The intention is not accepted if it contradicts the explicit wording of the divorce
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Question: To the honorable Shaykh, Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz (may Allah preserve him), Ameen. And after: I inform you that I have a wife, and she has borne me six children, both male and female. I also inform you that one divorce was pronounced upon my aforementioned wife in the year 1385 AH, accompanied by anger that occurred with that divorce as a form of discipline for her, hoping that she would treat me with good conduct. Then, in the year 1386 AH, she angered me, so I divorced her with the second divorce, and I did not send her out of my house, intending by this also to discipline her. Then, in the year 1387 AH, on the date 27/11/1387 AH, she returned to defying me, so my anger toward her increased, and I said to her: "Go to your people, and consider yourself divorced, and by Allah, you will not return to me ever." I intended by this to make her stay away from me during the anger and to escape the third divorce, just as I was compelled by this phrase: "Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we return," and we seek forgiveness from Allah for every sin and repent to Him. Then she said at that time: "Seek refuge in Allah from Satan, and do not send me out of my house and my children." So I sought refuge in Allah from Satan, and I did not intend by that phrase a divorce of my aforementioned wife, relying upon Allah, and then upon the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 1.
And I swear to you by Allah, there is no god but Him, that I did not intend by that phrase a divorce of my aforementioned wife. Does this phrase count as a divorce without my intention? Please issue a ruling for us, may Allah reward you with good and magnify your reward.
Answer: From Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz to the honorable brother A. May Allah guide him to all good, Ameen.
Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. After that:
O Beloved, your noble letter dated 26/2/1388 AH has arrived, may Allah guide you, and what it contained regarding the question about the divorces that occurred from you was known. What appears to me is that the woman in question has become separated from you and is forbidden to you until she marries another husband; because you divorced her with three divorces, each one separately. And your statement in the last divorce that you did not intend divorce does not hold; because you said to her: "Go to your people and consider yourself divorced," and this is explicit in divorce. The intention is not accepted if it contradicts the explicit wording.
And I ask Allah to replace her with something better for you and replace you with something better for her, and to rectify the condition of everyone, for He is Generous and Noble.
And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.
إنما الأعمال بالنيات وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى..And I swear to you by Allah, there is no god but Him, that I did not intend by that phrase a divorce of my aforementioned wife. Does this phrase count as a divorce without my intention? Please issue a ruling for us, may Allah reward you with good and magnify your reward.
Answer: From Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz to the honorable brother A. May Allah guide him to all good, Ameen.
Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. After that:
O Beloved, your noble letter dated 26/2/1388 AH has arrived, may Allah guide you, and what it contained regarding the question about the divorces that occurred from you was known. What appears to me is that the woman in question has become separated from you and is forbidden to you until she marries another husband; because you divorced her with three divorces, each one separately. And your statement in the last divorce that you did not intend divorce does not hold; because you said to her: "Go to your people and consider yourself divorced," and this is explicit in divorce. The intention is not accepted if it contradicts the explicit wording.
And I ask Allah to replace her with something better for you and replace you with something better for her, and to rectify the condition of everyone, for He is Generous and Noble.
And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.