Question
Reference number: 289225 | Family and Marriage Issues | Aug. 17, 2026
What is the ruling on pronouncing divorce three times in one sitting?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, his Companions, and those who follow him. To proceed:
The majority of scholars hold that pronouncing divorce three times in a single statement, or pronouncing it three times in one sitting, counts as three divorces. However, Ibn Taymiyyah and a group of other scholars held that pronouncing divorce three times in a single statement counts as only one divorce. They base their view on the hadith of Rukānah, narrated by Ahmad and Abu Dawud, in which Rukānah asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, about his having divorced his wife three times. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It is one,” meaning one divorce.
This opinion is more appropriate for preserving the stability of families and protecting them from breakdown, while also taking into consideration situations in which men become angry. In a state of anger, a man may repeat the word of divorce several times without actually intending more than one divorce. This ruling gives the spouses an opportunity to reconcile and preserve their family and children.
