Divorce Issued Through Written Messages and Voice Recordings
21-6-2026 | IslamWeb
Question:
Salam. I seek guidance regarding my Nikah. On 5 April 2026, my husband texted "Talaq Talaq Talaq" but says he did not intend divorce. On 14 April 2026, he sent a voice message saying "Talaq" and accepts this has counted as one divorce only. Most local scholars have advised that our Nikah is still valid while a few of the international Islamic sites I have spoken to believe that 3 Talaqs said at once completely ends a Nikah irrespective of intention. Please help us.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It would be best for your husband to consult a qualified scholar directly or approach an Islamic center and act according to the ruling they provide, since he is the one who uttered the words of divorce and is most aware of his own intention.
As for what we can clarify for you here:
Writing words of divorce is not considered an explicit form of divorce; rather, it falls under ambiguous and allusive words (kināyāt) of divorce. Therefore, if the husband did not intend by his writing to effect a divorce, then no divorce takes place.
However, if the husband intended by the written statement to effect a divorce, then his writing, “Divorce, divorce, divorce,” counts as only one divorce unless he specifically intended three separate divorces.
Regarding the voice message of the husband when he uttered the word “divorce” (ṭalāq) in it, this is an explicit term. However, there remains an issue because the statement was not directly attributed to or addressed to his wife. Some scholars have held that in such a case it is treated as an allusive form of divorce (kināyah), and therefore no divorce takes effect unless accompanied by the intention to divorce. This matter has been explained in greater detail in Fatwa No. 69271.
We advise the husband not to be careless with the matter of divorce, for such behavior weakens the marital relationship and exposes the family to division and loss, which may ultimately lead to regret.
Allah Knows best.