I heard that a man can divorce only 3 women in his life. Is that true?
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa
Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
I
heard that a man can divorce only 3 women in his life. Is that true?
Answer:
How many women can one divoce
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is no one (no idol, no person, no
grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai,
nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah
Nisaa verse 3:
3 If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the
orphans, marry women of your choice two or three or four; but if ye fear
that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them) then only one, or
(a captive) that your right hands possess.
That will be more suitable to prevent you from doing injustice.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah
Maidah verse 5:
5 This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful
unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful
unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers but chaste
women among the People of the Book revealed before your time when ye give them
their due dowers and desire chastity, not lewdness nor secret
intrigues. If anyone rejects faith
fruitless is his work and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who
have lost (all spiritual good).
There is absolutely no cap or ceiling in
The absolute maximum times a couple (man or woman) can
seek divorce in one single marriage is twice.
If the couple in one marriage seek a divorce for the third time, that
divorce will be considered absolutely irrevocable and the same couple cannot
marry each other again unless and until the woman marries another husband and
her new husband, of his own free will divorces her, or dies.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verses 229-230:
229 A divorce is only permissible twice: after that the parties should either hold together on equitable
terms or separate with kindness. It is
not lawful for you (men) to take back any of your gifts (from your wives)
except when both parties fear that they would be unable to keep the limits
ordained by Allah. If ye (judges) do
indeed fear that they would be unable to keep the limits ordained by Allah
there is no blame on either of them if she give something for her freedom.
These are the limits ordained by Allah; so do not transgress them. If any do transgress the limits ordained by
Allah such persons wrong (themselves as well as others).
230 So if a husband divorces his wife (irrevocably for the third time)
he cannot after that remarry her until after she has married another husband
and he has divorced her. In that case
there is no blame on either of them if they reunite provided they feel that
they can keep the limits ordained by Allah.
Such are the limits ordained by Allah which He makes plain to those who
understand.
Thus in conclusion, there is absolutely no ceiling in
Islam on how many times a believing man (or woman) can marry or divorce in
their lifetimes. The ceiling prescribed
by Islam is in the maximum number of wives a husband can keep at any time
(four), and how many times a couple may pronounce revocable divorces in any one
single marriage (twice).
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and well wisher in
Islam,
Burhan
Wister