Ibn `Umar bin Al-Khattab divorced his wife during her menses. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ordered him to take her back till she became clean, and when she got another period while she was with him, she should wait till she became clean again and only then, if he wanted to divorce her, he could do so before having sexual relations with her. And that is the period Allah has fixed for divorcing women. Whenever `Abdullah (bin `Umar) was asked about that, he would say to the questioner, "If you divorced her thrice, she is no longer lawful for you unless she marries another man (and the other man divorces her in his turn).' Ibn `Umar further said, 'Would that you (people) only give one or two divorces, because the Prophet (ﷺ) has ordered me so."
The Prohibition of Divorcing During Menstruation
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 5332 establishes the fundamental Islamic ruling that divorce must not be pronounced during a woman's menstrual period. Ibn Umar's action, though sincere, was corrected by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), demonstrating that this is a divinely legislated prohibition, not merely a recommendation.
The wisdom behind this ruling is profound. Menstruation is a state where sexual relations are forbidden, and divorce during this time could be driven by impulsive anger or frustration rather than reasoned deliberation. By requiring the husband to wait until purity, Islam ensures the decision is made calmly after the opportunity for reconciliation during the clean period.
The Prescribed Iddah Period for Divorce
The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed Ibn Umar to take his wife back and wait until she completed one full menstrual cycle and became pure. Only then, if he still wished to divorce, could he do so before engaging in sexual relations. This specific timeframe—during purity without consummation—is termed "at-talaq as-sunni" (the Sunnah divorce).
This procedure serves as a mandatory cooling-off period. It provides the husband time to reflect and potentially revoke his decision, and it ensures the woman's womb is free from pregnancy, establishing a clear lineage for any potential child. This is "the period Allah has fixed for divorcing women," emphasizing its divine origin and wisdom in preserving family structure.
The Finality of the Triple Divorce
Ibn Umar's subsequent warning—"If you divorced her thrice, she is no longer lawful for you"—highlights a critical legal consequence. Pronouncing three divorces, whether in one sitting or spread over three periods of purity, renders the divorce irrevocable. The couple cannot simply reconcile; the woman must first marry another man in a genuine, consummated marriage that then ends through divorce or widowhood.
This ruling acts as a severe deterrent against the frivolous use of divorce. Ibn Umar's lament, "Would that you only give one or two divorces," reflects the Prophetic guidance to reserve the triple divorce, treating the first and second pronouncements as revocable, thus keeping the door open for reconciliation and preserving the marital bond whenever possible.