The ruling on divorce if it is by intention only

Question:
From Dammam, this is a message sent by a listener who referred to his name by the letters (A. A). He says: I intended in my heart to leave something, and not to do this thing, otherwise my wife is divorced. I said: This is in my heart. Then I did this thing after this intention. Do I owe an expiation? And what is the ruling? Please guide us, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
What pertains to the work of the heart does not result in a ruling, and the woman is not divorced by it, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): So if it is intention only, then the divorce does not take place by it. Rather, divorce takes place by the words that issue from you with the intention of divorce, or by the words of divorce, such as saying: My wife so-and-so is divorced, or she is divorced, or she is divorced, by the word, not by the intention. Or if you say: If I do such-and-such, if I leave the house, she is divorced, intending the divorce that she is divorced, not intending prevention; your intention is not only prevention, but you intend to prevent her and to effect the divorce upon her, and it takes place. Likewise, if I say: If I speak to so-and-so, if you do not do such-and-such—your intention is divorce—his intention is to effect the divorce, and it takes place. Yes.