Is It Sinful to Divorce More than Once at a Time?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

If a man issues three divorces in one sitting, this is considered a sin, but what if a man gives two divorces in one sitting and a third divorce after one month of purity? Will this be a sin?

Answer

I pray you are well.

Yes, just like with giving three divorces at once, issuing two divorces at any point between two mensural cycles (tuhr) is a bid‘a and sinful. This is the same if they are given at once or even if they are separated by a few days.

The same applies to a man divorcing his wife whilst she is menstruating and after he has slept with her in a tuhr. [Maydani, al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab] The third divorce, if given in the following month, will not be sinful.

However, one divorce, given during a tuhr in which the husband has not slept with the wife, is sufficient. There is no need for anything beyond that. The Quran actively encourages good interaction and generosity from both parties during a divorce. This is not likely to happen when there have been multiple divorces as with the situations above.

May Allah facilitate following His guidance for us.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital, and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.