The Shariah Status of Three Divorces
Giving three divorces in one word, that is, pronouncing all three divorces in one instance with one phrase. For example, if the husband says to his wife, “I have given you three divorces” or “I have given you ten divorces,” or says, “I divorce you” or “divorce, divorce, divorce,” then only one divorce occurs through ordinary words. After such three divorces, the husband has full right of return (raj’ah). In the present era, this issue is discussed, so it became necessary to write the reality of this matter.
In the famous Hanafi book “Al-Hidayah,” giving three divorces in one sitting is called an innovation (bid’ah), and the one who gives divorce in this manner is described as disobedient and sinful.
As the Hanafi jurist Imam Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani (may Allah have mercy on him) states. His full name is Burhan al-Din Ali bin Abi Bakr al-Marghinani. He writes, please observe:
وَطَلَاقُ البِدۡعَةِ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَهَا ثَلَاثًا بِكَلِمَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ أَوۡ ثَلَاثًا فِي طُهۡرٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَإِذَا فَعَلَ ذَٰلِكَ وَقَعَ الطَّلَاقُ وَكَانَ عَاصِيًا.
Translation:
“And the innovation in divorce is that a man gives his wife three divorces with a single word or gives three divorces in a single state of purity. So if he does this, the divorce will take effect and he will be sinful.”
Warning:
This book is taught in Hanafi madrasas.
First Evidence from the Holy Quran
Allah, the Lord of Glory, the Owner of the Great Throne, says:
ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَٰنٍ
Imam Ahmad bin Abdul Salam bin Taymiyyah (661-728 AH) says that Allah Almighty did not say that there are two divorces, rather He said that it is two times, meaning two separate occasions. So if someone says to his wife that you have two divorces or ten or a thousand, it will be considered as only one divorce.
The commentators have explained this verse as follows:
The detailed grammatical analysis of the verse “ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ” is as follows:
ٱلطَّلَٰقُ: Mubtada (subject) in the nominative case, and the sign of the nominative is the Dammah appearing on the last letter.
مَرَّتَانِ: The predicate is in the nominative case, and since this is a dual form, the sign of nominative is the letter Alif.
The complete diacritical marks of this sentence would be: “ٱلطَّلَٰقُ” is the subject and “مَرَّتَانِ” is its predicate. It means that the divorce is twice.
The word “مَرَّتَانِ” is the dual form of “مرۃ” which means once and then the second time, i.e., with an interval, meaning two separate divorces.
There is evidence for this, please observe:
Allah, the Almighty, says:
“وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَبْلُغُوا الْحُلُمَ مِنْكُمْ ثَلَاث مَرَّاتِ”
In this verse, the word “مَرَّات” is the plural of “مرۃ“. After this word, three times are mentioned with intervals, not together. (That is, once before Fajr, the second time at noon, the third time after Isha prayer)
Note: Therefore, it is understood that in the first verse also, divorces given with intervals are meant, not together.
الإِمَامُ العَلَّامَةُ المُفَسِّرُ الفَقِيهُ عَلَاءُ الدِّينِ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ البَغْدَادِيُّ الحَازِنِيُّ (741) (known as Hazin)
“إِنَّ التَّطْلِيقَ الشَّرْعِيَّ يَجِبُ أَنْ يَكُونَ تَطْلِيقَةً بَعْدَ تَطْلِيقَةٍ عَلَى التَّفْرِيقِ دُونَ الجَمْعِ وَالإِرْسَالِ دَفْعَةً وَاحِدَةً۔”
Translation:
“Indeed, the Islamic divorce should be such that after one divorce, the second divorce is given, with separation, not together and at the same time.”
الإِمَامُ العَلَّامَةُ الفَقِيهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مَعْقِلٍ الرَّازِيُّ الجَصَّاصُ ـــ وُفِّيَ سَنَةَ 370هـ (981م)
“تَضَمَّنَتِ الْأَمْرَ بِإِيقَاعِ الإثْنَيْنِ فِي مَرَّتَيْنِ فَمَنْ أَوْقَعَ الإِثْنَيْنِ فِي مَرَّةٍ فَهُوَ مُخَالِفٌ لِحُكْمِهَا۔”
Translation:
“This ruling includes that both divorces should be given on two separate occasions, therefore, the person who gives both divorces at the same time is against Allah Almighty and His divine command.”
النُعْمَانُ بْنُ مَحْمُودٍ بْنِ عَبْدِ القَادِرِ السِّندِيِّ الحَنَفِيِّ (متوفی: 1334ھ / 1915م) says:
“الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ إِلَىٰ قَوْلِهِ وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا آيَاتِ اللَّهِ هُزُوًافَإِنَّ مَعْنَاهُ: التَّطْلِيقُ الشَّرْعِيُّ تَطْلِيقَةٌ بَعْدَ تَطْلِيقَةٍ، عَلَى التَّفْرِيقِ دُونَ الجَمْعِ وَالإِرْسَالِ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً۔
وَلَمْ يُرَدْ بِالْمَرَّتَيْنِ التَّثْنِيَةُ، وَمِثْلُهُ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: “ثُمَّ ارْجِعِ الْبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيْنِ” (الملك: 4)، أَي كَرَّةً بَعْدَ كَرَّةٍ، لَا كَرَّتَيْنِ اثْنَتَيْنِ.”
Translation:
“Divorce is twice… (until Allah’s command) ‘And do not make Allah’s verses a mockery.’ This means that according to Shariah, divorce is given once and then the second time, that is on separate occasions, not together or simultaneously.”
Here, ‘twice’ does not mean numerical duality (just two times), rather its meaning is that after giving one divorce, it is given again, as Allah Almighty said: ‘Then turn your gaze twice’ (Al-Mulk: 4), meaning after looking once, look again, not that it only means looking twice.”
Abu Al-Muhasin Ashraf Ali bin Abdul Haq bin Fazl ur-Rahman Al-Tahanawi (may Allah have mercy on him)
(Date of death: 16 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1362 AH corresponding to 20 March 1943 CE)
His teacher Muhammad Thanawi also wrote almost the same in the exegesis of this verse and confirmed and clarified its meaning. See:
“إِنَّ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى: “ٱلطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ” مَعْنَاهُ: مَرَّةً بَعْدَ مَرَّةٍ، فَٱلتَّطْلِيقُ ٱلشَّرْعِيُّ عَلَى ٱلتَّفْرِيقِ دُونَ ٱلْجَمْعِ وَٱلْإِرْسَالِ.”
Translation:
“Indeed, the command of Allah Almighty ‘Divorce is twice’ means one divorce followed by another divorce (i.e., giving separate divorces), so in Shariah, divorce is with separation, not giving it together and releasing at once.”
The word “مرتان” has this same interpretation as mentioned above.
أَبُو ٱلْبَرَكَاتِ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مَحْمُودٍ ٱلنَّسَفِيُّ (رحمه الله)
Born: 710 AH (approximately 1310 CE)
Died: 793 AH (1390 CE)
“إِنَّ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى: “ٱلطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ” مَعْنَاهُ: مَرَّةً بَعْدَ مَرَّةٍ، فَٱلتَّطْلِيقُ ٱلشَّرْعِيُّ عَلَى ٱلتَّفْرِيقِ دُونَ ٱلْجَمْعِ وَٱلْإِرْسَالِ۔”
Translation:
“Indeed, Allah Almighty’s command ‘اَلطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ‘ means that after one divorce, there is a second divorce (i.e., giving separate divorces), so in Shariah, divorce is with separation, not giving together and leaving at once.”
ٱلْإِمَامُ فَخْرُ ٱلدِّينِ ٱلرَّازِيُّ أَبُو عَبْدِ ٱللّٰهِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ ٱلْحُسَيْنِ ٱلتَّمِيمِيُّ ٱلرَّازِيُّ ٱلشَّافِعِيُّ
(Birth: 543 AH corresponding to 1149 AD, Death: 606 AH corresponding to 1210 AD)
He was a mufassir, mutakallim, faqih, and philosopher, counted among the famous scholars of Islam of the sixth century AH. His important work: “Tafsir Kabir” (Mafatih al-Ghayb). He also interpreted in his tafsir the same way as the above-mentioned mufassirs have done, as you can see:
Allama ٱلْإِمَامُ ٱبْنُ حَيَّانَ ٱلْأَنْدَلُسِيُّ
أَبُو ٱلْحَسَنِ غَرْنَاطَةِيُّ ٱلْمُحَقِّقُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ٱبْنِ حَيَّانَ ٱلْأَنْدَلُسِيُّ (Deceased 745 AH)
He was born in Granada. He was a Hafiz, mufassir, grammarian, usuli, and scholar of many disciplines. His famous tafsir is “Al-Bahr al-Muheet”. He also gave the same interpretation as mentioned above.
ٱلْعَلَّامَةُ ٱلشَّيْخُ عَبْدُ ٱلْحَقِّ ٱلدِّهْلَوِيُّ
أَبُو ٱلْفَضْلِ عَبْدُ ٱلْحَقِّ بْنُ لُوطِ ٱلدِّهْلَوِيُّ (Birth: 958 AH / 1551 AD, Death: 1052 AH / 1642 AD)
He also gave the same interpretation.
ٱلْإِمَامُ ٱلْفَقِيهُ ٱلْمُفَسِّرُ أَبُو ٱلْفَضْلِ عَبْدُ ٱللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ ٱلْبَيْضَاوِيُّ
(Birth: 491 AH / 1097 AD, Death: 567 AH / 1172 AD)
He has also interpreted it in the same way.
ٱلْقَاضِي ثَنَاءُ ٱللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ٱلْبَكْرِيُّ ٱلْفَتْوِيُّ ٱلْفَقِيهُ ٱلْحَنَفِيُّ ٱلْبَحْرِيُّ ٱلْبَسْنَويُّ
(Birth: 1033 AH, Death: 1118 AH)
He has also interpreted it the same way in “Tafsir Mazhari,” Volume 1, Page 235, Old Edition Delhi 1273 AH.
ٱلْعَلَّامَةُ ٱلْإِمَامُ ٱلْمُفَسِّرُ ٱلْفَقِيهُ أَبُو ٱلْفَضْلِ مَحْمُودُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ٱلْآلُوسِيُّ
(Birth: 1270 AH / 1853 AD, Death: 1373 AH / 1954 AD)
He mentioned three opinions under this verse in “Ruh al-Ma’ani fi Tafsir al-Qur’an al-Azim,” Volume 2, Page 37, printed in Egypt, and he considered the third opinion as the strongest, in which the meaning of “مرتان” is differentiation:
“وَإِذَا كَانَ مَعْنَی مَرَّتَيْنِ التَّفْرِيقُ مَعَ التَّصْنِيعِ كَمَا قَالَ فِيهِ ٱلْمُحَقِّقُونَ بِنَاءً عَلَىٰ إِنَّهُ حَقِيقَةٌ فِي ٱلثَّانِيِّ ظَاهِرٌ فِي ٱلْأوَّلِ إِذْ لَا يُقَالُ لِمَنْ دَفَعَ إِلَىٰ آخَرِ دَرْهَمَيْنِ مَرَّةً وَٰحِدَةً
إِنَّهُ أَعْطَاهُ مَرَّتَيْنِ حَتَّى يُفَرِّقَ بَيْنَهُمَا وَكَذَٰا لِمَنْ طلقَ زَوْجَتَهُ ثنَتَيْنِ دِفَعۃ إِنَّهُ طلق مرتین.”
Translation:
“And when our meanings are twofold, then its differentiation with duplication (division of meaning) is just as the researchers have said, on the basis that it is actually clear in the second and apparent in the first. That is, when someone gives another person two dirhams at the same time, it will not be said that he gave twice, unless he differentiates between them. Similarly, the person who divorces his wife twice has the right of differentiation, that indeed he has divorced twice.”
After this, Allama Alusi, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned the triple divorce in one sitting and also named Sheikh al-Islam Allama Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, and quoted those ahadith from which the argument for the triple divorce being one in one sitting is made.
إمامُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ بْنِ يَزِيدَ ٱلطَّبَرِيُّ (المتوفّى: 310هـ)
He also clearly stated:
“إِذَا طَلَّقَ ٱلرَّجُلُ ٱمْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثًا فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَاحِدٍ فَإِنَّهَا تُعَدُّ طَلْقَةً وَاحِدَةً فَقَطْ، وَلَا تُلْزِمُهُ ٱلثَّلَاثُ.”
Translation:
“The position of Imam Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, is very clear that three divorces given in one sitting will be counted as only one divorce in Shariah.”
This statement is mentioned under Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 229 in the volume published by Dar al-Hadith, Cairo, in “Tafsir al-Tabari”
This passage can be beautifully presented in eloquent Arabic as per your request:
قَالَ أَبُو زَكَرِيَّا يَحْيَىٰ بْنُ زِيَادِ بْنِ عَبْدِ ٱللَّهِ بْنِ مَنْظُورٍ ٱلأَدِيلِيُّ ٱلْأَسَدِيُّ ٱلْكُوفِيُّ، صَاحِبُ ٱلْكِسَائِيِّ (المتوفّى: ٢٠٧هـ):
“إِذَا طَلَّقَ ٱلرَّجُلُ ٱمْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثًا فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَإِنَّهَا تُحْسَبُ طَلْقَةً وَاحِدَةً، وَلَا تَقَعُ بِهَا ٱلثَّلَاثُ.”
Translation: “When a man gives his wife three divorces in one sitting, it will count as only one divorce and not three divorces will take effect.”
قَالَ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الصَّرَّاحِيُّ بْنُ صُهَيْلٍ الْمُنَزَّجَ الْبَغْدَادِيُّ (المتوفّى: 311ھ)
In “تفسیر معانی القرآن والإعراب للزجاج”, Maktabah al-Shamela, under Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 229:
“إِنَّ الطَّلَاقَ الثَّلَاثَ فِی مَجْلِسٍ وَاحِدٍ یُحْسَبُ طَلْقَةً وَاحِدَةً، لَا ثَلَاثًا۔”
Translation:
“Indeed, three divorces given in one sitting will be counted as only one divorce in the eyes of Shariah, not three.”
قَالَ الإِمَامُ أَبُو ٱلْفَرَجِ عَبْدُ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ٱلْبَغْدَادِيُّ، ٱلْمَعْرُوفُ بِٱبْنِ ٱلْجَوْزِيِّ (المتوفّى: 597ھ)
In his Tafsir: “زاد المسیر فی علم التفسیر“, under Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 229:
“إِذَا طَلَّقَ ٱلرَّجُلُ ٱمْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثًا بِلَفْظٍ وَاحِدٍ، أَوْ فِی سِیَاقٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَإِنَّمَا تَقَعُ طَلْقَةً وَاحِدَةً، وَلَا تَقَعُ بِذٰلِكَ ٱلثَّلَاثُ.”
Translation:
“If a man gives his wife three divorces at one time or in one context, they will not be counted as three in Shariah but only one divorce will take effect.”
قَالَ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ ٱلْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ ٱلْفَرَّاءُ ٱلْبَغَوِيُّ ٱلصَّنْعَانِيُّ (المتوفّى: 516ھ)
In the famous Tafsir “معالم التنزیل (تفسیر بغوی)“, under Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 229:
“إِذَا طَلَّقَ ٱلرَّجُلُ ٱمْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثًا فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَإِنَّهَا تُحْسَبُ طَلْقَةً وَاحِدَةً، وَلَا تَقَعُ بِهَا ٱلثَّلَاثُ، وَهٰذَا مَحَلُّ ٱتِّفَاقِ ٱلْمُفَسِّرِينَ وَإِجْمَاعِهِمْ.”
Translation:
“If a person gives his wife three divorces in one sitting, they will not count as three, but according to Shariah, only one divorce will be counted, and all the commentators agree and have consensus on this.”
From all these explicit statements, it is clear that the commentators have stated unequivocally that if a man says “divorce, divorce, divorce” to his wife in one sitting, it counts as only one divorce.
If the three divorces in one sitting were considered three, these words would not have been used:
➊ Quranic Evidence:
﴿ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌۭ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۭ بِإِحْسَٰنٍۭ﴾
Translation: “Divorce is twice; then either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment.”
➋ Second Evidence:
﴿فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًۭا غَيْرَهُۥ﴾
Translation: “And if he divorces her (a third time), then she is not lawful to him afterward until she marries another husband.”
Rather, the words are as follows:
الطَّلَاقُ إِثْنَتَانِ فَإِمْسَاکٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِیحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ … فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا ثلاث فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِنْ بَعْدُ حَتَّى تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ
The presence of these words and the fact that they are the words of “مرتان” and “فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا” means that the explicit meaning of the verse is that “فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فِي الْمَرَّۃِ الثَّالِثَۃِ بَعْدَ الْمَرَّتَيْنِ” (i.e., if a man has given divorce twice separately and then gives a third divorce, at that time the woman becomes forbidden for the man).
As mentioned by Imam Abu Bakr Al-Jassas Hanafi and Muhashshar Al-Nasafi Abu Al-Hayyan.
Regarding this verse of the Quran, three divorces in one sitting are considered as one divorce.
In the light of Ahadith
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“لَمْ تَكُنْ فِى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَلَا فِى عَهْدِ أَبِى بَكْرٍ وَلَا فِى سَنَتَيْنِ مِنْ خِلَافَةِ عُمَرَ إِلَّا طَلَاقٌ وَاحِدَةٌ”
Translation:
“During the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), during the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr, and for two years in the early caliphate of Hazrat Umar, three divorces were counted as one divorce.”
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“لَمْ تَكُنْ فِى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَلَا فِى عَهْدِ أَبِى بَكْرٍ وَلَا فِى سَنَتَيْنِ مِنْ خِلَافَتِهِمْ إِلَّا طَلَاقٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فَجَاءَ عُمَرُ فَفَارَقَ فِي آخِرِ عَهْدِهِ فَجَاءَ فَقَالَ: إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ تَعَجَّلُوا فِى أَمْرِهِمْ فَلَوْ جَمَعْتُهُمْ عَلَىٰ طَلَاقٍ وَاحِدَةٍ”
Translation:
Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه said: During the time of the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم, during the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr, and for the first two years of Hazrat Umar’s caliphate, three divorces given in one sitting were counted as only one divorce.
A Hadith:
حدَّثنا سَعْدُ بنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حدَّثنا أَبِي، عن مُحَمَّدِ بنِ إِسْحَاقَ، قال: حدَّثني دَاوُدُ بنُ الحُصَيْنِ، عن عِكْرِمَةَ مَوْلَى ابنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عن ابنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنهما، قال:
“طَلَّقَ رَكَانَةُ بنُ عَبْدِ يَزِيدَ امرَأَتَهُ ثَلاثًا في مَجلِسٍ واحِدٍ، فَحَزِنَ عَلَيْهَا حُزْنًا شَدِيدًا، فَسَأَلَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ: كَيْفَ طَلَّقْتَهَا؟ قال: طَلَّقْتُهَا ثَلاثًا. قال: فَإِنَّمَا تِلكَ وَاحِدَةٌ، فَارْجِعْهَا إِنْ شِئْتَ. قال: فَرَاجَعَهَا.”
Translation:
Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates that: Rakana bin Abdul Yazid (who was the brother of Ma’bad) gave his wife three divorces in one sitting, and he was deeply distressed about it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ asked him: “How did you divorce her?” He said: “I gave her three divorces in one sitting.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “That is only one divorce; if you wish, take her back.” So he took her back.
Note: Regarding this narration, Hafiz Ibn Hajar رحمه الله says:
“وَهَذَا الْحَدِيثُ نَصٌّ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ لَا يَقْبَلُ التَّأْوِيلَ”
That is, this hadith is a clear text on this issue and does not accept any interpretation.
This chain of narration has been declared authentic by Imam Ahmad, Hakim, and Dhahabi, and Imam Tirmidhi has classified this chain as good in another text. Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) states that this narration has a strong chain of transmission. Allama Ahmad Shakir Al-Masri (1892-1958) also declared this narration authentic, writing:
Hazrat Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) explicitly declared that “Whoever pronounces three divorces in one sitting, we will count it as only one divorce according to the Book of Allah”:
“يُطَلِّقُ ٱمْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثًا بِكَلِمَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، لَوْ حَمَلْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ كِتَابِ ٱللَّهِ.”
Hazrat Mahmood bin Labeed (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ لَبِیْدٍ رَضِیَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثَلاَثَ طَلَاقَاتٍ جَمِيعًا، فَقَامَ غَضْبَانًا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَيُلْعَبُ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَأَنَا بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِكُمْ حَتَّى قَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَلَا أَقْتُلُهُ؟”
Translation:
Hazrat Mahmood bin Labeed says that when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ found out that a man had given his wife three divorces at once, he got up in anger and said: Is Allah’s Book being toyed with while I am still here? Upon hearing this, a man said: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Should I not kill him?
From these ahadith, it is clear that three divorces given in one sitting were counted as a single divorce during the time of the Prophet ﷺ, and also during the caliphates of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him).
Note: This was the case until two years into the caliphate of Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him).
The Practices of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all)
From which it is proven that three divorces given in one sitting were counted as a single divorce:
Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) also considered three divorces given in one sitting as a single divorce, as is evident from his fatwa:
عَن عِكْرِمَةَ مَوْلَى عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ:
“إِذَا قَالَ أَنْتِ طَالِقٌ ثَلَاثًا بِفَمٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَهِيَ وَاحِدَةٌ.”
Translation:
Ikramah (a trustworthy Tabi’i, who was a freed slave of Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: “When a person gives his wife three divorces at the same time (i.e., says: You are divorced, divorced, divorced), it will count as only one divorce.”
The fatwa of Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, is as follows:
“أَنَّ رَجُلًا طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثًا فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَجَاءَ إِلَى ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، فَقَالَ: مَا أَرَاكَ طَلَّقْتَهَا إِلَّا وَاحِدَةً.”
Translation:
“A man gave his wife three divorces in one sitting, then he came to Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him. Ibn Mas’ud said: ‘In my opinion, you have only given her one divorce.'”
This ruling is also found in
.
Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما, Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه, Zubair bin Awwam رضي الله عنه, Abdul Rahman bin Awf رضي الله عنه, and others have all transmitted the ruling that three divorces given in one sitting count as one.
Imam Ibn Mughith has narrated in “Al-Muqni'” through Muhammad bin Waddah that Hazrat Ali رضي الله عنه said:
“إِذَا طَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ ٱمْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثًا فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَهِيَ وَاحِدَةٌ.”
Translation: “Hazrat Ali رضي الله عنه said: When a man gives his wife three divorces in one sitting, they will be counted as one.”
Warning:
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه said:
“الطَّلَاقُ الثَّلَاثُ فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَاحِدٍ طَلَاقٌ وَاحِدٌ.”
Translation:
“Three divorces given in one sitting will be counted as one divorce.”
Hazrat Abu Musa al-Ash’ari رضي الله عنه said:
“كُلُّ طَلَاقٍ جَاءَ جَمِيعًا فَإِنَّهُ يُجْزِئُ عَنْهُ وَاحِدَةٌ.”
Translation:
“Every divorce that is given together (i.e., in one sitting) will be counted as only one divorce in her favor.”
وَإِذَا طَلَّقَهَا ثَلَاثًا بِكَلِمَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ، أَوْ فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَإِنَّهَا تُحْسَبُ طَلْقَةً وَاحِدَةً.
“If a person gives his wife three divorces in one single utterance or in one sitting, it will be counted as one divorce.”
The same is found in other Shia sources as well.
The Hanafi scholars (jurists and hadith scholars) have also held the position that if three divorces are given at once, in one sitting, only one divorce takes effect, or according to some, no divorce takes effect at all. This position is attributed to some jurists and Imams of Ahl al-Kufa, such as Hajjaj bin Artaah Al-Kufi (d. 145 AH), Muhammad bin Muqatil Razi Hanafi (d. 248 AH), etc.
Consider the wording of the issue related to divorce as mentioned in Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi’s book “Bahishti Zewar”:
“If someone says three times: ‘I divorce you, divorce you, divorce you’; then all three divorces are counted. Or if said in ambiguous words three times, still all three divorces are counted. But if the intention is only one divorce, and the three times were said just for emphasis to make the matter firm, then only one divorce has occurred. However, since the woman does not know the state of his heart, it is understood that three divorces have been given.”
There are also many opinions in other books that three divorces in one sitting are considered as one divorce, for example:
Imam Muhammad bin Muqatil Razi Hanafi
Imam Tahawi, may Allah have mercy on him, in “Sharh Ma’ani al-Athar”
Allama Abdul Hay Lakhnawi, may Allah have mercy on him, in “Umdat al-Ra’aya Sharh Mukhtasar al-Quduri,” etc.
Anwar Shah Kashmiri, may Allah have mercy on him, also explained this in “Faiz al-Bari.”
Allama Aini Hanafi, may Allah have mercy on him, stated in “Umdat al-Qari” Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari that if a man gives his wife three divorces at once in one sitting, it will be considered as one divorce.
Warning:
Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to consider three divorces given in one sitting as a single divorce, but when people started giving divorces hastily and giving three divorces at once, thereby causing harm to women, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) took some disciplinary measures against them in hopes that they would desist from doing so.
As mentioned in the book “Al-Farooq Umar” by Muhammad Husayn Haikal (Vol. 2, page 286), due to the abundance of slaves, people began to give three divorces quickly in this manner.
Therefore, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) often punished such men (in the form of lashes) and temporarily considered such divorces valid so that people would stop this wrongful act.
“أَنَّ عُمَرَ كَانَ إِذَا أُتِيَ بِرَجُلٍ طَلَّقَ ٱمْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثًا أَوْجَعَ ظَهْرَهُ.”
Translation: “When Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) received information that someone had given his wife three divorces in one sitting, he would strike him hard on the back.”
And according to some reports, in the later period, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) himself said that he wished he had not considered three divorces as one or wished he had not maintained it, etc. All this was due to the wisdom and temporary ruling.
Note:
In any case, many of the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them), such as Ali, Ibn Mas’ud, Ibn Abbas, Zubair bin Awwam, Abdul Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with them), were against it, and yet they considered three divorces in one sitting as one.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar Asqalani (may Allah have mercy on him) also supports or agrees with the opinions that consider three divorces in one sitting as one divorce, as mentioned in
.
Summary
Three divorces in one sitting will be considered as one divorce, and this is established from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
