Divorce does not take effect by intention alone without words or writing
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question: From Abdulaziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz to the honorable brother S. M. A. May Allah grant him understanding in all good. Amen.
Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. After that:
Your letter dated 24/1/1392 AH has arrived, and the information contained in it—that you became angry with your wife, intended to part with her, but did not pronounce the divorce and instead separated from her—was known. Your request for a ruling was also known.
The answer is: If the situation is as you described, then the divorce has not taken effect; because divorce does not take effect by intention, but only by words or writing; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 8:133 May Allah improve the condition of everyone.
And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. After that:
Your letter dated 24/1/1392 AH has arrived, and the information contained in it—that you became angry with your wife, intended to part with her, but did not pronounce the divorce and instead separated from her—was known. Your request for a ruling was also known.
The answer is: If the situation is as you described, then the divorce has not taken effect; because divorce does not take effect by intention, but only by words or writing; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
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 عن أمتي ما حدثت به أنفسها ما لم تعمل أو تتكلمAnd 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.