Does a triple divorce take effect if the husband made the divorce contingent upon a specific action, and the wife then performed that action?
Writing a divorce (talaq) in a message is considered one of the ambiguous expressions of divorce (kinayat al-talaq). Divorce occurs through it if the husband intends it; otherwise, it does not. If you have opened your husband's message and spied on him, as your husband intended, then you must ask him: if he did not intend divorce, then nothing is binding on him. However, if he did intend divorce, then three divorces have occurred according to the majority of scholars (jumhur), and this is the relied-upon opinion (al-qawl al-mufta bihi). Consequently, you become unlawful for him until you marry another husband with genuine desire, not for the purpose of making you lawful (tahlil), and then he divorces you after consummation. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and those who agreed with him held the view that only one divorce occurs. According to this opinion, your husband may take you back (raj'a) before the completion of the waiting period (idda), provided this divorce does not complete three divorces. The preponderant view (al-rajih) is that of the majority of scholars. It is important to emphasize that it is not permissible for a wife to spy on her husband or to pry into his private affairs ('awrah).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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