Allah says: divorce is twice, then either keep her with kindness or release her with good treatment (2:229). Divorce is allowed but disliked, and a last resort. It should be given once, in a state of purity, without intercourse in that period, and then the waiting period (iddah) follows (65:1). A woman may also seek a khul', as the wife of Thabit ibn Qays did in the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
1The way of the Sunnah
A single divorce in a period of purity, without intercourse, then waiting until the end of the iddah.
During the iddah the husband may take her back, and the wife stays in the home (65:1).
After the iddah ends the divorce is final, and they can marry again by a new contract.
A third divorce makes her unlawful for him until she marries another man in a real marriage (2:230).
2The waiting period (iddah)
Three periods for a woman who still has her cycle (2:228).
Three months for those who no longer menstruate or have not yet begun (65:4).
Until delivery for a pregnant woman.
Four months and ten days for a widow (2:234).
3Khul'
When the wife dislikes the marriage and fears she cannot fulfil her duties, she may return what she was given and the marriage is ended.
The Prophet ﷺ told Thabit ibn Qays to accept the garden and divorce her. It ends the marriage with one divorce.
Where the schools differ
The four Sunni schools agree on the main ruling above and differ in these points. No school is preferred here.
Three divorces in one word. the majority of the schools count them as three, and some scholars (like Ibn Taymiyyah) hold it counts as one. Ask a scholar.
Khul'. the Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi'i schools count it as a final divorce. The Hanbali school, in the well-known narration, treats it as an annulment (faskh) and not a divorce, with a waiting period of one cycle.
Note
Divorce has important legal effects. Ask a qualified scholar and follow the law of your country for the legal side.
Talak (yang dapat dirujuki) dua kali. Setelah itu boleh rujuk lagi dengan cara yang ma'ruf atau menceraikan dengan cara yang baik. Tidak halal bagi kamu mengambil kembali sesuatu dari yang telah kamu berikan kepada mereka, kecuali kalau keduanya khawatir tidak akan dapat menjalankan hukum-hukum Allah. Jika kamu khawatir bahwa keduanya (suami isteri) tidak dapat menjalankan hukum-hukum Allah, maka tidak ada dosa atas keduanya tentang bayaran yang diberikan oleh isteri untuk menebus dirinya. Itulah hukum-hukum Allah, maka janganlah kamu melanggarnya. Barangsiapa yang melanggar hukum-hukum Allah mereka itulah orang-orang yang zalim.
Hai Nabi, apabila kamu menceraikan isteri-isterimu maka hendaklah kamu ceraikan mereka pada waktu mereka dapat (menghadapi) iddahnya (yang wajar) dan hitunglah waktu iddah itu serta bertakwalah kepada Allah Tuhanmu. Janganlah kamu keluarkan mereka dari rumah mereka dan janganlah mereka (diizinkan) ke luar kecuali mereka mengerjakan perbuatan keji yang terang. Itulah hukum-hukum Allah dan barangsiapa yang melanggar hukum-hukum Allah, maka sesungguhnya dia telah berbuat zalim terhadap dirinya sendiri. Kamu tidak mengetahui barangkali Allah mengadakan sesudah itu sesuatu hal yang baru.
Wanita-wanita yang ditalak handaklah menahan diri (menunggu) tiga kali quru'. Tidak boleh mereka menyembunyikan apa yang diciptakan Allah dalam rahimnya, jika mereka beriman kepada Allah dan hari akhirat. Dan suami-suaminya berhak merujukinya dalam masa menanti itu, jika mereka (para suami) menghendaki ishlah. Dan para wanita mempunyai hak yang seimbang dengan kewajibannya menurut cara yang ma'ruf. Akan tetapi para suami, mempunyai satu tingkatan kelebihan daripada isterinya. Dan Allah Maha Perkasa lagi Maha Bijaksana.
From the Sunnah
Sahih al-Bukhari 5273Authentic collection
The point of the hadith: The wife of Thabit ibn Qays came to the Prophet ﷺ because she disliked staying married. He had her return the garden she was given, and told Thabit to accept it and divorce her.
Read the Arabic text
حَدَّثَنَا أَزْهَرُ بْنُ جَمِيلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ،. أَنَّ امْرَأَةَ، ثَابِتِ بْنِ قَيْسٍ أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ مَا أَعْتُبُ عَلَيْهِ فِي خُلُقٍ وَلاَ دِينٍ، وَلَكِنِّي أَكْرَهُ الْكُفْرَ فِي الإِسْلاَمِ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَتَرُدِّينَ عَلَيْهِ حَدِيقَتَهُ ". قَالَتْ نَعَمْ. قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اقْبَلِ الْحَدِيقَةَ وَطَلِّقْهَا تَطْلِيقَةً ". قَالَ أَبُو عَبْد اللَّهِ لَا يُتَابَعُ فِيهِ عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ
This is general information, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.
Fiqh questions
Divorce and khul'
Allah says: divorce is twice, then either keep her with kindness or release her with good treatment (2:229). Divorce is allowed but disliked, and a last resort. It should be given once, in a state of purity, without intercourse in that period, and then the waiting period (iddah) follows (65:1). A woman may also seek a khul', as the wife of Thabit ibn Qays did in the time of the Prophet ﷺ.
Is this a fatwa?
No. It is a summary of well-known rulings with their evidence. For your own case, ask a qualified scholar.
What if my school differs from this answer?
Follow the view of the school you follow and the scholar who teaches you. The page lists the differences of the four schools.
