Lafaz Cerai: the words that pronounce a talaq

Lafaz cerai is the wording a husband speaks to pronounce talaq on his wife, such as “aku ceraikan kau” (I divorce you). It can be explicit (sarih) or implied (kinayah), depending on the husband’s intention.

A lafaz cerai spoken inside the courtroom, before a judge, is treated as valid immediately once permission is granted. But a pronouncement made outside court, such as during an argument at home or over WhatsApp, still needs to be registered and confirmed by the Syariah Court before it is officially recognised.

Failing to register an out-of-court lafaz cerai within the set period can lead to court action.

To understand how an out-of-court pronouncement gets registered, read confirmation of a divorce pronouncement, or see cerai taklik as another divorce route based on words or a promise.