What is Triple Divorce in Islamic Law?

Triple divorce is a highly sensitive issue among the Muslims. Under this Islamic law, a husband is entitled to obtain a divorce and renounce his obligations towards his wife by pronouncing the word ‘talaq’ thrice. This practice has been abused on several occasions, awakening legislatures across the world to reform it. In fact, the practice of triple divorce is banned under the law in several nations, including Algeria, Bangladesh, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey.

Holy Qur’an and Triple Talaq

The Qur’an stipulates that three talaqs need to be spaced out over a period of three months so that the husband and wife have sufficient time to reconcile through intervention from relatives and friends.

Besides, the Holy Qur’an also says that talaq can only be pronounced when the wife is in a complete state of ‘tuhur,’ that is purity after menstruation. Despite coherent Qur’anic injunctions, immediate triple divorce has legal validity and is still practiced in many Islamic cultures, particularly amongst the Sunni Muslims.

Different Islamic Views on Triple Talaq

Some modern interpretations of the triple divorce law, as acknowledged by the Qur’an, in different Islamic sects are:

Sunnis: While most Sunnis accept immediate triple divorce, some practice a revised version of the Qur’anic triple divorce law. In this version, the three talaq are voiced during three consecutive menstrual cycles of the wife. However, the divorce is only accepted if the husband and wife have not had any sexual relations during this period.

Shi'as: They do not endorse the triple divorce practice as they believe it is un-Quranic and mocks the principles of ‘nikah’ (marriage). The Shi'as propound that a talaq procedure is invalid until the end of the ‘Iddah’, which is the period of three months or four months and ten days after a divorce or death of spouse respectively.

The principle of triple divorce is highly disputable under Islam, which is governed by multiple Islamic laws. This law, like any legal decree, has and is undergoing revision.