Question: Let us suppose that the anger was mild—he was conscious of what he was saying—and a divorce took place, but it was only a single pronouncement, and at the same time it was an act of zihar. In that case, must he pay the expiation for zihar?

Answer: Such a situation cannot arise with a single pronouncement, for in fact he divorced her three times with one wording. If, however, he is given a legal opinion according to the view that three divorces uttered in one wording count as only one, then he is liable only for the expiation of zihar and he may take her back. Yet the position of the majority—and it is the correct view—is that the three divorces take effect even when uttered in a single wording.

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Question: I am a twenty-year-old man. I married my cousin’s daughter, and one night we quarrelled; Satan—may Allah curse him—came between us. I became angry, slapped her on the face, and pronounced triple divorce upon her. When I calmed down I regretted what I had done. Please tell me whether she is still lawful for me, whether I must make any expiation, and what I should do, bearing in mind that she was menstruating when I divorced her.

Answer: This case cannot be resolved through a written question alone. The details of the matter must be ascertained in the presence of the wife and her guardian, and that can only be done before a judge or at the Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta in Riyadh. Therefore you must refer to one of those two bodies; God willing, you will find there what is sufficient to solve your problem. Allah knows best.

Question: He only wishes to know, as a matter of ruling, whether divorce takes effect while the woman is menstruating.

Answer: Yes. The correct opinion is that divorce does take effect during menstruation, because