FatwaPerlisMarriage & Family
Hukum Terlintas Dalam Fikiran Menceraikan Isteri
Does divorce take effect if a man says "I do not want to divorce my wife" after the thought of divorce crossed his mind?
Short answer
Thoughts that cross the mind are beyond human control, so they are not counted unless they are knowingly spoken with the intention of affirming them.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Perlis State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Panduan Hukum
- Topic
- Marriage & Family
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Thoughts that cross the mind are beyond human control, so they are not counted unless they are knowingly spoken with the intention of affirming them. Using the word divorce in a sentence depends on the meaning intended by the sentence. If the statement negates divorce, no divorce takes place, without any doubt.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Setiap perkara yang terlintas dalam fikiran ia datang diluar kawalan manusia. Maka ia tidak dijadikan ukuran, selagi ia tidak dituturkan dengan sedar pada lidah bagi tujuan mengiyakannya.
Read the full fatwa on the Perlis website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Perlis State Mufti Department. “Hukum Terlintas Dalam Fikiran Menceraikan Isteri”, 4 September 2025. https://muftiperlis.gov.my/index.php/panduan-hukum/1203-hukum-terlintas-dalam-fikiran-menceraikan-isteri. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-thought-of-divorcing-wife-crossing-mind/