What is the ruling on the statement: 'You are divorced three times, except for three, except for one'?
Chapter on Explicit Divorce and Others
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
This statement is invalid, and three divorces occur. If one is excepted from three, two remain. Since the exception of those remaining two from the initial three is not valid (as they are the majority), the original three divorces stand.
Supporting text
Abu Al-Khuttab mentioned an alternative opinion that it is valid because the first exception is nullified for being an exception of the whole, meaning the phrase 'except for one' reverts to the established three, resulting in two divorces. However, the primary view maintains that three divorces occur.