Fatwa ID: 07608

 

 

Answered by: Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam

 

Question:

Me and my wife had a second divorce in August. Her iddah period will be ending during the end of this month but I am thinking of taking her back. I am not sure if she will want me to take her back.

If I take her back with two witnesses on the phone and tell her after, will this count? And then also tell her I have taken her back in front of 2 witnesses.

Does this count? Or do I have to take her back in front of her?

 

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

 

Answer:

 

Allah ﷻ says,

[Divorce may be retracted twice; the husband must then retain ˹his wife˺ with honour or separate ˹from her˺ with grace.] [Q 2:229]

 

With regards to understanding the second divorce, it has the same status as the first – both are revocable divorces provided the husband used clear (i.e. sarih) wording, and not unclear (i.e. Kinayah) wording. Unclear wording would give effect to irrevocable divorce and would require a renewal of nikah in both the first and second divorce. If you are uncertain, then you may send us exact details of the wordings used so that we may help to verify your position.

 

Note: When three divorces are executed (or one irrevocable divorce), then the allowance to retract the divorce in the time of the wife’s waiting period (iddah) would no longer remain. 

 

The allowance for the husband to revoke the divorce (make ruju’) is only given in cases where the husband has given one or two revocable divorces. There are two ways of executing ‘Ruju’:

 

• By action: For example, if the husband touches or kisses his wife with lust or has intercourse with her, the ruju’ has occurred.
• By words/statement: For example, the husband can say ‘I have made Ruju’ or ‘I have taken you back’ or ‘Let’s get back together’ or ‘I want to be with you’, etc. It is recommended to have two witnesses. However, it is still valid without witnesses and even if done in the absence of the wife.

 

If the waiting period is concluded and the husband says, ‘I have reconciled with her during the waiting period,’ and she confirms this, then it is considered a reconciliation. But if she denies it, then her statement is accepted, and she is not required to swear an oath according to Abu Hanifa.

 

 

Beware that you have exhausted the two talaqs and will only have one remaining:

 

[If a husband divorces his wife after the second divorce, she will not be lawful for him until she has taken another husband; if that one divorces her, there will be no blame if she and the first husband return to one another, provided they feel that they can keep within the bounds set by God. These are God’s bounds, which He makes clear for those who know.]   [Q 2:230]

 

According to these verses, after the third divorce, a wife is permanently and irrevocably divorced from her husband until she marries another man [and marriage is consummated with him]. Then he either divorces her or dies, only then can she return to her ex-husband. 

 

Considering the above, it would be advisable for you to take your wife back with honour as Allah ﷻ instructs us in the Quran. This will also most likely soften her feelings towards you. May Allah make it easy. 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

 

 

 

  ٱلطَّلَـٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَـٰنٍۢ ۗ

 

  والطلاق على ضربين: صريح وكناية فالصريح قوله: أنت طالق ومطلقه وطلقتك فهذا يقع به الطلاق الرجعي ولا يقع به إلا واحدة وإن نوى أكثر من ذلك ولا يفتقر إلى النية وقوله: أنت الطلاق أو أنت طالق الطلاق أو أنت طالق طلاقا فإن لم تكن له نية فهي واحدة رجعية وإن نوى به ثلاثا كان ثلاثا

والضرب الثاني: والكنايات ولا يقع بها الطلاق إلا بينة أو دلاله حال وهي على ضربين منها ثلاثة ألفاظ بها الطلاق الرجعي ولا يقع بها إلا واحدة وهي قوله: اعتدي واستبرئي رحمك وأنت واحدة

وبقيه الكنايات إذا نوى بها الطلاق كانت واحدة بائنة

ص155 – كتاب مختصر القدوري – كتاب الطلاق – المكتبة الشاملة

 

 

إذا طلق الرجل امرأته تطليقة رجعية أو تطليقتين فله أن يراجعها في عدتها رضيت بذلك أو لم ترض والرجعة أن يقول: راجعتك أو راجعت امرأتي أو يطأها أو يقبلها أو يلمسها شهوة أو ينظر إلى فرجها بشهوة ويستحب أن يشهد على الرجعة شاهدين فإن لم يشهد صحت الرجعة

وإذا انقضت العدة فقال: قد كنت راجعتها في العدة فصدقته فهي رجعة وإن كذبته فالقول قولها ولا يمين عليها عند أبي حنيفة

ص159 – كتاب مختصر القدوري – باب الرجعة – المكتبة الشاملة

 

 

 

 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