Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Khallas (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that a man divorced his wife and secretly appointed two men as witnesses, instructing them to keep this matter hidden. They kept it secret until the woman’s waiting period (‘iddah) had passed. This case was presented before Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who considered the witnesses to be at fault and had them flogged, and deprived the man of his right to take his wife back.

Hazrat Nafi’ (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Hazrat Ibn Zubair (may Allah have mercy on him) divorced one of his wives and did not inform her of the divorce for a whole year. When Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) found out, he said, “You have done a very bad thing.”

Hazrat Muhammad bin Muntashir (may Allah have mercy on him) states that Hazrat Shurayh (may Allah have mercy on him) divorced his wife and then concealed the divorce until the waiting period (‘iddah) had passed, so the people of knowledge considered this to be wrong.