I do not mind if I give option to my wife (to get divorce) once, hundred times, or thousand times after (knowing it) that she has chosen me (and would never seek divorce). I asked 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) (about it) and she said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave us the option, but did it imply divorce? (It was in fact not a divorce; it is effective when women actually avail themselves of it.)
The Book of Divorce - Sahih Muslim 1477b
This narration from 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) concerns the matter of khiyār al-tafwīd (delegated option of divorce) granted by the Prophet (ﷺ) to his wives. The husband's statement reflects confidence in his wife's commitment, while demonstrating the permissibility of granting such options repeatedly.
Scholarly Commentary
The option (khiyār) mentioned here is not an immediate divorce, but rather a delegated right (tafwīd) given to the wife to dissolve the marriage if she chooses. Classical scholars like Ibn Qudamah in al-Mughni explain that such delegation becomes effective only when the wife explicitly exercises this right.
Imam Nawawi in Sharh Sahih Muslim clarifies that granting multiple options does not constitute multiple divorces. The ruling remains singular: the marriage dissolves only upon the wife's actual decision to exercise the option. This preserves marital stability while respecting the wife's autonomy.
The wisdom behind this ruling, as noted by Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari, is to prevent husbands from using the threat of repeated divorce as psychological pressure, while ensuring that actual divorce only occurs through clear, intentional action.