What is the legal effect of a man saying to his wife, 'You are divorced, from one to three'?
Chapter on Divorce by Calculation
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
If a husband states, 'You are divorced, from one to three,' two divorces are effected. This is the opinion held by Abu Hanifa. The reasoning is that what follows the limit (the termination point) is not included within the limit itself, analogous to the verse: 'Then complete the fast until the night' (Quran 2:187). Inclusion only occurs when the word 'until' signifies 'with,' which contradicts its primary meaning.
Supporting text
Zafar holds that only one divorce occurs, because the starting point of a limit is not included within the limit, similar to saying, 'I sold this to you from this wall to that wall.' Abu Yusuf and Muhammad hold that three divorces occur because the number was explicitly stated, and it is not permissible to nullify the utterance.