12th November 2026
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: A wife keeps asking for a khula/divorce from the husband. Later both had another argument and the wife said again she doesn’t want him or to be in this marriage. The wife is suffering from postnatal depression, and she is very emotional and she did not really mean what she said out of anger. The husband sends this message to her “I’ve already accepted your khula, why do you keep messaging me?” What is the status of their marriage? Has Khula been fulfilled or not?
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer: Khula is a form of separation between husband and wife which, when validly concluded, results in an irrevocable divorce (talaq ba’in). For khula to take effect, the relevant offer and acceptance must be established according to the wording and circumstances of the situation.[1]
In the above case, the wife asking for a khula or divorce or that she does not want her husband or wish to remain in the marriage does not by itself imply an automatic khula but instead, wanting a divorce. The husband thereafter responding, ‘I’ve already accepted your khula,’ indicates that he had accepted her request of ending the marriage and if intended for divorce, it will be irrevocable (talaq ba’in).[2] A subsequent change of heart or regret does not reverse a khula that has already been validly concluded.
The wife’s postnatal depression and her emotional state do not, in themselves, undo a khula or a divorce initiated by husband. Once khula has been concluded, the husband cannot revoke it. Returning the mahr becomes necessary if that was the agreement, but if there was no agreement nor any intention of it, then returning it won’t be necessary.[3]
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by: Apa Sumayya Qazi Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Radul muhtar, Kitab al-talaq, Baab al-khula, Vol 3, page 442.
ركنه فهو كما في البدائع: إذا كان بعوض الإيجاب والقبول، لأنه عقد على الطلاق بعوض، فلا تقع الفرقة، ولا يستحق العوض بدون القبول..
Badai Sanai, Kitab al-talaq, Vol 3, page
ركنه فهو كما في البدائع: إذا كان بعوض الإيجاب والقبول، لأنه عقد على الطلاق بعوض، فلا تقع الفرقة، ولا يستحق العوض بدون القبول.
[2] Radul muhtar, Kitab al-talaq, Vol 3, page 444.
(وَ) حُكْمُهُ أَنَّ (الْوَاقِعَ بِهِ) وَلَوْ بِلَا مَالٍ (وَبِالطَّلَاقِ) الصَّرِيحِ (عَلَى مَالٍ طَلَاقٌ بَائِنٌ) وَثَمَرَتُهُ فِيمَا لَوْ بَطَلَ الْبَدَلُ كَمَا سَيَجِيءُ
قَوْلُهُ: أَنَّ الْوَاقِعَ بِهِ) أَيْ بِالْخُلْعِ وَلَوْ بِلَفْظِ الْبَيْعِ وَالْمُبَارَأَةِ بَحْرٌ (قَوْلُهُ: وَلَوْ بِلَا مَالٍ) هَذَا إذَا كَانَ بِلَفْظِ الْخُلْعِ
أَيْ ثَمَرَةُ تَقْيِيدِ الطَّلَاقِ بِكَوْنِهِ عَلَى مَالٍ دُونَ الْخُلْعِ تَظْهَرُ فِيمَا لَوْ بَطَلَ الْبَدَلُ كَمَا سَيَجِيءُ أَنَّهُ لَوْ طَلَّقَهَا بِخَمْرٍ، أَوْ خِنْزِيرٍ، أَوْ مَيْتَةٍ وَقَعَ بَائِنٌ فِي الْخُلْعِ رَجْعِيٌّ فِي الطَّلَاقِ مَجَّانًا فِيهِمَا لِبُطْلَانِ الْبَدَلِ، وَإِذَا بَقِيَ الْخُلْعُ وَالْوَاقِعُ بِهِ بَائِنٌ
Fatawa Hindiyyah, Kitāb al-talaq, vol 1, p. 492
لَوْ قَالَ لَهَا: قَدْ خَلَعْتُك وَنَوَى الطَّلَاقَ فَهِيَ وَاحِدَةٌ
Bahar al-raiq, Kitab al-talaq, Baab khula, Vol 4, page 95.
اختلعت المرأة من زوجها فالخلع تطليقة بائنة إلا أن ينوي الزواج ثلاثاً فتكون ثلاثاً، وإن نوى ثنتين كانت واحدة بائنة
[3] Fatawa Hindiyyah, Kitāb al-talaq, vol 1, p. 491
وَلَوْ قَالَ: اخْلَعِي نَفْسَك فَقَالَتْ: خَلَعْت نَفْسِي مِنْك وَأَجَازَ الزَّوْجُ جَازَ بِغَيْرِ مَالٍ وَقَالَ الْإِمَامُ الثَّانِي: إذَا قَالَ لَهَا: اخْلَعِي نَفْسَك فَقَالَتْ خَلَعْت نَفْسِي لَا يَكُونُ إلَّا بِمَالٍ إلَّا أَنْ يُنْوَى بِغَيْرِ مَالٍ
وَلَوْ قَالَ لَهَا: اخْلَعِي نَفْسَك فَقَالَتْ: طَلَّقْت نَفْسِي لَزِمَهَا الْمَالُ إلَّا أَنْ يُنْوَى بِغَيْرِ مَالٍ كَذَا فِي مُحِيطِ السَّرَخْسِيِّ.