What is the legal effect if the husband states, 'You are forbidden upon me,' and intends by it 'a divorce' (indefinite)?
Chapter on Explicit Divorce and Others
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
If the husband states, 'You are forbidden upon me,' and intends by it 'a divorce' (using the indefinite form), then a single divorce occurs. This ruling is explicitly stated by Ahmad because the term was used indefinitely (indefinite construction), signifying one instance of divorce.
Supporting text
In another narration from Hanbal, if he says, 'I intend divorce' (indefinite), it results in one or two divorces if the definite article is absent from the initial statement.