Question Summary:
I have given my wife Talāq through text messaging before the marriage was consummated.

Question Detail:

This is all in the context of a secret Nikkāh and no Mehr (dowry) was set.
1.      The guy gives the girl Talāq-e-Bāin through vague words like “It’s done it won’t get fixed” and then during the same Iddāh of 3 months, he gives her 3 Talāqs through a text message but to scare her, he thinks the Nikkāh is broken so the Talāqs don’t count. The question is, do they really count?
2.      The girl says she did not receive a text message saying 3 Talāqs. Does the Talāq take place?
3.      Throughout this entire process, the couples never had intercourse. Did the Talāq take place and does she have to marry someone else to marry him?
4.      The Talāq-e-Bāin was given during the Iddāh of Talāq-e-Raj’ī. All of this was done through text messaging.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Nowadays, the words of Talāqs are extremely abused. People utter these words thinking that it is merely a joke. They don’t realize the fact that this word is not just a word; it doesn’t just break the relationship between two people. Rather, it breaks the relationship between two entire families. A woman is not merely an object that one can play with her life, use her and throw her away. She is also a human being. One should consider her feelings as well.
However, if the marriage has not been consummated, it will automatically be considered as one Talāq-e-Bāin whether the Talāq was given in clear words or vague words. Once a Talāq-e-Bāin is given, the man does not possess the right to give any additional Talāq since the woman is not his wife anymore.[i]
In your case, only one Talāq has taken place since she was no longer in your wedlock after the first Talāq. She does not need to marry anyone else before getting married to you. Once the Nikkah is renewed, you will possess the right for two more Talāqs.
In a Nikkāh where no Mehr (dowry) is set, an adequate Mutā’h (complimentary gift) has to be given or the price of this Mutā’h can also be given.[ii]
As far as the text messaging is concerned, it is the same as uttering the words. The Talāq will take place regardless whether the woman hears/sees the words or not.[iii]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Abdul Hannan Nizami,
Student Darul Iftaa
USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Husain Kadodia.
www.daruliftaa.net