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 Shariah Law on the number of times a believing man (or woman) can marry in their lifetimes; neither is there a cap or ceiling on the number of times a believing man (or woman) can seek divorces.  It is not permissible in Islam for a believing woman to have more than one husband at any one time, and it is not permissible for a believing man to have more than four wives at any one time.

 

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

 

 
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