Fatwa ID: 08994
Answered by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Question:
I hope you are well. I need a clear Islamic ruling based strictly on the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah regarding my brother’s divorce situation.
Here are the exact events in order:
- First incident (around 3–4 years ago):
My brother verbally said “talaq” three times to his wife in one sitting. Later, they reconciled and continued living as husband and wife.
- Second incident (many months later):
He sent a single court notice containing three divorces written at once. This notice never reached his wife, but he intended to divorce her at that time.
He did not send a second or third separate notice afterward.
- After this, they lived separately for almost three years. He also paid the delayed mahr that was written in the nikah contract.
There was no further verbal or written talaq after that one court notice.
My questions:
- According to the strongest authentic view, does “three talaqs said at once” count as one divorce or three divorces?
- Based on the timeline above, how many valid divorces have actually occurred?
- Is halala required for them to remarry, or can they perform a new nikah since the total may only be two divorces?
- Does living separately for years or paying the delayed mahr affect the number of divorces?
We only want a ruling based on Qur’an, Sahih Hadith, and the opinion of scholars who follow authentic evidence.
JazakAllahu Khairan.
Waiting for your guidance.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
In light of the Glorious Quran, Sunnah, and consensus of the scholars, issuing three divorces in one sitting will account for three divorces even if he intended it to be one.
Under the verse where Allah ﷻ says:
ٱلطَّلَـٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَـٰنٍۢ ۗ
“Divorce may be retracted twice, then the husband must retain ˹his wife˺ with honour or separate ˹from her˺ with grace.”[229]
All the commentators on this verse explained that in pre-Islamic Arabia, there was no limit to the number of divorces a man could issue and the number of times he could revoke them. The above-quoted verse was then revealed to cancel such practice. The right of revocation has now been limited to two times, and with the issuing of the third divorce, no revocation would be possible, as Allah ﷻ says:
فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُۥ ۗ
“So if a husband divorces his wife for (the third time), then it is not lawful for him to remarry her until after she has married another man.”[2:230]
Based on what has been said, three divorces have taken place, and ‘halaala’ must happen for them to be reunited.[1]
Delayed dowry or separation does not affect the grounds for divorce; even if the separation lasts for years, a divorce will not be granted unless initiated by the husband.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Abdurrahman Persaud
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ رَجُلٍ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ – يَعْنِي ثَلاَثًا – فَتَزَوَّجَتْ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ فَدَخَلَ بِهَا ثُمَّ طَلَّقَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَهَا أَتَحِلُّ لِزَوْجِهَا الأَوَّلِ قَالَتْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” لاَ تَحِلُّ لِلأَوَّلِ حَتَّى تَذُوقَ عُسَيْلَةَ الآخَرِ وَيَذُوقَ عُسَيْلَتَهَا ”
Sunan Abi Dawud 2309
حدثنا يحيى أخبره عبد الرزاق أخبرنا ابن جريج قال أخبرني ابن شهاب عن الملاعنة وعن السنة فيها عن حديث سهل بن سعد أخي بني ساعدة أن رجلا من الأنصار جاء إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم فقال فقال يا رسول الله أرأيت رجلا وجد مع امرأته رجلا أيقتله أم كيف يفعل ؟ فأنزل الله في شأنه ما ذكر في القرآن من أمر المتلاعنين فقال النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم ( قد قضى الله فيك وفي امرأتك ) . قال فتلاعنا في المسجد وانا شاهد فلما فرغا قال كذبت عليها يا رسول الله إن أمسكتها فطلقها ثلاثا قبل أن يأمره رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم حين فرغا من التلاعن ففارقها عند النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم فكان ذلك تفريقا بين كل متلاعنين
و في سنن أبى داود – (ج 2 / ص 242) و سنن الدارقطني – (ج 3 / ص 275) و المعجم الكبير – (ج 6 / ص 117) مسند أبي عوانة – (ج 3 / ص 200) فطلقها ثلاث تطليقات عند رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فأنفذه رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وكان ما صنع عند النبى -صلى الله عليه وسلم- سنة.
عن أبى بكر بن أبى الجهم قال سمعت فاطمة بنت قيس تقول أرسل إلي زوجي أبو عمرو بن حفص بن المغيرة عياش بن أبى ربيعة بطلاقى وأرسل معه بخمسة آصع تمر وخمسة آصع شعير فقلت أما لى نفقة إلا هذا ولا أعتد فى منزلكم قال لا. قالت فشددت على ثيابى وأتيت رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فقال « كم طلقك ». قلت ثلاثا. قال « صدق ليس لك نفقة.».