Does a triple divorce occur if a man swore to his wife that she must cut her nails and remove the henna, and she cut her nails but some of the henna remained on her?

The majority of scholars hold that a divorce oath takes effect if the sworn-upon condition occurs, and a triple divorce utterance counts as three divorces. This is the prevailing fatwa. Ibn Taymiyyah, however, views a divorce oath not intended to effect divorce as akin to an oath sworn by Allah, requiring an expiation for an oath (kaffarat yamin) without divorce taking place, and that a triple divorce utterance counts as one divorce.

If the wife did not obey in removing the henna, the prevailing fatwa is that she is triply divorced and is not permissible for him until she marries another man. According to Ibn Taymiyyah, no divorce takes place unless intended, and an expiation for an oath is due. If the wife attempted to remove the henna but was unable, the more preponderant view is that he did not break his oath, and neither divorce nor expiation is due.

It is advisable to present the issue to trustworthy scholars. The permissible oath is by Allah, and swearing by divorce is among the oaths of the dissolute, and it may lead to undesirable consequences.