Fatwa No : 90070
Ruling on Triple Divorce Pronounced in Anger

Ruling on Triple Divorce Pronounced in Anger

What do the respected scholars say regarding the following issue: I uttered the words of divorce to my wife three times in a state of anger, saying: “I divorce you.” Now it is to be determined how many divorces have taken effect, and what is the ruling for us going forward. If the husband and wife wish to reconcile and continue their marital life, what is the Shariʿah-compliant method for doing so?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the stated situation, when the questioner uttered the words “I give you divorce” three times to his wife in a state of anger, all three divorces took effect, as a result of which irrevocable and severe prohibition (hurmat-e-mughallazah) has been established between them. Consequently, ruju (revocation) is not possible, nor can they remarry each other without a valid Halalah Shariyyah. Therefore, it is obligatory upon both of them to separate from one another immediately, and it is strictly prohibited for them to maintain any marital relationship. If they do so, both will be severely sinful. Furthermore, after the woman completes her ʿiddah (waiting period), she will be free to contract marriage with another person if she so wishes.
And Halalah Shariyyah is that, after separation from her first husband and completion of the ʿiddah of divorce, the woman contracts a marriage with another Muslim man without any prior condition. If the second husband, after at least one instance of marital relations (which is essential for the realization of halalah), divorces her—whether immediately thereafter or after some time of marital life—or if he passes away, then in any case, after completing the ʿiddah, if she wishes to return to her first husband and the first husband is also willing to take her back, they may remarry with a new dower (mahr) in the presence of witnesses and thereafter live together as husband and wife.
However, arranging halalah with a prior condition that the second husband will divorce her so that she becomes lawful again for the first husband is makruh (severely disliked), and there are stern warnings in the blessed Hadith against such a practice. Nonetheless, halalah carried out without any such condition is unquestionably valid and permissible.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی الفتاوى الهندية: و إن كان الطلاق ثلاثا فی الحرة و ثنتين فی الأمة لم تحل له حتى تنكح زوجا غيره نكاحا صحيحا و يدخل بها ثم يطلقها أو يموت عنها كذا فی الهداية ولا فرق فی ذلك بين كون المطلقة مدخولا بها أو غير مدخول بها كذا فی فتح القدير و يشترط أن يكون الإيلاج موجبا للغسل و هو التقاء الختانين هكذا في العيني شرح الكنز. أما الإنزال فليس بشرط للإحلال(1/ 473)۔
وفی الھندیۃ: وإذا قال لامرأته أنت طالق وطالق وطالق ولم يعلقه بالشرط إن كانت مدخولة طلقت ثلاثا وإن كانت غير مدخولة طلقت واحدة وكذا إذا قال أنت طالق فطالق فطالق أو ثم طالق ثم طالق أو طالق طالق كذا في السراج الوهاج اھ(الفصل الاول فی الطلاق الصریح ج1 ص355 ط:ماجدیہ)۔