What is the ruling on one who travels for the purpose of marriage with the intention of divorce?

The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh. I heard some of the young men talking during this vacation, saying: "We are unable to get married, and we want to go to some countries and get married with the intention of divorce. What is the ruling on their action?"

The Shaykh : What Allah willed, these people have gone to commit unlawful sexual intercourse. If they do that, they are committing unlawful sexual intercourse, because those scholars who permitted marriage with the intention of divorce intended the stranger who went there for a different purpose, such as trade, seeking knowledge, or medical treatment, and remained there. In this case, the scholars differed: is it permissible to marry with the intention of divorce, or is it not permissible? Some of them permitted it, and some of them prohibited it. As for going for this specific purpose, there is no doubt that this is unlawful sexual intercourse, and no one among the people ever holds this view. If these people had feared Allah, He would have made a way out for them. If they had done what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) guided them to, where he said: it would have been better. These people went with a ticket and returned with a ticket, and stayed in hotels there, which may have been among the most expensive and costly hotels, and they married for a certain amount, then they will return. In reality, they went to commit unlawful sexual intercourse. They must repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), fear Allah the Exalted, and follow the guidance of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Convey this to them on my behalf. May Allah reward you with good. Yes.