Here comes the third-time divorce after Allah (swt) mentions that divorce is twice.

( فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُ مِن بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُ ۗ ِ..) (And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him……): This is an embodiment of Islam keenness on the rights and dignity of the woman. It is meant to prevent the man from manipulating divorce and so that divorce does not turn to a threat against family life in case of any minor issue or problem. Allah (swt) does not want the divorce utterance to be that easy. As stated earlier, divorce is twice and there is a chance to undo. In addition, there is a retroactive divorce and a minor irrevocable divorce after the waiting period ‘Iddah’ is over, with a new contract and a new dowry required to take the woman back. Then, there is the third-time divorce after which the man and the woman have to separate. Moreover, they cannot be remarried unless the woman is married to another man and divorced. Otherwise, it become unlawful for the man to marry the woman again. Such hard stance is meant to prevent the arbitrary use of divorce or making the utterance of divorce as a matter of habit.

(… فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا أَن يَتَرَاجَعَا..  ) (..And if the latter husband divorces her [or dies], there is no blame upon the woman and her former husband for returning to each other…): The couple can remarry when the wife is divorced again, provided that the whole issue (getting married to another man and divorced subsequently) is not made on purpose because the deeds are measured in terms on the intent rather than superficially. Half of the religion is in the Hadith narrated by Omar Bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

“The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended[1].”

Thus, one’s intention should be to implement what Allah (swt) orders. It is unlawful to conclude the marriage contract and agree on the dowry without actual marital relationship (sexual intercourse). This is as far as the third-time divorce is concerned.

You have to keep within the limits of Allah (swt) in the course of lifetime. The limits of Allah (swt), however, are not restricted to prayer, Zakat, fasting, and Hajj as some might think. Those are the pillars of Islam, not Islam itself. Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:

“Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): 1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him). 2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly. 3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity). 4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca) and 5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan[2].”

Islam, then, is based on those pillars, but the religion, as a whole, is something else. Islam is as stated by the Prophet (saws):

“I have been sent only to fulfill the noble manners[3].”

Islam is the top of everything, top manners, honesty, devotion, love, piety, righteousness, selflessness, and mercy. So:

(… إِن ظَنَّا أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ اللَّهِ ۗ ..  ) (..if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allah….): Those are the limits of Allah (swt) out of which no one is allowed to get married and have intercourse with his wife. And those limits are based upon tranquility, mercy and affection.

 {هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ ۗ }

(They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them.)  (Al-Baqara: 187)

{ وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ }

(And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable.)  (Al-Baqara: 228)

Women are counterpart of men. Those are the bases on which the limits of Allah (swt) with respect to marriage are set. Sadly, we have restricted the limits of Allah (swt) to the main rituals through our wrong practices. I am a Muslim and I perform the prayers. This is taken for granted. How would I be a Muslim if I am not performing the prayers. Show me the impact of your prayer, pilgrimage, observing of Ramadan fasting, or worship on the society. Do not show me the impact your worshipping on you. The impact of worshipping should be on others (worshippers of Allah), or else the group prayers (Jamaa) would be unnecessary. Islam wants the good to pass to others and not to be kept for one’s self.

[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Revelation Vol. Chapter: How the Divine Revelation started being revealed to Allah’s Messenger, Hadith no. 1.

[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Chapter: The statement of the Prophet (saws) “Islam is based on five principles, Hadith no. 8.

[3] Sunan Al-Bayhaqi Alkubra, Shahadat Vol. Chapter: Noble Morals and their privileges, Hadith no. 20571.