One might ask: Why do you not say that, once the divorce takes effect upon her at the first moment, it is then true that he has divorced her, and thus the other two divorces do not take effect upon her?

The answer is that the apparent meaning of his words, “Whenever I do not divorce you,” is: whenever I do not pronounce a divorce upon you. It is well known that the meaning conveyed by one’s words is intended.

His statement, “A wife whose marriage has not been consummated is irrevocably separated by the first divorce,” is because, if such a wife is divorced once, she becomes irrevocably separated, and a second divorce does not take effect upon her, since she has no waiting period. Thus, if a man says to a wife whose marriage he has not consummated, “You are divorced,” then immediately says, “You are divorced,” the second divorce does not take effect, because she became irrevocably separated from him by the first, and no further divorce can take effect upon her.

His statement, “If you stand and then sit, or [if you stand] then sit, or if you sit when you stand, or if you sit if you stand, then you are divorced: she is not divorced until she stands, then sits”—comprises several cases:

The first: he says, “If you stand and then sit, you are divorced.” She is not divorced until she stands and sits. The particle faʾ indicates sequence in immediate succession; thus, if she sits and then stands, she is not divorced.

The second: he says, “If you stand, then sit.” Likewise, she is not divorced until she stands and then sits. However, thumma indicates sequence with an interval, as Ibn Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

“The particle faʾ indicates ordered sequence in immediate succession;
whereas thumma indicates ordered sequence with an interval.”

The third: he says, “If you sit when you stand.” She is divorced if she stands and then