if a man pronounced three divorces at once by stating to the wife: “I divorce you three times” or by saying: “I divorce you”, three times, then three divorces will be effected and the divorce will be irrevocable. The woman will be free to re-marry another man after the termination of her Iddah. She cannot return to her former husband’s marriage unless she is divorced once again from her second husband.
This is the position held by all the Sunni schools of Islamic law, i.e., Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and the Hanbali. This was also the view of the overwhelming majority of the Sahaba (Allah be pleased with them all) and Tabi’in (followers). Only the Ja’fariyya sect amongst the Shi’a and those who followed the literal meaning of the texts, like Imam Ibn Taymiyya and his student Ibn al-Qayyim differed with this view. There view, however, was not accepted by the majority of the Ummah. (See Ibn Qudama, al-Mugni, V: 7, P: 104)
Some of the evidences declaring all three divorces to be in effect:
1) Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an:
“Divorce is (only permissible) twice, thereafter either retaining her honourably or releasing her kindly…If he divorces her (the third time), she will not be lawful for him unless she marries another husband (and he also divorces her).” (Surah al-Baqarah, V: 229/230)
2) Sayyida A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reports that: A man pronounced three divorces to his wife. She (after her Iddah) married another man. The Messenger of Allah was asked whether it was lawful for her to return to the first husband. He said: “Not until they have sexual intercourse.” (Recorded by Imam al-Bukhari in his Sahih)
It is clear from the above Hadith that three divorces at once will be affected. The woman was allowed to marry another man. The Prophet of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) would have surely pointed out, had three divorces not come into effect at once. The husband in this incident pronounced all three divorces at once as the great scholar of Hadith, Ibn Hajr rightly points out in his monumental commentary of Sahih al-Bukhari, ‘Fath al-Bari’.
3) The Companion Uwaimir al-Ajlani (Allah be pleased with him) pronounced three divorces at once to his wife in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), which has been recorded by Imam al-Bukhari and others in the famous incident of Mula’ana or li’an (Public imprecation). The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) did not negate what he said, which is a sign that all three divorces were effected. Also, all the companions (Allah be pleased with them) considered them to be in effect.
4) Sayyiduna Hasan ibn Ali (Allah be pleased with him) said (in a long Hadith, after divorcing his wife): “Had I not heard my father (Ali) narrating from my grandfather (Allah bless him & give him peace) say: “when a man pronounces three divorces, then his wife will no longer remain lawful for him, unless she marries another man”, I would have taken my wife back.” (Sunan al-Bayhaqi)
There are many other narrations recorded by the scholars of Hadith in their respective books, but time does not allow us to mention them all. The above evidences are sufficient for a person who intends to seek the truth.
Those who hold the view that only one divorce will be effected, usually present the following narration of Ibn Abbas in support of their argument.
Sayyiduna Abd Allah ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) says: “Three divorces were considered to be one in the time of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), Abu Bakr and in the first two years of Umar’s reign. Thereafter, Umar (Allah be pleased with him) declared it to be three divorces.” (Sahih of Imam Muslim).
The scholars of Hadith have analyzed this narration thoroughly in the context of all the other narrations. The great Hafidh, Imam Ibn Hajr deals with it in detail in his Fath al-Bari.
One of the meanings mentioned by the scholars is that, this narration is specific to only one situation, that is, when a person pronounces three divorces, but the repetition is only for emphasis (ta’kid) and not to issue another divorce. In the early days, people were morally more sound and reliable and thus when they said, it was only for emphasis and not to issue another divorce; it was taken at face value.
Umar (Allah be pleased with him) however, observed in his time that, people are becoming morally corrupt. Bad habits such as deceiving, cheating and lying, etc., have become prevalent. As a result he declared that, people’s statements will not be accepted as far as the courts are concerned. If the man is adamant that he only repeated the words to emphasize, then this will be between him and Allah.
In conclusion, if a person pronounced three divorces at once in any way, then in the light of the above evidences and in accordance with the scholarly consensus, it will be considered as three divorces.
And Allah Knows Best
[Mufti] Muhammad ibn Adam
Darul Iftaa
Leicester , UK
https://islamqa.org/hanafi/daruliftaa/7889