Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 766
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Islam has mentioned three fundamental types of ṭalāq (divorce):
A divorce in which the husband may revoke his decision during the ʿiddah period by word or action.
Even after the ʿiddah has expired, he may remarry her with a new nikāḥ.
In this case, no ḥalālah (intervening marriage) is required.
After the completion of ʿiddah, the husband cannot take his wife back without a new nikāḥ contract.
Thus, renewal of nikāḥ is mandatory if they wish to reunite.
In this form, remarriage between husband and wife is not permissible without ḥalālah — i.e., the woman must marry another man genuinely, and only after that marriage naturally ends, can she remarry her former husband.
Before Islam, women were symbols of oppression.
They were burdened with responsibilities but deprived of rights.
Islam introduced a just and balanced system of divorce, marking a revolutionary reform in human society.
In the Indian subcontinent, marriage was regarded as an unbreakable bond.
In Christianity, marriage was considered sacred to the extent that ending it was viewed as a major sin.
The Gospel of Matthew (19:2) states:
“What God has joined together, let not man separate.”
In contrast, pre-Islamic Arab society gave the husband unlimited power to pronounce divorce repeatedly and revoke it whenever he wished before the end of ʿiddah.
An Anṣārī companion once threatened his wife:
“I will neither live with you nor release you.”
He further said:
“I will divorce you, and when your ʿiddah nears its end, I will take you back—then I will divorce you again and repeat this indefinitely.”
The woman wept and complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Upon this, Allah Almighty revealed the verse:
﴿الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ﴾
“Divorce may be pronounced twice…”
(Al-Baqarah 2:229)
This verse ended the oppression women suffered and brought a fair and wise reform in marital law.
Nikāḥ (marriage) is regarded in Islam as a sacred and foundational relationship, upon which society and civilization are built.
However, at times, circumstances arise where living together becomes impossible, and mutual aversion reaches a point where maintaining the bond becomes unbearable.
In such cases, separation becomes a mercy for both families.
Islam permits divorce in cases of genuine necessity, yet it is disliked by Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most detested lawful thing before Allah is divorce.”
At the same time, Islam prescribed a wise method for pronouncing divorce, leaving room for reconciliation.
﴿الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ...﴾
﴿فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِن بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ﴾
(Al-Baqarah 2:229–230)
Translation:
“Divorce is twice; then either retain them in kindness or release them in good conduct.
...And if he divorces her (the third time), she is not lawful to him afterward until she marries another husband.”
These verses do not command three divorces in a single sitting.
According to the Qur’an, each divorce must be given separately.
The first and second divorces are revocable (rajʿiyyah) — reconciliation is possible.
After the third divorce, the woman becomes unlawful for her former husband unless she marries another man, and that marriage ends naturally, not by arrangement.
Some argue that since the Qur’an does not mention “sessions” or “purity periods,” giving three divorces at once should be valid.
However, the Qur’an clearly states “Divorce is twice”, not “thrice in one sitting.”
This indicates that divorces should be given on separate occasions, allowing room for reflection and reconciliation.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is what I understand; Allah knows best what is correct.)
✦ Explanation of the Types of Divorce in Islam ✦
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Islam has mentioned three fundamental types of ṭalāq (divorce):
① Ṭalāq Rajʿiyyah (Revocable Divorce)
A divorce in which the husband may revoke his decision during the ʿiddah period by word or action.
Even after the ʿiddah has expired, he may remarry her with a new nikāḥ.
In this case, no ḥalālah (intervening marriage) is required.
② Ṭalāq Bā’inah (Irrevocable but Re-Marriage Permissible)
After the completion of ʿiddah, the husband cannot take his wife back without a new nikāḥ contract.
Thus, renewal of nikāḥ is mandatory if they wish to reunite.
③ Ṭalāq Mughallaẓah (Irrevocable Divorce Requiring Ḥalālah)
In this form, remarriage between husband and wife is not permissible without ḥalālah — i.e., the woman must marry another man genuinely, and only after that marriage naturally ends, can she remarry her former husband.
✿ Detailed Discussion on Ṭalāq Mughallaẓah
✧ Status of Women Before Islam
Before Islam, women were symbols of oppression.
They were burdened with responsibilities but deprived of rights.
Islam introduced a just and balanced system of divorce, marking a revolutionary reform in human society.
✧ Practice Among Other Nations
In the Indian subcontinent, marriage was regarded as an unbreakable bond.
In Christianity, marriage was considered sacred to the extent that ending it was viewed as a major sin.
The Gospel of Matthew (19:2) states:
“What God has joined together, let not man separate.”
In contrast, pre-Islamic Arab society gave the husband unlimited power to pronounce divorce repeatedly and revoke it whenever he wished before the end of ʿiddah.
✧ The Incident of an Anṣārī Companion
An Anṣārī companion once threatened his wife:
“I will neither live with you nor release you.”
He further said:
“I will divorce you, and when your ʿiddah nears its end, I will take you back—then I will divorce you again and repeat this indefinitely.”
The woman wept and complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Upon this, Allah Almighty revealed the verse:
﴿الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ﴾
“Divorce may be pronounced twice…”
(Al-Baqarah 2:229)
This verse ended the oppression women suffered and brought a fair and wise reform in marital law.
✧ Importance of Marriage and Divorce
Nikāḥ (marriage) is regarded in Islam as a sacred and foundational relationship, upon which society and civilization are built.
However, at times, circumstances arise where living together becomes impossible, and mutual aversion reaches a point where maintaining the bond becomes unbearable.
In such cases, separation becomes a mercy for both families.
✧ Permission for Divorce and Its Disapproval
Islam permits divorce in cases of genuine necessity, yet it is disliked by Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The most detested lawful thing before Allah is divorce.”
At the same time, Islam prescribed a wise method for pronouncing divorce, leaving room for reconciliation.
✧ Qur’ānic Guidance
﴿الطَّلَاقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ...﴾
﴿فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِن بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ﴾
(Al-Baqarah 2:229–230)
Translation:
“Divorce is twice; then either retain them in kindness or release them in good conduct.
...And if he divorces her (the third time), she is not lawful to him afterward until she marries another husband.”
✧ Conclusion from the Verses
These verses do not command three divorces in a single sitting.
According to the Qur’an, each divorce must be given separately.
The first and second divorces are revocable (rajʿiyyah) — reconciliation is possible.
After the third divorce, the woman becomes unlawful for her former husband unless she marries another man, and that marriage ends naturally, not by arrangement.
✧ The Issue of Triple Divorce in One Sitting
Some argue that since the Qur’an does not mention “sessions” or “purity periods,” giving three divorces at once should be valid.
However, the Qur’an clearly states “Divorce is twice”, not “thrice in one sitting.”
This indicates that divorces should be given on separate occasions, allowing room for reflection and reconciliation.
هٰذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is what I understand; Allah knows best what is correct.)
