Saying that the wife will be divorced if she gives birth to a girl

Q: If a man says: If my wife gives birth to a female, I will divorce her. Also, if he says: I will take her out of my house, i.e., I will divorce her, and if she begets a boy, I will not divorce her. Will the divorce be effective if she gives birth to a female or it will not be effective except after divorcing her after delivering a baby? Could you kindly advise?

A: If the reality is as you have mentioned, it will be a promise of divorce made by the husband and not a real divorce. Therefore, the divorce will not be effective (Part No. 20; Page No. 202) upon the delivery of the female baby. It will depend on his execution of the promise of divorce by saying or by driving her out of her house by means of divorce after giving birth. However, the husband should not utter such a saying because Allah (Exalted be He) is the One who grants males or females. It is not up to him or his wife as it is well established in religion. Allah (Exalted be He) says, To Allâh belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills. He bestows female (offspring) upon whom He wills, and bestows male (offspring) upon whom He wills. Or He bestows both males and females, and He renders barren whom He wills. Verily, He is the All-Knower and is Able to do all things. This Saying is like following the habits of pre-Islamic people regarding the hatred of girls and a Muslim must not imitate a matter of the pre-Islamic period. There are many women in the world who are better than men. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.