Is it permissible, in Sharia, for a husband to return to his divorced wife whom he had contracted with and consummated the marriage with, then divorced her twice, after having married her the first time without the knowledge of her family and then a divorce occurred, then he contracted with her again and divorced her twice?
The husband is not permitted to return to his wife after divorcing her three times until she marries another husband, based on the Almighty's saying: "Divorce is twice. Then, either keep [her] in a reasonable manner or release [her] with kindness." Then He said: "And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until she marries another husband." The first divorce, even if it was from a فساد (invalid) marriage, is an irrevocable divorce. Likewise, a girl's marriage is not valid without a guardian, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "There is no marriage except with a guardian," and "Any woman who marries without the permission of her guardian, her marriage is invalid, invalid, invalid." Therefore, the outcome is that the husband is not permitted to return to his wife until she marries another husband in a lawful marriage and he consummates it with her and then divorces her. After her 'iddah (waiting period) expires, he may marry her with a new contract.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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