Fatwa ID: 08777
Answered by: Maulana Nuski Cassim
Question:
I have given my wife 3 divorce in separate occasions. Once it was verbal and I revoked, second time was on messages and 3rd was verbal too. Although I recollect what I said and was able to comprehend the words what came out of my mouth.
I felt guilty as I did this only because I fell in love with another woman and I wanted to divorce my wife and marry the woman whom I love. However I took her back after doing Tawba. At first when my wife approached me I said divorce has been done and nothing can’t be done, she said we can if I spoke to an imam. I took advice over phone from an imam that if I said in anger then the divorce will not be valid.
So I went off with that although I wasn’t extremely angry that required anger management. I did not make this clear with the imam either.
I have since taken my wife back and also married the woman who I was in love with. Both my wives don’t know if each other until 3 weeks ago. I have asked them to co-wife but my second wife is insisting that the marriage with my first wife is now invalid and I am living in haram.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Regarding the ruling of three divorces, Allah ﷻ mentions the following:
فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعۡدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوۡجًا غَيۡرَهُۥۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَآ أَن يَتَرَاجَعَآ إِن ظَنَّآ أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَتِلۡكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوۡمٖ يَعۡلَمُونَ
“And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him. And if the latter husband divorces her [or dies], there is no blame upon the woman and her former husband for returning to each other if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allah. These are the limits of Allah, which He makes clear to a people who know.” – [سورة البقرة، رقم الآية: ٢٣٠]
Once three pronouncements of talaq [to a single wife] have been issued—whether in calmness or anger–one is not able to take back their spouse nor can they remarry them.[1]
If one is desirous to remarry, then the only method whereby a person would be able to do is through the process of halalah explained in the ayah above.
Taubah does not do away with the ruling taking place—the impermissibility of getting back together [without halalah] is effective.
ثَلاَثٌ جِدُّهُنَّ جِدٌّ وَهَزْلُهُنَّ جِدٌّ النِّكَاحُ وَالطَّلاَقُ وَالرَّجْعَةُ
The Prophet ﷺ said, “There are three things which, whether done seriously or in jest, are treated as serious: marriage, divorce and taking back a wife (after a divorce which is not final).” –[سنن أبي داود، رقم الحديث: ٢١٩٤]
Thus, in summary, your second wife is correct in that your marriage to your first wife is invalid and that living with her is haram.
References:
1.
ولنا الكتاب والسنة والمعقول أما الكتاب فقوله تعالى: ﴿الطلاق مرتان﴾ [البقرة: ٢٢٩] إلى قوله: ﴿فإن طلقها فلا تحل له من بعد حتى تنكح زوجا غيره﴾ [البقرة: ٢٣٠] والنص ورد في الحرة أخبر الله تعالى أن حل الحرة يزول بالثلاث من غير فصل بين ما إذا كانت تحت حر أو تحت عبد فيجب العمل بإطلاقه،
[بدائع الصنائع، ج. ٣، صفحة ٩٧، مكتبة الشاملة]
وحدثنا عبد الباقي بن قانع قال: حدثنا مطير قال: حدثنا حسين بن يوسف التميمي قال: حدثنا محمد بن مروان عن عطاء بن عجلان عن عكرمة عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “كل طلاق جائز إلا طلاق المعتوه المغلوب على عقله
[شرح مختصر الطحاوي، ج.٥، صفحة ٧، دار البشائر الاسلامية]
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
