What is the ruling if the husband tells his wife, 'Divorce yourself three times,' and she pronounces only one divorce?
Chapter on Explicit Divorce and Others
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
If the husband instructs her to issue three divorces but she pronounces only one, the single divorce occurs. This is because she was granted the authority to effect three, which implies she was granted authority to effect one, similar to an agent. This is analogous to stating, 'I gift you these three slaves,' and the recipient accepts only one; the acceptance of one is valid.
Supporting text
Imam Malik states that no divorce occurs because she did not comply with the entirety of his command. However, this view is rejected because the authorization included the power to perform the single divorce which she performed.