If he said to his wife, “Israhi (you may leave),” does that count as divorce (talaaq)?
Question

                I read on an Islamic website that if the husband says to his wife, “You may leave,” that is a divorce (talaaq). I wanted to tell my husband about this so that he would not say that, especially as this word is common among us in Egypt. For example we say, “Leave so I can sleep.” I said to my husband: “Can you believe it? I read that if the husband says ‘You may leave’ to his wife, it counts as a divorce.” And I said: “Listen to me and do not repeat what you said.” But he said it again; he said “You may leave” in an angry tone and he swore that he did not mean to say it; it came out without him meaning it to. Does this count as divorce?.
Praise be to Allah.
      Firstly: 

    The words “You may leave” are regarded by the majority of 
    fuqaha’ as a form of implicit divorce, and it does not count as divorce 
    unless there is the intention of divorce. 

    The Shaafa‘is and some of the Hanbalis are of the view that 
    saying “You may leave [a translation of the Arabic word israhi]” is 
    an explicit form of divorce. So if the husband says “Israhi (you may 
    leave)” to his wife, it counts as a divorce and if he says, “I did not 
    intend divorce,” that is not acceptable unless there is circumstantial 
    evidence to show that he did not intend to divorce, such as if he said to 
    her, “Israhi (you may leave)” immediately after telling her to go out early 
    to work in the fields. Ibn Hajar al-Makki, one of the Shaafa‘is, said that 
    “Israhi (you may leave)” is used in a metaphoric way. 

    Al-Ramli said in Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj (6/429): If the 
    husband has clearly uttered the word of divorce, it is not acceptable for 
    him to say that he did not intend to divorce unless there is circumstantial 
    evidence to that effect. For example he mentioned: if he said to her “Israhi 
    (you may leave)” immediately after telling her to go out early to work in 
    the fields, then this is to be accepted as it appears to be. End quote. 

    Some of the Maalikis were of the view that divorce takes 
    place if the word “Israhi” is spoken even if that is without the 
    intention of divorce, because it is explicit according to some of them, or 
    it is a word that is used in a metaphoric way with a clear meaning that does 
    not need intention. 

    The correct view is that of the majority, which is that no 
    divorce takes place if the husband says “Israhi” or similar phrases, 
    unless he intended divorce. 

    Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in 
    al-Mughni (7/294): If he says, “I have divorced you” or “I am leaving 
    you” or “You may leave (israhi)”, that means that divorce has taken 
    place. This implies that explicit divorce is represented in three words: 
    “divorce” (talaaq), “separation” (firaaq) and “leaving” (saraah) 
    and other words or phrases derived from them. This is the view of 
    al-Shaafa‘i.  Abu ‘Abd-Allah ibn Haamid was of the view that explicit 
    divorce is represented only in the word “talaaq” and words/phrases 
    derived from it. This is also the view of Abu Haneefah and Maalik, except 
    that Maalik said that it counts as divorce even if that was not the 
    intention, because metaphoric words of which the meaning is clear do not 
    need an intention. The evidence for this opinion is that words derived from
    firaaq (separation) and saraah (leaving) are often used in 
    cases other than divorce, so they cannot be regarded as explicit expressions 
    of divorce. 

    With regard to the word firaaq (separation), this word 
    is mentioned in the Qur’aan in the context of separation between the 
    spouses, so it may be explicit to that effect, like the word talaaq. 
    Allah, may He be exalted, says:

    “either you retain her on 
    reasonable terms or release her (tasreeh) with kindness”

    [al-Baqarah 2:229]

    “But if they separate [wa in 
    yatafarraqaa] (by divorce), Allah will provide abundance for everyone of 
    them from His Bounty”

    [al-Nisa’ 4:130]

    “then come! I will make a 
    provision for you and set you free (usarrihkunna) in a handsome manner 
    (divorce)”

    [al-Ahzaab 33:28]. 

    And the view of Ibn Haamid is more correct, that explicit 
    statement of something is that which states it and cannot be interpreted in 
    any other manner unless it is a far-fetched interpretation. The words firaaq 
    (separation) and saraah (leaving), although they appear in the Qur’aan in 
    the sense of separation between spouses, they are also used with other 
    meanings, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

    “And hold fast, all of you 
    together, to the Rope of Allâh (i.e. this Qur'ân), and be not divided [wa la 
    tafarraqu] among yourselves”

    [Aal ‘Imraan 3:103]. 

    People do not use this word in the sense of divorce, so it is 
    not one of the explicit words of talaaq for them. 

    To sum up: no divorce occurred when this word was used, so long as your husband did not intend divorce thereby.