And the Prophet’s words (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), “In a single sitting,” imply that, had the pronouncements not occurred in a single sitting, the ruling would not have been the same. For if they had occurred in separate sittings, he might ordinarily have taken her back between them, since she was living with him; and a divorce pronounced after taking one’s wife back takes effect. An implication, however, does not apply universally to every case left unstated; rather, such cases may require further distinctions. Consider his words:

“When water reaches two large jarfuls, it does not admit impurity,” or, “Nothing renders it impure.”

When it reaches two large jarfuls, it may or may not admit impurity. Likewise, he said:

“Zakat is due on grazing camels.”

If they are not grazing camels, zakat may still be due on them—as trade goods—or it may not. Similarly, he said:

“Whoever stands in prayer on the Night of Decree with faith and seeking reward will have his past sins forgiven.”

Someone who does not stand in prayer that night may nevertheless be forgiven for another reason. Likewise, he said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan with faith and seeking reward will have his past sins forgiven.”

And Allah, exalted is He, says:

“Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and striven in the cause of Allah—it is they who hope for Allah’s mercy.”

Someone who does not meet that description may, alongside his faith, perform another deed through which he hopes for Allah’s mercy, or he may not.

Thus, if the divorce pronouncements occurred in separate sittings, he may or may not have taken her back between them. This differs from a single sitting, during which a man does not ordinarily take his wife back between pronouncements. In that case, he retains the right to take her back, as the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

“Take her back if you wish.”

He did not say what he said in the hadith of Ibn ʿUmar:

“Tell him to resume marital life with her.”

He thus instructed him to revoke the divorce, which the husband can do unilaterally, unlike resuming marital life together. Abū Dāwūd and others also narrated:

“Rukānah divorced his wife using the word ‘absolutely.’ The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) asked him, ‘By Allah, did you intend only one divorce?’ He replied, ‘I intended only one divorce by it.’