13/2. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1177 — Intention in Divorce Words
What has been related about a man who divorces his wife irrevocably
Hadith About Intention in Divorce Words
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1177
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1177
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا قَبِيصَةُ، عَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ حَازِمٍ، عَنِ الزُّبَيْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ بْنِ رُكَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي طَلَّقْتُ امْرَأَتِي الْبَتَّةَ . فَقَالَ " مَا أَرَدْتَ بِهَا " . قُلْتُ وَاحِدَةً . قَالَ " وَاللَّهِ " . قُلْتُ وَاللَّهِ . قَالَ " فَهُوَ مَا أَرَدْتَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ وَسَأَلْتُ مُحَمَّدًا عَنْ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ فَقَالَ فِيهِ اضْطِرَابٌ . وَيُرْوَى عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رُكَانَةَ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثَلاَثًا . - وَقَدِ اخْتَلَفَ أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ فِي طَلاَقِ الْبَتَّةِ فَرُوِيَ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ أَنَّهُ جَعَلَ الْبَتَّةَ وَاحِدَةً وَرُوِيَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ أَنَّهُ جَعَلَهَا ثَلاَثًا . وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ فِيهِ نِيَّةُ الرَّجُلِ إِنْ نَوَى وَاحِدَةً فَوَاحِدَةٌ وَإِنْ نَوَى ثَلاَثًا فَثَلاَثٌ وَإِنْ نَوَى ثِنْتَيْنِ لَمْ تَكُنْ إِلاَّ وَاحِدَةً . وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الثَّوْرِيِّ وَأَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ . وَقَالَ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ فِي الْبَتَّةِ إِنْ كَانَ قَدْ دَخَلَ بِهَا فَهِيَ ثَلاَثُ تَطْلِيقَاتٍ . وَقَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ إِنْ نَوَى وَاحِدَةً فَوَاحِدَةٌ يَمْلِكُ الرَّجْعَةَ وَإِنْ نَوَى ثِنْتَيْنِ فَثِنْتَانِ وَإِنْ نَوَى ثَلاَثًا فَثَلاَثٌ .
Abdullah bin Yazid bin Rukanah Narrated from:
Abdullah bin Yazid bin Rukanah narrated from his father, from his grandfather who said: 'O Messenger Of Allah! I Irrevocably Divorced My Wife.' So He Said: 'What Did You Intend By That?' I Said: 'One (Divorce).' He Said: '(Do You Swear) By Allah?' I Said: 'By Allah.' He Said: 'Then It Is As You Intended.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1177In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 3English translation : Vol. 2, Book 8, Hadith 1177
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1177
This Hadith about intention in divorce words shows the importance of what a person meant when using serious language. Abdullah bin Yazid bin Rukanah narrated from his father, from his grandfather, that he told the Prophet he had irrevocably divorced his wife. The Prophet asked, “What did you intend by that?” He replied, “One.” The Prophet asked him to swear by Allah, and when he swore, the Prophet said it was as he intended. The Hadith focuses on intention behind a divorce statement. It also shows how serious words were checked carefully, not treated lightly or guessed without asking the speaker.
What we learn from this hadith
- Intention can matter in understanding serious divorce words.
- The Prophet asked for clarification before judging the statement.
- The man was asked to swear by Allah about what he intended.
- Divorce wording should be used with care and honesty.
