Sent wife a written divorce notice

Question

A person has sent a Talaaq notice with two witnesses to his wife through Post stating that she is repeatedly staying in her maternal house and not returning to his place even on called by him in person. She is having a child. He has stated in his notice that “on the day of …… (Notice date) in the presence of X and Y by pronouncing Talaaq, Talaaq, Talaaq, I hereby gave you Talaaq and there will not be any relation of husband - wife between us in future.”  

In the above circumstances, Talaaq is valid as per Shariah? If it is valid as per Shariah and if they want to live together, what is the procedure as per Shariah? 

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad , is His slave and Messenger.

If the matter is as mentioned in the question, that the husband wrote the word ‘divorce’ to his wife while pronouncing it, then divorce has taken effect. However, the scholars  differed in opinion whether three divorces in one session are considered as three divorces or just one divorce. The majority of scholars  hold the first opinion that it is three divorces if the husband did not intend with the second and third divorce to emphasize the first one. This is also our view here at Islamweb. However, Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Al-Qayyim  hold the second opinion that three divorces in one session is considered as one divorce and not three.

As regards to his saying to her, “…And there will not be any relation of husband-wife between us in the future,” if by this he intended to inform her about the divorce that he already mentioned, then there is nothing wrong with this. If he intended to make her forbidden for him forever, like the one who says to his wife, “As soon as you become lawful to me as a wife, I will again make you unlawful (divorce you),” the jurists  differed in opinion in relation to the statement of becoming unlawful, whether that is forever or is considered as one divorce unless he did not intend the repetition of the word divorce. Since there is a difference of opinion on this issue and there are many details to consider, it is more proper to take the case to an Islamic court as it is more appropriate for it to look into this matter. Moreover, both parties have to abide by the ruling of the judge, and his ruling repels any disputes in matters of Ijtihaad (a juristic opinion on matters which are not specified in the Quran or the Sunnah).

Finally, it should be noted that one has to be cautious about problems in marital life and be wise and patient when facing problems. So one should not hastily mention the word divorce or the like as in most cases one usually regrets the consequences.

Allah Knows best. -islamweb.net