If a husband gives divorce to his wife in anger without intention, what is the ruling?

Source: Fatawa Aman Puri by Sheikh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Aman Puri

Question:​

If a husband gives divorce to his wife in anger without intention, what is the ruling?

Answer:​

When the wife is divorced, it indeed takes place.
Sayedna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
ثلاث جدهن جد، وهزلهن جد: النكاح، والطلاق، والرجعة.
The reality of three things is indeed a reality, and their joking is also a reality:
1. Marriage
2. Divorce
3. Reconciliation

Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood: 2194, Sunan Tirmidhi: 1225, Sunan Ibn Majah: 2039, Sharh Ma'ani Al-Athar by Tahaawi: 58/2, Sunan Al-Daraqutni: 256/3-257, and its chain is Hasan)

This hadith has been declared Hasan Gharib by Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him), Sahih by Imam Ibn Al-Jarood (may Allah have mercy on him)

Reference: (Hadith 712)

, and Sahih Al-Isnad by Imam Hakim (may Allah have mercy on him)

Reference: (192/2)

.
❀ Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) has declared it Hasan.

Reference: (Al-Talkhis Al-Habeer: 210/3)

❀ Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
العمل على هذا عند أهل العلم من أصحاب النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم وغيرهم.
The scholars, the companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and other scholars practice upon this.
❀ Hafiz Al-Khattabi (may Allah have mercy on him)

Reference: (388 AH) states:
اتفق عامة أهل العلم على أن صريح لفظ الطلاق إذا جرى على لسان البالغ العاقل فإنه مؤاخذ به ولا ينفعه أن يقول: كنت لاعبا أو هازلا أو لم أنو به طلاقا أو ما أشبه ذلك من الأمور.
All scholars agree that when the explicit word of divorce is uttered by a sane adult, the divorce will take place, even if he claims that he was joking or had no intention of divorce, or makes any such other statement.

Reference: (Ma'alim Al-Sunan: 243/3, Sharh Al-Sunnah by Al-Baghawi: 220/9)