Most-asked question

Is talaaq by text, WhatsApp or email valid?

63 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 6 South African Darul Iftas (AskImam, Mufti Online, Jamiat KZN, Azaadville, Ibn Masood, DU Zakariyya). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.

Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.

Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.

What the Darul Iftas say

“If a husband wrote “Talaq” to his wife on WhatsApp to send to his wife and intends to divorce her, the Talaq will be valid even if the wife did not see the message.”

AskImam — Did Talaq occur even though I deleted the message? · 5 Sep 2022

“A1) A message of Talaaq that is typed in the absence of one’s wife and sent to her is effective and valid. A2) If the husband sent the messages of Talaaq from his mother’s phone, then too it will be valid.”

Ibn Masood — Sending A Message Of Talaaq · 30 Jun 2024

“A Talaaq (divorce) issued verbally or in writing is valid. (Shaami) Accordingly, a Talaaq (divorce) via sms, whatsapp etc. is also valid as it is considered to be a written Talaaq (divorce).”

Jamiat KZN — Talaaq via SMS, Whatsapp · 30 Apr 2015

“If you had given one revocable talaaq via a text message, then the talaaq is valid. You only have two talaaqs remaining. Since you have taken your wife back in your nikaah before the iddat period ended, a new nikaah will not have to be performed.”

Mufti Online — Revoking the talaaq issued via a text message · 25 Nov 2015

Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.

Read the fatawa

  1. Phone text of three divorce words AskImam · 1 Jan 2025
  2. Sending A Message Of Talaaq Ibn Masood · 30 Jun 2024
  3. A Wife Given Choice Of Talaaq Telephonically Or Via A Message Azaadville · 25 Oct 2022
  4. Talaaq via SMS, Whatsapp Jamiat KZN · 30 Apr 2015
  5. Talaaq via a message Mufti Online · 26 Mar 2015
  6. IS TALAAQ ISSUED OVER THE PHONE VALID DU Zakariyya
  7. Did Talaq occur even though I deleted the message? AskImam · 5 Sep 2022
  8. Writing Talaaq and later deleting the message Ibn Masood · 14 Aug 2023
  9. Undefined Type Of Talaaq Via Whatsapp Azaadville · 12 Aug 2022
  10. Talaaq over the phone? Jamiat KZN · 13 Feb 2014
  11. Telling the wife "If you use Whatsapp, you are divorced" Mufti Online · 28 Oct 2014
  12. Talaaq over WhatsApp AskImam · 14 Mar 2022
  13. Replying 'Yes' to a message when someone asked if a person divorced his wife Mufti Online · 6 Nov 2023
  14. Will divorce occur by writing the reason for divorce? AskImam · 18 Oct 2018
  15. Revoking the talaaq issued via a text message Mufti Online · 25 Nov 2015

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