Talaq under compulsion

Question

Zayd, while his wife was blameless, gave her three talaqs under compulsion (jabran), but neither the wife nor the people present there heard it; yet Zayd says: “I gave the talaq on 13 Jumada al-Thani 1395 AH, corresponding to 25 May 1975.” The following content has been printed in a leaflet, and it is reproduced verbatim: “The governor of Madina, Ja‘far ibn Sulayman, is ordering: ‘Tell Malik, the son of Anas, not to give the fatwa henceforth that forced talaq is not valid.

Answer

A Companion came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: “I was asleep at night when my wife came, took a knife and sat on top of me, (saying): ‘Give me three talaqs, or I will rip your belly open right now.’ I apologised to her and begged forgiveness, but she would not agree; so under compulsion, to save my life, I gave three talaqs. Has the talaq taken effect?

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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