Is It Permissible to Reconcile with My Husband After Three Divorces?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

My husband divorced me three times, but one was invalid. Later, he panicked due to mental health issues and divorced me again via text, thinking the previous divorce was valid. He regrets it now, but we’re unsure if it’s halal to reunite.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

I am sorry to hear about your situation. In the Hanafi School, uttering three divorces three times counts as three, whether in one go or at different times, like in your case. So, you are both forbidden for the other.

Can You Stay Together?

You cannot remain together with him unless you remarry someone else and consummate the marriage; it happens that you are separated again, and you both then agree to remarry. In such a case, the divorces allowed will return to zero under a new marriage contract.

[Maydani, Al-Lubab Fi Sharh al-Kitab; Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Given the considerations in such cases, we urge you to please consult reliable local scholars about the specifics of the situation and seek guidance for the future.

I pray to Allah Most High that He facilitates ease for you both and destines what is khayr for you, amin.

Related

• A Guide to Marriage: SeekersGuidance Reader – SeekersGuidance
• divorce Archives – SeekersGuidance
• Divorce in Anger Archives – SeekersGuidance
• A Little Fiqh on Controlling One’s Anger – SeekersGuidance
• What are the Wisdoms behind the Rulings on Divorce in Islam? – SeekersGuidance
• Mental Health

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I pray this helps with your question.

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat 

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening