Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Muammar (may Allah have mercy on him) says that I asked Hazrat Hammad (may Allah have mercy on him) that if a man has four wives and he says that one of his wives is divorced, then what is the ruling? He replied that he may place his hand on whichever one he wishes. Hazrat Muammar (may Allah have mercy on him) says that Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) also used to say the same.

Hazrat Abu Ja'far (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that in the case of a man saying such, Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) had a lot drawn.

Hazrat Qatadah (may Allah have mercy on him) and Hazrat Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) say that if he mentioned the name of one, then only she will be divorced, and if he did not mention any name, then all will be divorced.

When Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about this, he replied that a person's intention will be taken into account.

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) said that if a man has several wives and he says that one of his wives is divorced three times, then if he had intended a specific one, she will be divorced; and if he had not intended any specific one, then he may choose whichever of them he wishes. The same ruling applies to Ila and Zihar.

Hazrat Abu Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about a man who had four wives. One of his wives looked at him, so he said to her, "You are absolutely divorced." When he came to them, each one claimed that it was the other, and he could not recognize which one it was. What is the ruling? Hazrat Abu Ja'far, may Allah have mercy on him, said that all of them will be separated from him.