and the Successors disputed this view, either because they did not approve of such a punitive measure or because the Lawgiver had not imposed such a punishment. This concerns those who deserve punishment. As for someone who does not deserve it because of ignorance or an interpretation he has adopted, there is no basis for holding him bound by all three divorces.

This is a ruling prescribed by the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), just as he prescribed comparable rulings; he did not restrict its application. Thus, some earlier and later scholars have stated that what the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) prescribed concerning converting Hajj into ‘umrah—performing ‘umrah followed by Hajj, as he instructed his Companions during the Farewell Pilgrimage—is a generally applicable ruling, as he explained:

“When he was asked, ‘Is this ‘umrah of ours for this year only, or forever?’ he replied, ‘No; rather, forever and ever. ‘Umrah has become part of Hajj until the Day of Resurrection.’”

The claim that this was prescribed only for the elders, for a reason peculiar to them—such as demonstrating the permissibility of performing ‘umrah during the months of Hajj—is unsound, for reasons explained at length elsewhere.

Allah Most High has said:

“O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. If you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is better and leads to the best outcome.”

He thus commanded the believers, when they disagree, to refer their dispute to Allah and the Messenger. Whatever the earlier and later generations have disputed must therefore be referred to the Quran and Sunnah. Nothing in the Quran or Sunnah requires holding someone bound by all three divorces when he pronounces them together, whether in a single utterance or several utterances, without an intervening resumption of the marriage or a new marriage contract. Rather, the Quran and Sunnah require holding someone bound by them only when he has divorced in the manner permitted by Allah and His Messenger. And in support of this view