what they are saying; divorce given in such anger is unanimously not valid.
The type of anger that is in the initial stages, which does not prevent the person from thinking, deliberating, and intending; divorce given in this state is valid.
Anger that is intense but does not completely remove reason, yet affects intention and will to such an extent that later the person regrets their action; there is a difference of opinion regarding divorce given in this state of anger, however, the stronger and correct view is that divorce does not occur in this anger either.
❀ Allah, the Exalted, says:
﴿وَإِنْ عَزَمُوا الطَّلَاقَ﴾
Reference: (Al-Baqarah: 227)
"If they intend to divorce."
Reference: (Zad al-Ma'ad: 195/5-196)
❀ Sayyidina Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reports that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
لا يقضين حاكم بين اثنين وهو غضبان.
"No judge should decide between the two parties in a state of anger."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: 7158, Sahih Muslim: 1717)
In the blessed verse, the word for divorce used is one that implies intention and firm resolve. Similarly, in the hadith, the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade the judge from making a decision in anger, because in anger, he will lose his senses and make a wrong decision, and his intention and will will not be included in that decision; upon the anger subsiding, he will regret the decision.
Likewise, such anger that affects a person's intellect to the extent that they lose their senses does not result in divorce, because their intention is not included in it. However, a slight anger that does not affect intellect, awareness, and intention does result in divorce.
