According to Shi'ism, does divorce require witnesses?
In Shi'ism, divorce does indeed require witnesses. This is supported by the teachings of Imam Abu al-Hasan (peace be upon him), who stated, He divorces her after she purifies herself from her menstruation before he has intercourse with her, with the testimony of two just witnesses, as Allah Almighty has said in His Book.
Al-Kafi 2:50 This indicates that the presence of two just witnesses is essential for the validity of a divorce.
Additionally, it is emphasized that any divorce not conforming to the prescribed method, which includes having witnesses, is considered invalid. This highlights the importance placed on the formalities of divorce within Shi'a jurisprudence.
Sources
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Al-Kafi 2:50
Al-Kafi · Book 2, Hadith 50
He said: Indeed, knowledge has a lock upon it, and its key is questioning. — OR — Seek supplication in four times: when the winds blow, at the setting of the heat, during rainfall, and at the first drop of the blood of the faithful martyr, for the gates of heaven are opened during these times. — OR — From Al-Husayn ibn Sa'id from Al-Nadr ibn Suwayd and Fadala ibn Ayyub from Abdullah ibn Sinan from Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him): He was asked about a pregnant woman who sees blood, should she stop praying? He said: Yes, a pregnant woman may expel blood. — OR — If the crescent forms a ring-like shape, it counts for two nights, and if you see the shadow of your head on it, then it counts for three nights. — OR — There is no soul except that God Almighty has decreed for it its sustenance in a lawful manner, which will come to it in well-being. Yet, it is presented with unlawful means from another side. If it takes anything unlawful, it diminishes its lawful provision that God has decreed for it, and with God is the surplus besides it. This corresponds to His saying, 'And ask God of His bounty.' — OR — I asked Abu al-Hasan (peace be upon him) about a man who divorced his wife after having intercourse with her with the testimony of two just witnesses, and he said, 'That is not a divorce.' I said, 'May I be your ransom, then what is the prescribed divorce?' He said, 'He divorces her after she purifies herself from her menstruation before he has intercourse with her, with the testimony of two just witnesses, as Allah Almighty has said in His Book.' If he opposes that, he is referred back to the Book of Allah Almighty. I said, 'If he divorces while she is pure without intercourse with one witness and two women, is it a divorce?' He said, 'The testimony of women alone is not valid for divorce, but may be accepted with others in the matter if present.' I said, 'If two hostile men testify to the divorce, is it a divorce?' He said, 'One who is born on natural disposition is accepted as a witness upon divorce after being well known for good.' — OR — A man entrusted me with his will; he left five or six hundred dirhams and a daughter, and said to me, 'There are agnates in Sham.' I asked Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) about this, and he said, 'Give the daughter half and the agnates the other half.' When I arrived in Kufa, I told our companions about his words, and they said, 'You are mistaken.' So I gave the daughter the other half. Later I performed pilgrimage and met Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him) and informed him what our companions had said, and that I gave the other half to the daughter. He said, 'Well done; indeed I advised you so out of fear of the agnates.'
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