Fatwa ID: 09101
Answered by Mufti Ateiq-ur Rehman
Question:
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I am writing to request urgent Islamic guidance according to Hanafi fiqh. I am based in the UK and was advised to contact your Darul Ifta for clarity.
Recently, my husband became extremely angry after checking my phone and finding old messages from several months ago. Those conversations had already ended and there was no ongoing relationship.
During the argument, he was very angry, swore at me, slapped me, and then verbally pronounced the word “talaq” three times in one sitting.
He was angry but aware of what he was saying. There was no intoxication, coercion, or loss of sanity or consciousness.
I would be grateful for your guidance on the following according to Hanafi fiqh:
- Whether three valid talaqs have taken place
- The Islamic status of our marriage
- My obligations regarding ʿiddah
- Whether any form of reconciliation is Islamically possible
I am seeking clarity so I can act correctly according to Islam and remove all doubt.
Jazakum Allahu khayran for your time and assistance.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Thank you for your question. May Allah Most ﷻ you clarity, protect you from harm, and guide you to what is correct in this difficult situation.
Allah ﷻ mentioned in the Quran:
فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُۥ ۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يَتَرَاجَعَآ إِن ظَنَّآ أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍۢ يَعْلَمُونَ
“Thereafter, if he divorces her, she shall no longer remain lawful for him unless she marries a man other than him. Should he too divorce her, then there is no sin on them in their returning to each other, if they think they would maintain the limits set by Allah. These are the limits set by Allah that He makes clear to a people who know (that Allah is alone capable of setting these limits).”
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:230)
It the commentary of this verse, Mufti Shafi رحمه الله wrote:
“No doubt, the course of action for the Muslim community has been laid down with the consensus of Sahabah and Tabi`in warning that giving three talaqs simultaneously is certainly a cause of the anger of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and therefore undesirable, but despite this, anyone who commits this mistake will end up finding that his wife has become unlawful for him, and thereafter, not to become lawful again, unless she goes through the process of marriage and divorce with another man.”
(Ma’ariful Quran 2:230)
It should be clearly understood that from the above commentary and in Hanafi fiqh, three talaqs issued in one sitting using clear, explicit words are all binding, and this is not affected by anger so long as the person is aware of what he is saying.
This is supported by the principle that talaq occurs from a husband, even in emotionally compromised states. It is mentioned that even a coerced person’s divorce counts because he intentionally uttered the words of divorce [1]. Likewise, it is explicitly stated that the divorce of every sane, adult husband occurs, even if coerced or intoxicated [2]. Furthermore, talaq takes place from various categories including the coerced, intoxicated, joking, or mistaken individual, as long as legal capacity is present [3]. These collectively establish that anger, in itself, does not prevent the talaq.
Now to answer your four specific questions:
- Occurrence of three talaqs
In your case, your husband pronounced the word “talaq” three times in one sitting, while being angry but aware and conscious. Accordingly, all three talaqs have taken place.
- Status of the marriage
As three talaqs have occurred, this constitutes an irrevocable divorce, the marriage has completely ended, and you are no longer husband and wife.
- ʿIddah (waiting period)
You are required to observe ʿiddah as follows:
- Three menstrual cycles if you menstruate
- Three lunar months if you do not
- Until childbirth if you are pregnant
- Possibility of reconciliation
After three talaqs, reconciliation is not permissible through a simple remarriage. A new marriage between you and your former husband can only occur if:
- You complete your ʿiddah
- You marry another man in a genuine marriage
- That marriage is consummated
- That marriage ends naturally (death or valid divorce)
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Ateiq-ur Rehman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وطلاق المكره واقع ” خلافا للشافعي رحمه الله هو يقول إن الإكراه لا يجامع الاختيار وبه يعتبر التصرف الشرعي بخلاف الهازل لأنه مختار في التكلم بالطلاق ولنا أنه قصد إيقاع الطلاق في منكوحته في حال أهليته فلا يعرى عن قضيته دفعا لحاجته اعتبار بالطائع وهذا لأنه عرف الشرين واختار أهونهما وهذا آية القصد والاختيار إلا أنه غير راض بحكمه وذلك غير مخل به كالهازل.
كتاب الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي1:224 المكتبة الشاملة
[2]
ويقع طلاق كلّ زوجٍ عاقلٍ بالغٍ، ولو مكرهًا وسكران وأخرس بإشارته حرًّا أو عبدًا
كتاب كنز الدقائق p269 (المكتبة الشاملة)
[3]
قَوْلُهُ وَأَهْلُهُ زَوْجٌ عَاقِلٌ إلَخْ) احْتَرَزَ بِالزَّوْجِ عَنْ سَيِّدِ الْعَبْدِ وَوَالِدِهِ الصَّغِيرِ، وَبِالْعَاقِلِ وَلَوْ حُكْمًا عَنْ الْمَجْنُونِ وَالْمَعْتُوهِ وَالْمَدْهُوشِ وَالْمُبَرْسَمِ وَالْمُغْمَى عَلَيْهِ، بِخِلَافِ السَّكْرَانِ مُضْطَرًّا أَوْ مُكْرَهًا، وَبِالْبَالِغِ عَنْ الصَّبِيِّ وَلَوْ مُرَاهِقًا، وَبِالْمُسْتَيْقِظِ عَنْ النَّائِمِ. وَأَفَادَ أَنَّهُ لَا يُشْتَرَطُ كَوْنُهُ مُسْلِمًا صَحِيحًا طَائِعًا عَامِدًا فَيَقَعُ طَلَاقُ الْعَبْدِ وَالسَّكْرَانِ بِسَبَبٍ مَحْظُورٍ وَالْكَافِرِ وَالْمَرِيضِ وَالْمُكْرَهِ وَالْهَازِلِ وَالْمُخْطِئِ كَمَا سَيَأْتِي
كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي 3:230 المكتبة الشاملة
إذا طلق الرجل امرأته طلاقا بائنا أو رجعيا أو وقعت الفرقة بينهما بغير طلاق وهي حرة ممن تحيض فعدتها ثلاثة أقراء والأقراء: الحيض وإن كانت لا تحيض من صغر أو كبر فعدتها ثلاثة أشهر وإن كانت حاملا فعدتها أن تضع حملها
كتاب مختصر القدوري p169
[4]
وطلاق البدعة: إن يطلقها ثلاثا بكلمة واحدة أو ثلاثا في طهر واحد فإذا فعل ذلك وقع الطلاق وبانت منه وكان عاصيا
كتاب مختصر القدوري p154