The consequences of divorce

Since divorce is a separation from a wife, there are several rulings that follow this separation:

1) 'Iddah (waiting period) becomes compulsory upon her if the husband has had intercourse or being in private with her. But, if he divorced her before having intercourse or being in private with her, then there is no Iddah upon her because of the statement of Allaah the Exalted:

{O you who believe! When you marry believing women, and then divorce them before you have sexual intercourse with them, no 'Iddah have you to count in respect of them...} (Soorah al-Ahzaab, Aayah 49).

'Iddah is the (waiting for a) period of 3 menstrual cycles, or 3 months if she does not have monthly periods, or until delivery if she is pregnant.

2) The wife becomes forbidden for the husband if he had previously divorced her twice: This means that if her husband divorces her and then revokes it within the iddah or remarries her after the 'iddah, and then divorces her again and revokes it within the 'iddah or remarries her after the 'iddah, and then divorces her for the third time, then she becomes forbidden to him after that till she marries another husband, a valid marriage, and he has sexual intercourse with her after the marriage, and then he loses interest in her and divorces her. Only after that will it be permissible for the first husband to remarry her, because of the saying of Allaah the Exalted:

{(Revokable) Divorce is twice, after that, either you retain her on reasonable terms or release her with kindness... And if he has divorced her] meaning for the third time, [then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she has married another husband. Then, if the other husband divorces her] that is the second husband [it is no sin on both of them] meaning the first husband and his divorcee, [that they reunite, provided they feel that they can keep the limits ordained by Allaah. These are the limits of Allaah, which He makes plain for the people who have knowledge.} (Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 229-230).

And Allaah did not forbid remarriage with a woman who was divorced a third time till after she has married another person, except because people at the beginning of the mission of Islaam used to divorce and revoke it as many times as they wish; then, a man became angry with his wife and said to her: I swear by Allaah I will never bring you back to my care (as a wife) nor will I separate from you. So, she mentioned that to the Prophet (sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam), hence Allaah revealed:

{Divorce is only twice, then either you hold on to them in kindness or separate from them in a just and equitable manner} (Soorah al-Baqarah, Aayah 229), and limited the permissible number of divorces to three, out of mercy for the women against their husbands.

Dear brothers, I believe we may have mentioned many aspects of the rulings concerning marriage, trying our best to see that it is in a manner that is suitable, neither too long and boring, nor too short and deficient. I therefore ask Allaah to make if beneficial, and to make the work purely for His sake, in accordance with His Pleasure, and to produce a generation from this Ummah that is knowledgeable about the rulings of Allaah, observant of His limits, performing what He has commanded, and guiding servants of Allaah.

O Allaah! Do not deviate our hearts after You have guided us! And bestow a mercy upon us from You! Most certainly You are al-Wahhab (the One Who Bestows).

O Allaah! Give us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of Hell! May the salat and salam be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.