| Can a Muslim man divorce his wife simply by repeating “I divorce you” three times? Yes. It is a controversial practice called the talaq_or “triple-_talaq.” Anytime a wife is not menstruating, a husband may divorce her by saying, “I divorce you, I divorce you, I divorce you,” effectively throwing her out on the street and leaving him free to obtain a new wife. |
| ### Quran Islamic law on this issue is based on the Hadith and a creative interpretation of verse 2:229. |
| ### Hadith and Sira Sahih Muslim (9:3493) - This is one of several hadith in which it is clear that Muhammad practiced the triple talaq and approved of his followers doing the same. |
| ### Notes Some Islamic scholars believe that it isn’t right to do this in one sitting. They say that there should be a period of time between the “three strikes.” Women’s rights groups in the Muslim world are waging an uphill battle to prevent governments from recognizing the triple talaq - with some success in the more moderate countries; however, it will always be honored by Islamic courts. Under Islamic law, once a marriage is consummated, a wife has no right to divorce her husband without his permission, even though she may be cast out at will for any reason. |
From the notebook