Does Divorce Take Effect if the Husband Divorces His Second Wife in Front of Others?

Has the Divorce Taken Effect? Understanding Revocable Divorce (Talaq Raj’i) in Islam

Question: My friend’s husband married their maid as his second wife. His first marriage was an exchange marriage ( Satta Watta). Her brother threatened that if he did not divorce the second wife, he would divorce his sister. The husband then divorced the second wife in front of everyone, but it seems he is still in contact with her. The question is, has the divorce taken effect?

Answer: When the husband divorced his second wife in front of everyone, the divorce is considered valid and has taken effect without any doubt. However, this is the first divorce, known as a revocable divorce (Talaq Raj’i). If the husband reconciles with her during the waiting period (Iddah), she remains his wife. If he does not reconcile, the marital relationship ends after three menstrual cycles. 

Once the marital relationship ends, it is not permissible for the man to maintain contact, engage in unnecessary conversation, or treat her as his wife.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (may Allah preserve him)

❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫