What is the ruling if a husband states, 'You are divorced half of two divorces'?

Chapter on Divorce by Calculation

Al-Mughni

Book of Divorce

Book 39 · Issue 3 · Bab 3

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a husband states, 'You are divorced half of two divorces' (Anṭa ṭāliq niṣfa ṭalqatayni), one divorce occurs, because half of two divorces equals one full divorce. This view is preferred because it affirms the ruling based on certainty and avoids excess.

Supporting text

The Shafi'i scholars hold an alternative view that two divorces occur because the utterance implies taking half from each of the two divorces, which then completes to two full divorces.