Ruling on Triple Divorce in One Sitting and Validity of Rajʿūʿ or Nikāḥ
Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Ṭalāq ke Masā’il, Vol. 1, p. 344
❖ Question
A man gave his wife three divorces in a single sitting. Can he return to his divorced wife or remarry her?
✿ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrated:
«کَانَ الطَّلاَقُ عَلٰی عَهْدِ رَسُوْلِ اﷲِﷺ وَاَبِیْ بَكرٍْ وَّسَنَتَيْنِ مِنْ خِلاَفَةِ عُمَرَ طَلاَقُ الثَّلاَثِ وَاحِدَةٌ، فَقَالَ عُمَرَ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ: إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدِ اسْتَعْجَلُوْا فِیْ اَمْرٍ کَانَتْ لَهُمْ فِيْهِ أَنَاةٌ، فَلَوْ أَمْضَيْنَاهُ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَأَمْضَاهُ عَلَيْهِمْ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 477)
Translation:
During the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the era of Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه, and the first two years of ʿUmar رضي الله عنه, three divorces (issued at once) were counted as one. Then ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه said: “People have hastened in a matter in which they had respite. If we enforce it upon them (as three), it will be binding.” So he enforced it upon them.
❖ Clarification of the Issue
From the above narration it becomes clear that three divorces given in one sitting are regarded as one divorce. Therefore:
◈ If this is not the third divorce (i.e., no two previous divorces have been given),
◈ Rajʿūʿ is possible during the ʿiddah without a new nikāḥ,
◈ And after the expiry of ʿiddah, remarrying through a new nikāḥ is also permissible.
❖ Qur’ānic Evidence
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَإِذَا طَلَّقۡتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغۡنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا تَعۡضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحۡنَ أَزۡوَٰجَهُنَّ إِذَا تَرَٰضَوۡاْ بَيۡنَهُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ﴾
(Al-Baqarah: 232)
“And when you divorce women and they have completed their waiting period, do not prevent them from remarrying their husbands if they mutually agree in a fair manner.”
❖ Conclusion
✔ If a man gives his wife three divorces in one sitting, and it is not the third divorce overall:
◈ Rajʿūʿ is valid during the ʿiddah without a new nikāḥ.
◈ After the ʿiddah, remarrying is valid through a new nikāḥ with mutual consent.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
