Does divorce take effect if I think about divorce, or desire it, but do not intend to effectuate the divorce at the same time, knowing that I suffer from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Mere intention to divorce does not constitute a divorce, for Allah has forgiven this Ummah for what they ponder in their hearts, as long as they do not act upon it or speak of it. If a man utters an explicit divorce, his divorce takes effect, even if he did not intend it. However, if he uses an ambiguous phrase (kinayah) without the intention of divorce, it does not take effect. An example of an ambiguous phrase is saying, "You are no longer binding on me." As for a person afflicted by obsessive whispers (waswasah), if he utters a divorce while overwhelmed by these whispers, his divorce does not take effect, even if it was explicit.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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