(#198)
Question
Dear Sir, I hope this email finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to seek your guidance and clarification on a matter that has been causing distress and confusion in my life. Firstly, I would like to provide you with some background information. I have been married for 18 years, and unfortunately, since last year, my wife has been experiencing mental health issues. We were both born in Saudi Arabia, and our nikkah (Islamic marriage contract) took place in Saudi Arabia as well. Recently, due to the prevailing circumstances, I found myself in a situation where I felt compelled to express my intention to divorce my wife. As per my understanding of the local law, the phrase “I divorce you” repeated three times, whether spoken or sent via voice message on WhatsApp, constitutes a single revocable divorce. Therefore, I sent her a voice message stating “I divorce you” three times, with the intention of issuing one revocable divorce. However, I have been informed by my wife’s father that they follow the Hanafi fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) which considers this act as an irrevocable divorce, effectively ending our marriage. This has left me deeply concerned and seeking clarification on the matter. I humbly request your guidance and expertise in helping me understand the correct interpretation of the Hanafi fiqh regarding divorce. I would greatly appreciate it if you could shed light on whether my understanding of the revocable divorce aligns with the Hanafi school of thought or if there are any additional factors that need to be considered. Furthermore, I kindly request your advice on any possible steps I can take to rectify this situation, if indeed the divorce is deemed irrevocable according to the Hanafi fiqh. I apologize for any inconvenience caused by my lack of knowledge in this matter, and I sincerely hope that you can provide me with the necessary guidance to navigate through this challenging situation. Thank you very much for your time and attention. I eagerly await your response and remain hopeful for a resolution that aligns with the teachings of Islam. Yours sincerely.
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
حامدا و مصليا و مسلما
Muhtaram
We have received your query regarding three divorces, our response is as follows:
After issuing three divorces, it will not be permissible for the husband to remarry his wife until she goes through the process known as Halalah. This entails that after completing her Iddat of Talaaq from the first husband, she marries another person and consummates the marriage. Only after the second husband gives her Talaaq or passes away and her Iddat expires, will it be permissible for her to remarry the first husband. The above process of Halalah should not be planned from beforehand.[1]
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Answered by:
Muhammad Irshad Motara
28th Rajab 1445
9th February 2024
[1] فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِنْ بَعْدُ حَتَّى تَنْكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا أَنْ يَتَرَاجَعَا إِنْ ظَنَّا أَنْ يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللَّهِ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
(٢٣٠) سورة بقرة
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عُفَيْرٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُقَيْلٌ عَنْ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ أَخْبَرَتْهُ
أَنَّ امْرَأَةَ رِفَاعَةَ الْقُرَظِيِّ جَاءَتْ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ رِفَاعَةَ طَلَّقَنِي فَبَتَّ طَلَاقِي وَإِنِّي نَكَحْتُ بَعْدَهُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ الْقُرَظِيَّ وَإِنَّمَا مَعَهُ مِثْلُ الْهُدْبَةِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَعَلَّكِ تُرِيدِينَ أَنْ تَرْجِعِي إِلَى رِفَاعَةَ لَا حَتَّى يَذُوقَ عُسَيْلَتَكِ وَتَذُوقِي عُسَيْلَتَهُ
بخاري في باب من اجاز طلاق الثلاث
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي عَنْ عَائِشَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ح حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا
أَنَّ رِفَاعَةَ الْقُرَظِيَّ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً ثُمَّ طَلَّقَهَا فَتَزَوَّجَتْ آخَرَ فَأَتَتْ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَذَكَرَتْ لَهُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَأْتِيهَا وَأَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ إِلَّا مِثْلُ هُدْبَةٍ فَقَالَ لَا حَتَّى تَذُوقِي عُسَيْلَتَهُ وَيَذُوقَ عُسَيْلَتَكِ
بخاري في باب إذا طلقها ثلاثا ثم تزوجت بعد العدة زوجا غيره فلم يمسها
حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ دِينَارٍ حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى بْنُ يَزِيدَ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ كَانَتْ تَحْتَهُ امْرَأَةٌ فَطَلَّقَهَا ثَلَاثًا فَتَزَوَّجَتْ بَعْدَهُ رَجُلًا فَطَلَّقَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بِهَا أَتَحِلُّ لِزَوْجِهَا الْأَوَّلِ قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا حَتَّى يَكُونَ الْآخَرُ قَدْ ذَاقَ مِنْ عُسَيْلَتِهَا وَذَاقَتْ مِنْ عُسَيْلَتِه. مسند احمد في مسند انس رضي الله عنه
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنِي إِسْمَعِيلُ عَنْ عَامِرٍ عَنْ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ إِسْمَعِيلُ وَأُرَاهُ قَدْ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ الْمُحَلِّلَ وَالْمُحَلَّلَ لَهُ
سنن ابو داود في باب المحلل
بداية المجتهد و نهاية المقتصد – ج ٢ – ص ٦١ – ٥٨
كتاب الام – ج ٥ – ص ٧١
الحاوى الكبير – ج ١١ – ص ٤٥٥
المغني لابن قدامه – ج ٦ – ص ٦٤٦ – ج ٧ – ص ١٠٢
مجموع الفتوي لابن تيمية – ج ٣٢ – ص ٩٢
خلاصة الفتوي – ج ٢ – ص ١٢١
الفتاوي الهندية – ج ١ – ص ٤٧٤ – ٤٧٥
فتاوي التاتارخانية – ج ٣ – ص ٦٠٦
فتاوى محموديه – ج ١٣ – ص ٤٧٤ – ٤٨٠
كتاب الفقه على المذهب الأربعة ( عبد الرحمن الجزيرى) – ج ٤ – ص ٦٣ – ٦٧
Above footnotes have been taken from Darul Ifta Azaadville Archives.
