The Divorces Not According to the Book and Sunnah

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