that the divorce takes effect as three pronouncements if he intends three; if he intends one, then it is one; and if he intends nothing, then it is one. If he says, “You are divorced three times,” then says, “I intended one,” he is not believed, because he has used an explicit numerical expression. Likewise, if he says, “You are divorced once,” then says, “I intended three,” he is not believed, because he has used an explicit numerical expression. Intention does not alter an explicit expression; rather, it is only considered where the wording is open to more than one meaning. As for what is explicit, it is not.

His statement, “It takes effect as three by intending it; otherwise, one”: the stronger view in all these cases is that there is never a triple divorce, unless a revocation or a new marriage contract intervenes between them. Otherwise, three divorces do not take effect. This was the view chosen by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, and it is correct.

Three divorces take effect if he says, “the entirety of divorce,” “most of divorce,” “as many as the pebbles,” “as many as the winds,” or the like, even if he intends one. If he divorces an organ, an undivided share, a specified part, or an unspecified part, or says, “half a divorce,” or “part of a divorce,” she is divorced. The opposite applies to the spirit, tooth, hair, nail, and the like. .............................

His statement, “Three take effect by saying ‘the entirety of divorce,’ ‘most of it,’ ‘as many as the pebbles,’ ‘as many as the winds,’ or the like, even if he intends one”: this is because he has used explicit wording, and his intention cannot be accommodated by the wording.

“Entirety” denotes comprehensiveness, and thus includes all three divorces. Similarly, if he says, “You are divorced by the most of divorce,” it carries the same ruling.

If he says, “You are divorced as many times as the pebbles,” three divorces take effect, because no one can count the pebbles except Allah, Exalted is He.

His statement, “or the winds,” means: as many as the winds. If he means the categories of winds, they are four in abbreviated reckoning and eight in full reckoning. In abbreviated reckoning, they are east, west, north, and south; in full reckoning, the intermediate directions between them are included. But if he means the blowing of the winds, they are beyond count.

His statement, “or the like,” includes such expressions as: “as many as the stars,” “as many as the days”