Salafi ruling on conditional talaq as a threat (oath, not divorce). Wife continues act despite delayed kaffarah – no sin, no divorce.

Answer (Fatwa):

Based on the Salafi/Ahle Hadith methodology and the opinions of the senior scholars you mentioned (Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Shaykh Ibn Baz, Shaykh al-Albani, etc.), the ruling is clear:

1. The conditional statement was an oath (yamin), not a divorce (talaq)

When a husband says, "If you ever do X, you are divorced," and he did not intend divorce but only meant to prevent or threaten his wife, it is considered a yamin (oath). This is the position of Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and the majority of the Salaf. The scholars of the Permanent Committee and Shaykh Ibn Baz also adopted this view.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: "If a man says to his wife, 'If you do such-and-such, you are divorced,' and he intended to prevent her or to encourage her, and he did not intend divorce to actually occur, then it is an oath. He must expiate for breaking the oath, and the divorce does not take place."
(Majmu’ al-Fatawa, 33/128)

Shaykh Ibn Baz said: "The correct view is that conditional divorce in which the husband does not intend divorce but intends to prevent or encourage is an oath, and the divorce does not occur. He must give kaffarah yamin if the condition is fulfilled."
(Fatawa Nur 'ala al-Darb)

Shaykh al-Albani said: "This is from the understanding of the Salaf. It is an oath, not a divorce."
(Silsilat al-Huda wa al-Nur, cassette no. 296)

2. The act you did does not make you divorced

Since the statement was an oath, when you performed the act, the husband broke his oath (yamin), but no divorce occurred. You and your husband remain married. The only obligation upon your husband is to perform kaffarah yamin (expiation for breaking an oath).

3. Delaying the kaffarah is permissible

Your husband said he cannot perform it right now. That is fine. Kaffarah may be delayed until he is able (financially or otherwise). He must not delay it indefinitely, but temporary delay due to inability is excused. The wife may continue performing the act with no sin upon her, because the condition was not a divorce.

Allah says: "Allah does not burden a soul more than it can bear" (Quran 2:286).

Ibn Qudamah said: "If a person is unable to fast the three days (for kaffarah) due to hardship or illness, he may delay until he is able."
(al-Mughni, 11/281)

4. Your fear is unnecessary

There is no sin upon you for doing the act, because:

• The husband himself knows it was only a threat and he has no intention of divorce.
• He explicitly told you to continue.
• The ruling from the majority of the senior Salafi scholars declares it an oath, not a divorce.

You should not let waswasa (OCD/whisperings) disturb you. Your marriage is valid, and you are not committing any sin by obeying your husband in a permissible matter.

5. Reminder for the husband

He should hasten to perform kaffarah when he is able (feeding 10 poor people, clothing them, or freeing a slave; if unable, fasting 3 days). But delay due to inability is permitted.

Conclusion:

• No divorce has occurred.
• You may continue performing the act without sin.
• Your husband's delay of kaffarah is allowed if he cannot do it now.
• Do not fear – follow the authentic Salafi view and put your trust in Allah.

Wa Allahu A'lam.