Fatwa No : 97165
The ruling on living together after three divorces.

The ruling on living together after three divorces.

What do the respected scholars say regarding the following issue?
Approximately twelve or thirteen years ago, I divorced my wife by saying to her three times, "You are divorced from me." However, afterward, on the advice of our elders, we were told to keep the matter concealed, and we continued living together as husband and wife. During that time, we also had children.
Later, we separated, and for the past approximately seven years, we have been living apart.
We now wish to reunite and re-establish our family. What is the proper Islamic procedure for doing so, considering that my former wife has not remarried during this time?
Kindly provide the Islamic ruling on this matter in writing.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the case described, when the questioner divorced his wife with three divorces approximately twelve or thirteen years ago, she immediately became unlawful (haram) for him according to this ruling, and it became obligatory for him to separate from her at that time.
Despite this, merely on the advice of their elders, they continued living together as husband and wife after the divorce. As a result, both the husband and wife, as well as the elders who advised them to do so, committed a grave sin. Therefore, it is obligatory upon both spouses and their elders to sincerely repent and seek Allah's forgiveness. It is hoped that, through sincere repentance, Allah Almighty will pardon them from accountability in the Hereafter.
Since the three divorces established a final and irrevocable separation (major irrevocable divorce), the questioner and his divorced wife cannot remarry each other unless the conditions of a valid Shar'i halalah is first been fulfilled.
Therefore, it is obligatory upon the questioner to refrain from establishing marital relations with his divorced wife unless a valid Shar'i halalah has taken place.
A valid Shar'i halalah means that after separating from her first husband and completing her waiting period (iddah), the woman marries another Muslim man without any prior condition or agreement. The marriage must be genuine, and the marital rights, including consummation of the marriage, must be fulfilled. By doing so, she becomes the lawful wife of the second husband.
If the second husband subsequently divorces her—whether shortly after consummation (which is necessary for the validity of Shar'i halalah according to this ruling) or after they have lived together as husband and wife for some time—or if the second husband dies, then after she completes the required iddah, she may remarry her first husband if both wish to do so. This remarriage must take place through a new marriage contract (nikah), in the presence of witnesses, and with the agreement upon a new mahr (dower).
However, arranging or stipulating a marriage with the second husband on the condition that he will divorce the woman so that she may become lawful for the first husband is Makruh Tahrimi (prohibitively disliked) according to this ruling. The Prophetic traditions (ahadith) condemn such people and describe them as cursed. On the other hand, if no such condition or prior arrangement exists, then a Shar'i halalah that occurs naturally is regarded as valid and permissible.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی رد المختار تحت: (قوله: وإذا وطئت المعتدة) أي من طلاق، أو غيره هو منتقى،...وكذا بدونه إذا قال ظننت أنها تحل لي، أو بعدما أبانها بألفاظ الكناية، وتمامه في الفتح، ومفاده أنه لو وطئها بعد الثلاث في العدة بلا نكاح عالما بحرمتها لا تجب عدة أخرى لأنه زنا۔اھ(مطلب في وطء المعتدة بشبهة،ج:3،ص:518،ط:سعید)
و فیہ ایضاً: وفي شرح الأشباه للبيري عن الجوهر: رجل شرب الخمر وزنى ثم تاب ولم يحد في الدنيا هل يحد له في الآخرة؟ قال: الحدود حقوق الله تعالى إلا أنه تعلق بها حق الناس وهو الانزجار، فإذا تاب توبة نصوحا أرجو أن لا يحد في الآخرة فإنه لا يكون أكثر من الكفر والردة وإنه يزول بالإسلام والتوبة۔اھ(کتاب الحدود،ج:4،ص:4،ط:سعید)
و فی الھندیۃ: وإذا قال لإمرأتہ أنت طالق و طالق و طالق و لم یعلقہ بالشرط إن کانت مدخولۃ طلقت ثلاثاً و إن کانت غیر مدخولۃ طلقت واحدۃ و کذا إذا قال أنت طالق فطالق فطالق أو ثم طالق ثم طالق أو طالق طالق اھ۔( الباب الثانی فی ایقاع الطلاق ،ج :۱،ص :۳۵۵ ،ط: ماجدیہ)
و في البدائع: (ولنا) الكتاب والسنة والمعقول أما الكتاب فقوله تعالى: {الطلاق مرتان} [البقرة: 229] إلى قوله عز وجل: {فإن طلقها فلا تحل له من بعد حتى تنكح زوجا غيره} [البقرة: 230] والنص ورد في الحرة أخبر الله تعالى أن حل الحرة يزول بالثلاث من غير فصل۔اھ(فصل فی بیان قدر الطلاق وعددہ،ج:3،ص:97،ط:سعید)