A woman whose husband divorced her without saying anything to her or informing her of this divorce: Is this divorce valid?

The questioner : The questioner, Umm Asma from the Prophet’s City, says: A woman’s husband divorced her without saying anything to her or informing her of this divorce. Is this divorce valid?

The Shaykh : The divorce is valid if he spoke it. However, if he passed it through his heart, or thought about it, or resolved to do it, it does not take place. But if he spoke it, it takes place, whether the wife heard it or not, and whether anyone else heard it or not, as long as he spoke it and said, for example, “My wife is divorced.” Then she is divorced because he uttered it. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: As for if he thought about it, or resolved to do it, or passed it through his heart without his tongue speaking it, then the divorce does not take place. Yes.