Does a wife become divorced merely by a thought in one's mind?
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The Shaykh : And does this include the whispers (waswas) in the relationship between husband and wife? In other words, if Satan suggests to you in your mind that you have divorced your wife, do you divorce her? Glory be to Allah, we give you the hadith of the Messenger of Allah Bulugh al-Maram 8:133 Does he divorce his wife? A person talks to himself, saying: "This wife is not righteous, she has exhausted me, she did such and such," and then he says in his heart, "She is divorced," without uttering it with his tongue. Is she divorced or not? She is not divorced. Therefore, let those whom Satan casts whispers into their hearts that they have divorced their wives without speaking of it be reassured that their wives remain with them and that they have not been divorced. This is a blessing from Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
Now, a person may intend to commit a sin, he may intend to commit a sin, but he remembers the greatness of Allah, he remembers the punishment of Allah, and he remembers what sins do to the hearts, for sins are arrows that pierce the hearts until they are destroyed. When he remembers this, he fears Allah and abandons the intention to commit the sin. What is his status? Does he sin or not? He does not sin; rather, he is rewarded. Allah the Exalted records it for him as a complete good deed, praise be to Allah. It was said in the hadith: The meaning of "because of Me" is "for My sake." This is a blessing from Allah, Mighty and Majestic, that a thought in the mind has no effect. However, fear and beware that Satan may gain control over you so that this thought becomes an action and a will, and then you will be ruined.
Now, the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:284] Allah the Exalted has informed us in the second verse that if this matter is beyond our control, then we are what? We are not obligated to do it. And our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) informed us that Allah has pardoned us for what our minds suggest, as long as we do not act upon it or speak it.
Allah, the Most High, has forgiven my followers what they contemplate on within themselves (i.e. evil thoughts) as long as they do not act upon or speak about them.
إن الله تجاوز لي عن أمتي ما حدثت بها أنفسها ما لم تعمل أو تتكلمNow, a person may intend to commit a sin, he may intend to commit a sin, but he remembers the greatness of Allah, he remembers the punishment of Allah, and he remembers what sins do to the hearts, for sins are arrows that pierce the hearts until they are destroyed. When he remembers this, he fears Allah and abandons the intention to commit the sin. What is his status? Does he sin or not? He does not sin; rather, he is rewarded. Allah the Exalted records it for him as a complete good deed, praise be to Allah. It was said in the hadith:
Because he abandoned it because of Me.
لأنه تركها من جرائيNow, the saying of Allah the Exalted:
