What Happens When a Husband Gives Three Divorces at Once? Islamic Ruling Explained

The Correct Ruling on Giving Three Divorces at Once in Islam: Clarifying the Divorce Process

Question: A married woman is unhappy in her life. One day, the husband and wife were alone in a closed room with no witnesses, and they had an argument. The woman said, “Forgive me, leave me, have mercy on me,” etc. In response, the husband wrote down three divorces and verbally said, “I am giving you three divorces with full consciousness.” He recorded this for proof, but the husband’s family does not accept it and claims that the woman forced the divorce at gunpoint, so it is not valid. The woman’s family says that in some sects, three divorces are considered as one. What is the correct ruling on this matter?

Answer: When the husband, at the wife’s request, wrote and verbally gave three divorces at once, it will be considered as one revocable divorce (Talaq-e-Raj’i). This means that the three divorces will not be counted separately; only one divorce will take effect. In the case of a revocable divorce, the waiting period (Iddah) is three menstrual cycles. If the waiting period has not yet ended, the husband can reconcile with his wife. If he does not reconcile, then after the completion of the three menstrual cycles, the marriage will be dissolved.

As for the husband’s family’s claim that this was a forced divorce, it is incorrect. This does not appear to be a case of forced divorce; the wife merely requested a divorce, and the husband granted it. Therefore, there is no doubt about its validity. Regarding the issue of three divorces in one sitting, the correct ruling is that only one divorce takes effect. This is the decision based on the Quran and Hadith, and it is not specific to any particular sect.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi حفظه الله

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