What is the ruling if a husband says to one of his two wives, 'You are divorced,' and then says to the other wife, 'Rather, you are divorced'?
Chapter on Divorce by Calculation
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
Both wives are divorced. The first wife is divorced by the initial statement, and the second wife is divorced by the second statement, as the husband revoked the first statement but enacted the divorce of the second wife. This differs from saying this sequence to a single wife because the second statement can be taken as a repetition or affirmation of the first divorce, whereas the divorce of one wife cannot simultaneously be the divorce of the other.
Supporting text
This situation is analogous to a declaration of debt where saying, 'I owe you one dirham, rather one dirham,' results in one dirham owed, whereas saying, 'I owe you one dirham, rather one dinar,' results in both being owed.