The Book of Talaq (Divorces)

مَرَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص بِرَجُلٍ فَقَالَ مَا فَعَلْتَ امْرَأَتَكَ قَالَ طَلَّقْتُهَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ قَالَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ تَزَوَّجَ فَمَرَّ بِهِ النَّبِيُّ ص فَقَالَ تَزَوَّجْتَ قَالَ نَعَمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ مَا فَعَلْتَ امْرَأَتَكَ قَالَ طَلَّقْتُهَا قَالَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ قَالَ مِنْ غَيْرِ سُوءٍ ثُمَّ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ تَزَوَّجَ فَمَرَّ بِهِ ال

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that once the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, passed by a man and asked, ’How is your wife doing?’ He said, ‘I have divorced her, O Messenger of Allah.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) asked, ‘Did you do it witho

مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِمَّا أَحَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَبْغَضَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الطَّلَاقِ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبْغِضُ الْمِطْلَاقَ الذَّوَّاقَ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Of whatever Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has made lawful nothing is more hateful to Him than divorce. Allah hates those who divorce very often in a hasty manner (like an epicure who keeps tasting this and that food).”’

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ الْبَيْتَ الَّذِي فِيهِ الْعُرْسُ وَ يُبْغِضُ الْبَيْتَ الَّذِي فِيهِ الطَّلَاقُ وَ مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَبْغَضَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنَ الطَّلَاقِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, loves the house in which there is a wedding and He hates the house where divorce takes place. There is nothing more hateful to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, than divorce.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبِي ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُبْغِضُ كُلَّ مِطْلَاقٍ ذَوَّاقٍ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Allah hates those who divorce very often in big haste (like an epicure who keeps tasting this and that food).”’

بَلَغَ النَّبِيَّ ص أَنَّ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنَّ طَلَاقَ أُمِّ أَيُّوبَ لَحُوبٌ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Holy Prophet, was informed about abu Ayyub’s divorcing his wife. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, then said, ‘Divorcing ‘Umm (mother of) Ayyub is a sin."

لَهُ بَعْضُ مَوَالِيهِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لِمَ طَلَّقْتَهَا فَقَالَ إِنِّي ذَكَرْتُ عَلِيّاً ع فَتَنَقَّصَتْهُ فَكَرِهْتُ أَنْ أُلْصِقَ جَمْرَةً مِنْ جَمْرِ جَهَنَّمَ بِجِلْدِي.

‘I mentioned Ali (a.s.), before her and she belittled him (the Imam). I did not like touching a piece of charcoal from the charcoals of hell with my skin.'"

كَانَتْ عِنْدِي امْرَأَةٌ تَصِفُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ وَ كَانَ أَبُوهَا كَذَلِكَ وَ كَانَتْ سَيِّئَةَ الْخُلُقِ فَكُنْتُ أَكْرَهُ طَلَاقَهَا لِمَعْرِفَتِي بِإِيمَانِهَا وَ إِيمَانِ أَبِيهَا فَلَقِيتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع وَ أَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ عَنْ طَلَاقِهَا فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ لِي إِلَيْكَ حَاجَةً فَتَأْذَنُ لِي أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ عَنْهَا فَقَالَ ائْتِنِي غَداً صَلَاةَ الظُّهْرِ قَالَ فَلَمَّا صَل

“I had a wife who believed (in the divine authority of ‘ A’immah ) and so also was her father, but she had very bad moral behaviors and I did not like to divorce her because of her belief and the belief of her father. I met abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), and I wanted to ask him (the Imam) if divorcing her is proper saying

دَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ يَعْنِي أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع وَ أَنَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشْكُوَ إِلَيْهِ مَا أَلْقَى مِنِ امْرَأَتِي‌ مِنْ سُوءِ خُلُقِهَا فَابْتَدَأَنِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَبِي كَانَ زَوَّجَنِي مَرَّةً امْرَأَةً سَيِّئَةَ الْخُلُقِ فَشَكَوْتُ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي مَا يَمْنَعُكَ مِنْ فِرَاقِهَا قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْكَ فَقُلْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَ نَفْسِي قَدْ فَرَّجْتَ عَنِّي.

“I once went to see him, abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), and complain before him against my wife because of her bad moral behaviors. He (the Imam) initiating to speak to me said, ‘One time my father arranged for me the marriage to a woman who had very bad moral behaviors and I complained before him against her. He said, ‘W

إِنَّ عَلِيّاً قَالَ وَ هُوَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ لَا تُزَوِّجُوا الْحَسَنَ فَإِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ مِطْلَاقٌ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ هَمْدَانَ فَقَالَ بَلَى وَ اللَّهِ لَنُزَوِّجَنَّهُ وَ هُوَ ابْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ ابْنُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَإِنْ شَاءَ أَمْسَكَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ طَلَّقَ.

‘Do not give in marriage to al-Hassan because he is a man who divorces very often.’ A man from Hamadan stood up and said, ‘Yes, we will give to him in marriage, by Allah, because he is the grandson of the Messenger of Allah (s.w) and the son of ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.). He may keep if he likes or divorce if he so wills

إِنَّ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ ع طَلَّقَ خَمْسِينَ امْرَأَةً فَقَامَ عَلِيٌّ ع بِالْكُوفَةِ فَقَالَ يَا مَعَاشِرَ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ لَا تُنْكِحُوا الْحَسَنَ فَإِنَّهُ رَجُلٌ مِطْلَاقٌ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ بَلَى وَ اللَّهِ لَنُنْكِحَنَّهُ فَإِنَّهُ ابْنُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص وَ ابْنُ فَاطِمَةَ ع فَإِنْ أَعْجَبَتْهُ أَمْسَكَ وَ إِنْ كَرِهَ طَلَّقَ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.), divorced fifty women. Ali (a.s.), stood in al-Kufa and said, ‘O people of al-Kufa do not give in marriage to al-Hassan because he divorces very often.’ A man stood up and said, ‘Yes, we will give to him in marriage, by Allah, because he is the grandson of the

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ ثَلَاثَةٌ تُرَدُّ عَلَيْهِمْ دَعْوَتُهُمْ أَحَدُهُمْ رَجُلٌ يَدْعُو عَلَى امْرَأَتِهِ وَ هُوَ لَهَا ظَالِمٌ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ أَ لَمْ نَجْعَلْ أَمْرَهَا بِيَدِكَ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The prayers of three kinds of people are returned to them without a favorable answer. One of such people is one who prays against his wife to whom he is unjust and it is said to him, ‘Have we not given you the authority to divorce her?”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَصْلُحُ النَّاسُ‌[2] فِي الطَّلَاقِ إِلَّا بِالسَّيْفِ- وَ لَوْ وَلِيتُهُمْ لَرَدَدْتُهُمْ فِيهِ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ. - قَالَ وَ حَدَّثَنِي بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ الْمِيثَمِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ بَعْضِ رِجَالِهِ أَوْهَمَهُ الْمِيثَمِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌[1].

لَوْ وَلِيتُ النَّاسَ لَأَعْلَمْتُهُمْ كَيْفَ يَنْبَغِي لَهُمْ أَنْ يُطَلِّقُوا ثُمَّ لَمْ أُوتَ بِرَجُلٍ قَدْ خَالَفَ إِلَّا وَ أَوْجَعْتُ ظَهْرَهُ وَ مَنْ طَلَّقَ عَلَى غَيْرِ السُّنَّةِ رُدَّ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنْ رَغِمَ أَنْفُهُ.

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Were I to govern the people I would teach them how to divorce, thereafter I would make the back of the violators painful. Those who divorce against the Sunnah must be returned to the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, despite their opposing.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَصْلُحُ النَّاسُ فِي الطَّلَاقِ إِلَّا بِالسَّيْفِ وَ لَوْ وَلِيتُهُمْ لَرَدَدْتُهُمْ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“I once heard abu Ja’far (a.s.), saying, ‘In matters of divorce people do not behave properly without the sword. Had I been governing them I would return them to the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

لَوْ وَلِيتُ أَمْرَ النَّاسِ لَعَلَّمْتُهُمُ الطَّلَاقَ ثُمَّ لَمْ أُوتَ بِأَحَدٍ خَالَفَ إِلَّا أَوْجَعْتُهُ ضَرْباً.

“Had I been governing people I would teach them how to finalize a divorce case and thereafter make the violators to suffer pain.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ مَلَكْتُ مِنْ أَمْرِ النَّاسِ شَيْئاً لَأَقَمْتُهُمْ بِالسَّيْفِ وَ السَّوْطِ حَتَّى يُطَلِّقُوا لِلْعِدَّةِ كَمَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, ‘Had the affairs of people been in my hands I would straighten them with the sword and whip until they divorced with waiting period as Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has commanded.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَقُولُ مَنْ طَلَّقَ لِغَيْرِ السُّنَّةِ أَنَّكَ لَا تَرَى طَلَاقَهُ شَيْئاً فَقَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع- مَا أَقُولُهُ بَلِ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُهُ أَمَا وَ اللَّهِ لَوْ كُنَّا نُفْتِيكُمْ بِالْجَوْرِ لَكُنَّا شَرّاً مِنْكُمْ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ‌ لَوْ لا يَنْهاهُمُ الرَّبَّانِيُّونَ وَ الْأَحْبارُ عَنْ قَوْلِهِمُ الْإِثْمَ وَ أَكْلِهِمُ السُّحْتَ‌ إِلَى آخِرِ ال

“I once said to abu Ja’far (a.s.), ‘Have you said that one who does not divorce according to the book and al -Sunnah his divorce is not valid?’ Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), replied, ‘I have not said so, in fact, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said it. By Allah, were we to give you fatwas with injustice we would become

كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ خَالَفَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رُدَّ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ السُّنَّةِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Whatever is not according to the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, is returned to the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and al -Sunnah.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الرَّجُلُ يُطَلِّقُ امْرَأَتَهُ وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ قَالَ الطَّلَاقُ عَلَى غَيْرِ السُّنَّةِ بَاطِلٌ قُلْتُ فَالرَّجُلُ يُطَلِّقُ ثَلَاثاً فِي مَقْعَدٍ قَالَ يُرَدُّ إِلَى السُّنَّةِ.

‘A divorce which is not according to Sunnah is invalid.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if a man divorces his wife three times in one place and time?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It must be returned to Sunnah.’”

مَنْ طَلَّقَ لِغَيْرِ السُّنَّةِ رُدَّ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنْ رَغِمَ أَنْفُهُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘One who does not divorce according to Sunnah must be returned to the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, even though he may refuse.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الطَّلَاقِ إِذَا لَمْ يُطَلِّقْ لِلْعِدَّةِ فَقَالَ يُرَدُّ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

‘It must be returned to the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ فَقَالَ الطَّلَاقُ لِغَيْرِ السُّنَّةِ بَاطِلٌ.

‘It is a divorce which is not according to Sunnah.”’

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ مَنْ طَلَّقَ ثَلَاثاً فِي مَجْلِسٍ عَلَى غَيْرِ طُهْرٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئاً إِنَّمَا الطَّلَاقُ الَّذِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهِ فَمَنْ خَالَفَ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ طَلَاقٌ وَ إِنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثاً فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ فَأَمَرَهُ النَّبِيُّ ص أَنْ يَنْكِحَهَا وَ لَا يَعْتَدَّ بِالطَّلَاقِ قَالَ وَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فَقَالَ يَا أَ

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘If one divorces his wife in one place and time three times when she is experiencing Hayd (menses) such divorce does not have any valid effect. A valid divorce is that which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has commanded. Whoever does otherwise it is not a divorce. Ibn ’Umar divorced h

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا بَصِيرٍ يَقُولُ‌ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ طَلَّقَهَا زَوْجُهَا لِغَيْرِ السُّنَّةِ وَ قُلْنَا إِنَّهُمْ أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ وَ لَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِهِمْ أَحَدٌ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a woman who is not divorced according to Sunnah and said that they are a family and no one knows them. He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ طَلَّقَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثاً وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ فَسَأَلَ عُمَرُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُرَاجِعَهَا فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّمَا طَلَّقَهَا وَاحِدَةً وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ‌[2] فَقَالَ فَلِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا كَانَ هُوَ أَمْلَكَ بِرَجْعَتِهَا كَذَبُوا وَ لَكِنَّهُ طَلَّقَهَا ثَلَاثاً فَأَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنْ يُرَاج

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), state this Hadith. ‘Ibn ‘Umar divorced his wife three times at the same place and time when she experienced Hayd (menses). He asked the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and he commanded him to go back

نَعَمْ فَإِنَّ طَلَاقَهُ بِغَيْرِ شُهُودٍ لَيْسَ بِطَلَاقٍ وَ الطَّلَاقُ لِغَيْرِ الْعِدَّةِ لَيْسَ بِطَلَاقٍ- وَ لَا يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ فَيُطَلِّقَهَا بِغَيْرِ شُهُودٍ وَ لِغَيْرِ الْعِدَّةِ الَّتِي أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِهَا.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), was asked about the case of a woman who hears that the man has divorced her but he denies it: if she can stay with him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, because divorce without witness is not a divorce, also divorce without waiting period is not a divorce. It is not lawful to divorce without witnesses and

أَنَّهُمَا قَالا إِذَا طَلَّقَ الرَّجُلُ فِي دَمِ النِّفَاسِ أَوْ طَلَّقَهَا بَعْدَ مَا يَمَسُّهَا فَلَيْسَ طَلَاقُهُ إِيَّاهَا بِطَلَاقٍ وَ إِنْ طَلَّقَهَا فِي اسْتِقْبَالِ عِدَّتِهَا طَاهِراً مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ وَ لَمْ يُشْهِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ رَجُلَيْنِ عَدْلَيْنِ فَلَيْسَ طَلَاقُهُ إِيَّاهَا بِطَلَاقٍ‌[1]

When a man during a woman’s experiencing blood discharge because of childbirth or after going to bed with her divorces, such divorce is not a valid divorce. A divorce at such time when commencing waiting period is possible and valid, that it is in a menses-free time but without the presence of two just witnesses, such

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يُطَلِّقُ امْرَأَتَهُ فِي طُهْرٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ ثُمَّ يُرَاجِعُهَا مِنْ يَوْمِهِ ثُمَّ يُطَلِّقُهَا تَبِينُ مِنْهُ بِثَلَاثِ تَطْلِيقَاتٍ فِي طُهْرٍ وَاحِدٍ فَقَالَ خَالَفَ السُّنَّةَ قُلْتُ فَلَيْسَ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ إِذَا هُوَ رَاجَعَهَا أَنْ يُطَلِّقَهَا إِلَّا فِي طُهْرٍ آخَرَ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ حَتَّى يُجَامِعَ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, (Musa) (a.s.), about the case of a man who divorces his wife in a menses-free period during which he has not gone to bed with her. He then goes back to her on the same day, then divorces her: if it becomes irrevocable with three divorces during one menses-free period. He (the Imam) said, ‘H

مَنْ طَلَّقَ بِغَيْرِ شُهُودٍ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ.

‘If one divorces his wife without witnesses it does not become of any valid effect.’”

قَدِمَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع بِالْكُوفَةِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي طَلَّقْتُ امْرَأَتِي بَعْدَ مَا طَهُرَتْ مِنْ مَحِيضِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ أُجَامِعَهَا فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَشْهَدْتَ رَجُلَيْنِ ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ كَمَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ لَا فَقَالَ اذْهَبْ فَإِنَّ طَلَاقَكَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ.

‘I have divorced my wife after she became clean from her Hayd (menses) and before I went to bed with her.’ ’Amir al- Mu’minin asked, ‘Did you ask two just men to witness as Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has commanded to do?’ He replied, ‘No, I did not do so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Your divorce in not valid.’”

مَنْ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثاً فِي مَجْلِسٍ وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ وَ قَدْ رَدَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص طَلَاقَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ إِذَا طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ ثَلَاثاً وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ فَأَبْطَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ذَلِكَ الطَّلَاقَ- وَ قَالَ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ خَالَفَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ قَالَ لَا طَلَاقَ إِلَّا فِي عِدَّةٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one divorces his wife three times at the same place and time it does not become of any valid effect. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, rejected the divorce of ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar when he divorced

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ عَمْرَو بْنَ عُبَيْدٍ عَنْ طَلَاقِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ طَلَّقَهَا وَ هِيَ طَامِثٌ وَاحِدَةً قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ فَلَا قُلْتُمْ لَهُ إِذَا طَلَّقَهَا وَاحِدَةً وَ هِيَ طَامِثاً كَانَتْ أَوْ غَيْرَ طَامِثٍ فَهُوَ أَمْلَكُ بِرَجْعَتِهَا قَالَ قَدْ قُلْتُ لَهُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَذَبَ عَلَيْهِ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ بَلْ طَلَّقَهَا ثَلَاثاً فَرَدّ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I asked ‘Amr ibn ‘Ubayd about the divorce of ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar and he said, “He divorced her once when she experienced Hayd (menses).”’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘Why did you not say to him, “If he divorced her once during her experiencing Hayd (menses) or when she did not

كُلُّ طَلَاقٍ لِغَيْرِ الْعِدَّةِ فَلَيْسَ بِطَلَاقٍ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَهَا وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ أَوْ فِي دَمِ نِفَاسِهَا أَوْ بَعْدَ مَا يَغْشَاهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَحِيضَ فَلَيْسَ طَلَاقُهَا بِطَلَاقٍ فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا لِلْعِدَّةِ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ وَاحِدَةٍ فَلَيْسَ الْفَضْلُ عَلَى الْوَاحِدَةِ بِطَلَاقٍ وَ إِنْ طَلَّقَهَا لِلْعِدَّةِ بِغَيْرِ شَاهِدَيْ عَدْلٍ فَلَيْسَ طَلَاقُهُ بِطَلَاقٍ وَ لَا تَجُوزُ فِيهِ شَهَادَةُ النِّسَاءِ.

17. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from Bukayr and others who has said the following: “Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Every divorce without waiting period is not a valid divorce, or divorce during her experiencing Hayd (menses), Nifas (childbirth), after going t

كُنْتُ عِنْدَهُ إِذْ مَرَّ بِهِ نَافِعٌ مَوْلَى ابْنِ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنْتَ الَّذِي تَزْعُمُ أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ وَاحِدَةً وَ هِيَ حَائِضٌ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عُمَرَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُ أَنْ يُرَاجِعَهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ كَذَبْتَ وَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَى ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَا سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ طَلَّقْتُهَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّه

18. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Udhaynah from Zurarah who has said the following: “Once, I was with Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), when, Nafi’ Mawla’ Ibn ’Umar came to visit him (the Imam). Abu Ja’far (a.s.), asked him, ‘Are you the one who believes that ibn ‘Umar divorced his w

لَا طَلَاقَ إِلَّا مَا أُرِيدَ بِهِ الطَّلَاقُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not a divorce unless it is intended to be a divorce.’”

أَنَّهُمَا قَالا لَا طَلَاقَ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَرَادَ الطَّلَاقَ

“One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah) (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not a divorce unless it is intended to be a divorce.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا طَلَاقَ إِلَّا عَلَى السُّنَّةِ وَ لَا طَلَاقَ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ إِلَّا عَلَى طُهْرٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ وَ لَا طَلَاقَ عَلَى سُنَّةٍ وَ عَلَى طُهْرٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ إِلَّا بِبَيِّنَةٍ وَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا طَلَّقَ عَلَى سُنَّةٍ وَ عَلَى طُهْرٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ وَ لَمْ يُشْهِدْ لَمْ يَكُنْ طَلَاقُهُ طَلَاقاً وَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا طَلَّقَ عَلَى سُنَّةٍ وَ عَلَى طُهْرٍ مِنْ

‘Divorce, which is not according to Sunnah, is not a divorce. A divorce is not according to Sunnah if it is not pronounced in the presence of two just witnesses, in a menses-free period in which the husband has not gone to bed with her. If a man divorces his wife in a menses-free period during which he has not gone to

كُنْتُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ لَمْ أُثْبِتْهُ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ فَأُخْبِرْتُ بِاسْمِهِ فَقُمْتُ إِلَيْهِ أَنَا وَ غَيْرِي فَاكْتَنَفْنَاهُ‌[1] فَسَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ مَا تَرَى فِي رَجُلٍ سَمَّى امْرَأَةً بِعَيْنِهَا وَ قَالَ يَوْمَ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا هِيَ طَالِقٌ ثَلَاثاً ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَهَا أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ‌ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا ال

“Once I was in the Masjid when Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, came in but I could not recognize him properly; so I asked about him and I was told about his name so others and I stood up for him, we surrounded him (the Imam) and offered him (the Imam) greeting of peace. A man then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep y

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ أَتَزَوَّجُ فُلَانَةَ فَهِيَ طَالِقٌ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ إِنَّهُ لَا يَكُونُ طَلَاقٌ حَتَّى يَمْلِكَ عُقْدَةَ النِّكَاحِ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a man who says that on the day I will get married to so and so she is divorced. He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect until he has a binding marriage.’”

كَانَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا يَقُولُونَ لَا عَتَاقَ وَ لَا طَلَاقَ إِلَّا بَعْدَ مَا يَمْلِكُ الرَّجُلُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Those who were before us would say, ‘Setting free of a slave or divorce does not have any valid effect until a man has an ownership and marriage.’”

كُنْتُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَخَلَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع وَ لَمْ أُثْبِتْهُ وَ عَلَيْهِ عِمَامَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ قَدْ أَرْسَلَ طَرَفَيْهَا بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ لِرَجُلٍ قَرِيبِ الْمَجْلِسِ مِنِّي مَنْ هَذَا الشَّيْخُ فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ لَمْ تَسْأَلْنِي عَنْ أَحَدٍ دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ غَيْرِ هَذَا الشَّيْخِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ لَمْ أَرَ أَحَداً دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ أَحْسَنَ هَيْئَةً فِي عَيْنِي مِنْ هَذَا الشَّيْخِ فَلِ

“Once I was in the Masjid when Ali ibn al-Husayn, Alayhi al-Salam, came and I could not recognize him. He (the Imam) had a black turban and he had allowed both ends of the turban to hang down between his two shoulders. I then asked a man sitting near me, ‘Who is this Shaykh?’ He asked, ‘Why did you not ask me about peo

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ إِنْ تَزَوَّجْتُ فُلَانَةَ فَهِيَ طَالِقٌ وَ إِنِ اشْتَرَيْتُ فُلَاناً فَهُوَ حُرٌّ وَ إِنِ اشْتَرَيْتُ هَذَا الثَّوْبَ فَهُوَ لِلْمَسَاكِينِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ لَا يُطَلِّقُ إِلَّا مَا يَمْلِكُ وَ لَا يَتَصَدَّقُ إِلَّا بِمَا يَمْلِكُ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who says, ‘If I marry so and so woman she is divorced; if I buy so and so slave, he is free and if I buy this cloth it is for the destitute. He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect; he cannot divorce until he is married and owns. He canno

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ لِرَجُلٍ اكْتُبْ يَا فُلَانُ إِلَى امْرَأَتِي بِطَلَاقِهَا أَوِ اكْتُبْ إِلَى عَبْدِي بِعِتْقِهِ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ طَلَاقاً أَوْ عِتْقاً فَقَالَ لَا يَكُونُ طَلَاقاً وَ لَا عِتْقاً حَتَّى يَنْطِقَ بِهِ لِسَانُهُ أَوْ يَخُطَّهُ بِيَدِهِ وَ هُوَ يُرِيدُ الطَّلَاقَ أَوِ الْعِتْقَ وَ يَكُونَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ بِالْأَهِلَّةِ وَ الشُّهُودِ وَ يَكُونَ غَائِباً عَنْ أَهْلِهِ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who says to another man, ‘O so and so write to my wife her divorce or to my slave that he is free; if it is a divorce and setting free of a slave. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not a divorce or freedom until he says by his own tongue or his own handwriting and with

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع رَجُلٌ كَتَبَ بِطَلَاقِ امْرَأَتِهِ أَوْ بِعِتْقِ غُلَامِهِ ثُمَّ بَدَا لَهُ فَمَحَاهُ قَالَ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِطَلَاقٍ وَ لَا عَتَاقٍ حَتَّى يَتَكَلَّمَ بِهِ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who divorces his wife in writing or sets free his slave; he then changes his mind and deletes it. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not a divorce or setting free of a slave until he pronounces it through his mouth.’”

طَلَاقُ السُّنَّةِ يُطَلِّقُهَا تَطْلِيقَةً يَعْنِي عَلَى طُهْرٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ بِشَهَادَةِ شَاهِدَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَدَعُهَا حَتَّى تَمْضِيَ أَقْرَاؤُهَا فَإِذَا مَضَتْ أَقْرَاؤُهَا فَقَدْ بَانَتْ مِنْهُ وَ هُوَ خَاطِبٌ مِنَ الْخُطَّابِ إِنْ شَاءَتْ نَكَحَتْهُ وَ إِنْ شَاءَتْ فَلَا وَ إِنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُرَاجِعَهَا[1] أَشْهَدَ عَلَى رَجْعَتِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَمْضِيَ أَقْرَاؤُهَا فَتَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ عَلَى التَّطْلِيقَةِ

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Divorce according to Sunnah is the divorce which one pronounces once in a menses-free period during which sexual intercourse has not taken place. It is pronounced in the presence of two witnesses and leaves her until her menses-free period is over. When this period is over she becomes str

كُلُّ طَلَاقٍ لَا يَكُونُ عَلَى السُّنَّةِ أَوْ طَلَاقٍ عَلَى الْعِدَّةِ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ قَالَ زُرَارَةُ فَقُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَسِّرْ لِي طَلَاقَ السُّنَّةِ وَ طَلَاقَ الْعِدَّةِ فَقَالَ أَمَّا طَلَاقُ السُّنَّةِ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ الرَّجُلُ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَلْيَنْتَظِرْ بِهَا حَتَّى تَطْمَثَ وَ تَطْهُرَ فَإِذَا خَرَجَتْ مِنْ طَمْثِهَا طَلَّقَهَا تَطْلِيقَةً مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ وَ يُشْهِدُ شَاهِدَي

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Divorce which is not according to Sunnah or not with waiting period does not have any valid effect.’ Zurarah has said that I then asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), ‘Please explain to me divorce according to Sunnah and divorce with waiting period.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘For divorce according to Sunn

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ أُحِبُّ لِلرَّجُلِ‌ الْفَقِيهِ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَهَا طَلَاقَ السُّنَّةِ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- لَعَلَّ اللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذلِكَ أَمْراً[1] يَعْنِي بَعْدَ الطَّلَاقِ وَ انْقِضَاءِ الْعِدَّةِ التَّزْوِيجَ لَهُمَا مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ تَزَوَّجَ زَوْجاً غَيْرَهُ قَالَ وَ مَا أَعْدَلَهُ وَ أَوْسَعَهُ لَهُمَا ج

“I once heard Abu Ja’far (a.s.) say, ’I love for a knowledgeable man, if he intends to divorce his wife, to do so in accordance with the Sunnah.’ He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) then said, ’This is that about which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ’...perhaps Allah thereafter will cause some

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ طَلَاقِ السُّنَّةِ قَالَ طَلَاقُ السُّنَّةِ إِذَا أَرَادَ الرَّجُلُ أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ يَدَعُهَا إِنْ كَانَ قَدْ دَخَلَ بِهَا حَتَّى تَحِيضَ ثُمَّ تَطْهُرَ فَإِذَا طَهُرَتْ طَلَّقَهَا وَاحِدَةً بِشَهَادَةِ شَاهِدَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَتْرُكُهَا حَتَّى تَعْتَدَّ ثَلَاثَةَ قُرُوءٍ فَإِذَا مَضَتْ ثَلَاثَةُ قُرُوءٍ فَقَدْ بَانَتْ مِنْهُ بِوَاحِدَةٍ وَ كَانَ زَوْجُهَا خَاطِباً مِنَ الْخُطَّابِ إِنْ شَاءَتْ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the divorce according to Sunnah. He (the Imam) said, ’For divorce according to Sunnah when a man wants to divorce his wife he must leave her, if he has gone to bed with her, until she experiences Hayd (menses), then becomes clean. When she becomes clean he can divorce her once

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ طَلَاقِ السُّنَّةِ كَيْفَ يُطَلِّقُ الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ فَقَالَ يُطَلِّقُهَا فِي طُهْرٍ قَبْلَ عِدَّتِهَا[1] مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ بِشُهُودٍ فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا وَاحِدَةً ثُمَّ تَرَكَهَا حَتَّى يَخْلُوَ أَجَلُهَا فَقَدْ بَانَتْ مِنْهُ وَ هُوَ خَاطِبٌ مِنَ الْخُطَّابِ وَ إِنْ رَاجَعَهَا فَهِيَ عِنْدَهُ عَلَى تَطْلِيقَةٍ مَاضِيَةٍ وَ بَقِيَ تَطْلِيقَتَانِ فَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا الثَّانِيَةَ وَ تَرَكَهَا حَتَّى

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the divorce according to Sunnah and how a man can divorce his wife. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must divorce her in a Hayd (menses)-free period at a time when she can commence her waiting period, in the presence of witnesses without going to bed with her. If he divorces her once t

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ بَعْدَ مَا غَشِيَهَا بِشَهَادَةِ عَدْلَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ هَذَا بِطَلَاقٍ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ- كَيْفَ طَلَاقُ السُّنَّةِ فَقَالَ يُطَلِّقُهَا إِذَا طَهُرَتْ مِنْ حَيْضِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغْشَاهَا بِشَاهِدَيْنِ عَدْلَيْنِ كَمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي كِتَابِهِ‌[1] فَإِنْ خَالَفَ ذَلِكَ رُدَّ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَ

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who divorces his wife in the presence of two just witnesses after going to bed with her. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not a divorce,’ I then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, how is divorce according to Sunnah ?’ He (the I