Signatures on plain paper are of no use

Question

Zayd has had enmity with his paternal cousin for ten years. One day this hostile cousin came to Zayd’s house, beat Zayd and attacked him, brandishing a knife. Three other persons were present; they seized him and snatched the knife away. The attacker said to Zayd: “Our displeasure is because of your wife; so give your wife talaq.

Answer

Talaq takes effect even when talaq is extracted by force and without intention in explicit (sarih) words. Hence, if Zayd gave talaq with his tongue, or ordered the talaq to be written, or, having heard it, signed it without coercion, then talaq has fallen upon the wife.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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