What is the legal consequence of saying, 'You are divorced a divorce' (أنت طالق طلاقا) with the intention of three divorces?

Chapter on Explicit Divorce and Others

Al-Mughni

Book of Divorce

Book 39 · Issue 1 · Bab 2

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a husband states, 'You are divorced a divorce' (أنت طالق طلاقا) and intends three divorces, three divorces occur. This is because the utterance of the verbal noun (masdar) admits of few or many instances, meaning the speaker intended what the expression can encompass. If he intended one divorce, one divorce occurs. If he stated it without specifying an intention, one divorce occurs, as this is the certain ruling (al-yaqīn). This view holds that since the masdar was explicitly pronounced, the intent governs the count within the range of what the word permits.

Supporting text

If he intended one divorce, one divorce occurs. If he stated it without specifying an intention, one divorce occurs because certainty prevails.