Sharʿi Ruling on Different Ways of Giving Triple Divorce and Evidences
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Ṭalāq ke Masā’il, Vol. 1, p. 338
❖ Question ①
Zaid gave his wife three divorces on three different days:
- First divorce: Sunday
- Second divorce: Monday
- Third divorce: Tuesday
(Three consecutive days, one divorce each day.)
Question: Will all three divorces count, or will they be considered as only one rajʿi divorce?
❖ Question ②
Zaid gave his wife three divorces at the same time:
- In one sentence: «أَنْتِ طَالِقٌ ثَلاَثًا»
- Or with separate words: «أَنْتِ طَالِقٌ وَطَالِقٌ وَطَالِقٌ»
Question: Will these three divorces count as three, or as only one rajʿi divorce?
✿ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
(1) Ruling of Triple Divorce on Three Different Days
✔ In this case, all three divorces will take effect.
✔ The wife becomes unlawful for the husband until she marries another man in a valid marriage free from the condition of taḥlīl.
Qur’ānic Evidence:
﴿اَلطَّلاَقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاکٌ بِمَعْرُوْفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيْحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ﴾
Explanation:
The Prophet ﷺ interpreted “tasrīḥ bi-iḥsān” as the third divorce (see Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr and other commentaries).
This proves that just as “imsaak bi-maʿrūf” (rajʿūʿ) is valid during the waiting period, so is “tasrīḥ bi-iḥsān” (divorce).
Another verse states:
﴿وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِکُوْهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوْفٍ أَوْ سَرِّحُوْهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوْفٍ﴾
This also indicates that divorce takes place without rajʿūʿ, as “tasrīḥ” (divorce) is mentioned opposite “imsāk” (retaining) with the word “أَوْ” (or).
Similarly:
﴿فَإِمْسَاکٌ بِمَعْرُوْفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيْحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ﴾
(2) Ruling of Triple Divorce at the Same Time
✔ If three divorces are given in one sitting, whether in one phrase or in separate words, they will be counted as one rajʿi divorce.
Evidence:
The ḥadīth of Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما, narrated in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, proves that triple divorce given in this form is counted as one divorce.
«إِنَّ طَلاَقَ الثَّلاَثِ فِیْ هٰذِهِ الصُّوْرَةِ يُجْعَلُ طَلاَقًا وَاحِدًا لِحَدِيْثِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِیَ اﷲُ عَنْهُمَا اَلَّذِیْ أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ فِیْ صَحِيْحِهِ»
❖ Conclusion
➊ If divorces are given on different days, all three divorces take effect, and the wife becomes unlawful until she marries another husband.
➋ If three divorces are given at the same time (whether in one statement or in separate words), they are counted as one rajʿi divorce.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
