Maintenance for a Divorced Woman in Ṭalāq Raj‘ī, but Not for Ṭalāq Bā’inah
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
A woman divorced with Ṭalāq Raj‘ī (revocable divorce) is entitled to maintenance from her husband, while a woman divorced with Ṭalāq Bā’inah (irrevocable divorce, such as the third divorce) is not entitled to maintenance — except in the case of pregnancy.
❶ Allah Almighty says:
لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِن بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّا أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ [At-Talaq: 1]
"Do not turn them out of their houses, nor should they leave, except in case they commit a clear act of immorality."
❷ And He says:
وَلِلْمُطَلَّقَاتِ مَتَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ [Al-Baqarah: 241]
"For divorced women, provision (should be made) in a reasonable manner."
❸ Narrated by Fatimah bint Qays (RA): The Prophet ﷺ said to her:
إنما النفقة والسكنى للمرأة إذا كان لزوجها عليها الرجعة
"Maintenance and housing for a woman are only due when her husband still has the right to take her back."
[Sahih: al-Ta‘liqāt al-Raḍiyyah ‘alā al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 2/214; al-Silsilah al-Sahihah: 1711; Ahmad: 6/373; al-Nasa’i: 6/144]
In another narration:
"When the husband has no right to take her back, there is neither maintenance nor housing for her."
[Ahmad: 6/416]
From this, it is understood that maintenance and housing are obligatory for a woman in Ṭalāq Raj‘ī. Al-Shawkani (رحمه الله) said this is a matter of consensus.
[Nayl al-Awṭār: 4/406]
Regarding Ṭalāq Bā’inah (third divorce):
Fatimah bint Qays (RA) reported: The Prophet ﷺ said:
ليس لها سكني ولا نفقة
"There is no housing and no maintenance for her."
She also said:
طلقني زوجي ثلاثا فلم يجعل لى رسول الله سكنى ولا نفقة
"My husband divorced me thrice, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not assign me housing or maintenance."
[Ahmad: 6/412; Muslim: 1480; Abu Dawud: 2284; al-Nasa’i: 6/75; al-Tirmidhi: 1135; Ibn Majah: 2035; Ibn Hibban: 4291; Ibn al-Jarud: 761]
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said to her:
لا نفقة لك إلا أن تكوني حاملا
"There is no maintenance for you unless you are pregnant."
[Ahmad: 6/414; Muslim: 1480; Abu Dawud: 2290; al-Nasa’i: 6/62]
Disagreement among Companions:
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) and ‘A’ishah (RA) rejected the report of Fatimah (RA), with ‘Umar (RA) stating:
"We will not abandon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of our Prophet for the statement of a woman — we do not know if she remembered correctly or forgot."
When this was conveyed to Fatimah (RA), she responded: "Between me and you is the Book of Allah." Then she recited the verse:
عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يُحْدِثَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا [At-Talaq: 1]
("Perhaps Allah will bring about after that a different matter.") and asked: "What new matter will there be after the third divorce?"
Although ‘Umar (RA) acted upon his understanding, the statement of Fatimah (RA), being a Companion conveying the direct command of the Prophet ﷺ, is considered valid proof — thus, the ruling is that a woman in Ṭalāq Bā’inah is not entitled to maintenance or housing unless pregnant.
Other opinions:
The stronger opinion (Rājih): No maintenance or housing for Ṭalāq Bā’inah, unless pregnant — in which case maintenance is due until childbirth.
In the case of widowhood: No maintenance or housing is due, except if the woman is pregnant — then maintenance is due until delivery, as per the verse:
وَإِن كُنَّ أُولَاتِ حَمْلٍ فَأَنفِقُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ [At-Talaq: 6]
This applies equally to pregnant Ṭalāq Raj‘ī and Ṭalāq Bā’inah cases.
Summary of rulings:
For more detail, see: al-Mughni 11/402.
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
A woman divorced with Ṭalāq Raj‘ī (revocable divorce) is entitled to maintenance from her husband, while a woman divorced with Ṭalāq Bā’inah (irrevocable divorce, such as the third divorce) is not entitled to maintenance — except in the case of pregnancy.
❶ Allah Almighty says:
لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِن بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّا أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَاحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ [At-Talaq: 1]
"Do not turn them out of their houses, nor should they leave, except in case they commit a clear act of immorality."
❷ And He says:
وَلِلْمُطَلَّقَاتِ مَتَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ [Al-Baqarah: 241]
"For divorced women, provision (should be made) in a reasonable manner."
❸ Narrated by Fatimah bint Qays (RA): The Prophet ﷺ said to her:
إنما النفقة والسكنى للمرأة إذا كان لزوجها عليها الرجعة
"Maintenance and housing for a woman are only due when her husband still has the right to take her back."
[Sahih: al-Ta‘liqāt al-Raḍiyyah ‘alā al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah: 2/214; al-Silsilah al-Sahihah: 1711; Ahmad: 6/373; al-Nasa’i: 6/144]
In another narration:
"When the husband has no right to take her back, there is neither maintenance nor housing for her."
[Ahmad: 6/416]
From this, it is understood that maintenance and housing are obligatory for a woman in Ṭalāq Raj‘ī. Al-Shawkani (رحمه الله) said this is a matter of consensus.
[Nayl al-Awṭār: 4/406]
Regarding Ṭalāq Bā’inah (third divorce):
Fatimah bint Qays (RA) reported: The Prophet ﷺ said:
ليس لها سكني ولا نفقة
"There is no housing and no maintenance for her."
She also said:
طلقني زوجي ثلاثا فلم يجعل لى رسول الله سكنى ولا نفقة
"My husband divorced me thrice, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not assign me housing or maintenance."
[Ahmad: 6/412; Muslim: 1480; Abu Dawud: 2284; al-Nasa’i: 6/75; al-Tirmidhi: 1135; Ibn Majah: 2035; Ibn Hibban: 4291; Ibn al-Jarud: 761]
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said to her:
لا نفقة لك إلا أن تكوني حاملا
"There is no maintenance for you unless you are pregnant."
[Ahmad: 6/414; Muslim: 1480; Abu Dawud: 2290; al-Nasa’i: 6/62]
Disagreement among Companions:
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) and ‘A’ishah (RA) rejected the report of Fatimah (RA), with ‘Umar (RA) stating:
"We will not abandon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of our Prophet for the statement of a woman — we do not know if she remembered correctly or forgot."
When this was conveyed to Fatimah (RA), she responded: "Between me and you is the Book of Allah." Then she recited the verse:
عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يُحْدِثَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًا [At-Talaq: 1]
("Perhaps Allah will bring about after that a different matter.") and asked: "What new matter will there be after the third divorce?"
Although ‘Umar (RA) acted upon his understanding, the statement of Fatimah (RA), being a Companion conveying the direct command of the Prophet ﷺ, is considered valid proof — thus, the ruling is that a woman in Ṭalāq Bā’inah is not entitled to maintenance or housing unless pregnant.
Other opinions:
- Jumhūr (majority): No maintenance, but housing is due, based on the verse أسكنوهن ("House them" – At-Talaq: 4).
- Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله): Both maintenance and housing are due, analogizing with Ṭalāq Raj‘ī.
The stronger opinion (Rājih): No maintenance or housing for Ṭalāq Bā’inah, unless pregnant — in which case maintenance is due until childbirth.
In the case of widowhood: No maintenance or housing is due, except if the woman is pregnant — then maintenance is due until delivery, as per the verse:
وَإِن كُنَّ أُولَاتِ حَمْلٍ فَأَنفِقُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ [At-Talaq: 6]
This applies equally to pregnant Ṭalāq Raj‘ī and Ṭalāq Bā’inah cases.
Summary of rulings:
- Ṭalāq Raj‘ī: Maintenance and housing are obligatory (whether pregnant or not).
- Ṭalāq Bā’inah: No maintenance or housing, except maintenance if pregnant.
- Widowhood: No maintenance or housing, except maintenance if pregnant.
- Faskh al-Nikāḥ (Annulment):
- Li‘ān: No maintenance or housing, pregnant or not.
- Khul‘: No maintenance or housing, except maintenance if pregnant (like Ṭalāq Bā’inah).
For more detail, see: al-Mughni 11/402.
