Fatwa No : 94481

A husband divorced his wife using the words: 'I give you divorce, divorce, divorce' in a single statement. At that time, the wife was expecting a child and was due to become a mother. Approximately six months later, she gave birth to a daughter.
In the above situation:
1. Has the divorce taken effect?
2. If it has taken effect, what is the ruling if the husband and wife now wish to live together again?
3. Please provide Islamic guidance regarding all relevant aspects, including:

* the waiting period (iddah),
* (halala) if applicable,
* remarriage (nikah),
and any other related rulings.

Kindly explain the Shariah ruling in detail."

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the situation described, when the husband said to his wife, 'I give you divorce, divorce, divorce,' he issued three divorces. As a result, all three divorces have taken effect, and a major irrevocable separation (ṭalāq mughallaẓah) has been established between them.
Therefore, he can no longer revoke the divorce, nor can they remarry each other without a valid "Shar‘i halala". It is obligatory upon both of them to separate from one another immediately and not maintain marital relations under any circumstances. Otherwise, both would be committing a grave sin. After the completion of her iddah (waiting period), the woman is free to marry another person.
A valid "Shar‘i halala" is as follows: After separating from her first husband and completing her iddah from the divorce, the woman marries another Muslim man without any precondition and enters into a genuine marital relationship with him, including the fulfillment of marital rights. If the second husband later divorces her—whether immediately after consummation (which is necessary for the realization of Shar‘i halala) or after some period of married life—or if the second husband dies, then after completing the required iddah, she may remarry her first husband if both parties wish to do so. In that case, a new marriage contract must be performed in the presence of witnesses and with a newly agreed dower (mahr), after which they may live together as husband and wife again.
However, arranging a halala with the condition or prior agreement that the second husband will divorce the woman so that she becomes lawful again for the first husband is makruh tahrimi (prohibitively disliked). The blessed hadiths describe those who engage in such a practice as being cursed. On the other hand, if no such condition or prior arrangement exists, then the process is valid and permissible according to Shariah.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما قال الله تعالى: {فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِنْ بَعْدُ حَتَّى تَنْكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ } [البقرة:٢٣٠]
وفي تفسير المظهرى: وقوله تعالى فَإِنْ طَلَّقَها فَلا تَحِلُّ له من بعد لان قوله تعالى الطلاق على هذا التأويل يشتمل الطلقات الثلاث أيضا وعلى كلا التأويلين يظهران جمع الطلقتين او ثلاث تطليقات بلفظ واحد أو بألفاظ مختلفة فى طهر واحدحرام بدعة مؤثم خلافا للشافعى فانه يقول لا بأس به- لكنهم أجمعوا على انه من قال لامراته أنت طالق ثلاثا يقع ثلاثا بالإجماع اھ(سورة البقرة:٢٣٠،ج:١،ص:٣٣٤،ط:التراث)
و فی الہندیہ:رجل ‌قال ‌لامرأته ‌أنت ‌طالق أنت طالق أنت طالق فقال عنيت بالأولى الطلاق وبالثانية والثالثة إفهامها صدق ديانة وفي القضاء طلقت ثلاثا كذا في فتاوى قاضي خان اھ(الفصل الأول في الطلاق الصريح،ج:١،ص:٣٥٦،مط:ماجديه)
وفيها ايضاََ: 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 الأول في الطلاق الصريح،ج:١،ص:٣٥٦،مط:ماجديه)
وفيها ايضاً : إذا كان الطلاق بائنا دون الثلاث فله أن يتزوجها في العدة وبعد انقضائها وإن كان الطلاق ثلاثا في الحرة وثنتين في الأمة لم تحل له حتى تنكح زوجا غيره نكاحا صحيحا ويدخل بها ثم يطلقها أو يموت عنها كذا في الهداية ولا فرق في ذلك بين كون المطلقة مدخولا بها أو غير مدخول بها كذا في فتح القدير اھ(فصل فيما تحل به المطلقة وما يتصل به،ج:١،ص:٤٧٣،ط:ماجدية)