What is the ruling for stating, 'You are divorced five times, except for thrice'?

Chapter on Explicit Divorce and Others

Al-Mughni

Book of Divorce

Book 39 · Issue 6 · Bab 2

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If one states, 'You are divorced five times, except for thrice,' three divorces occur. This is because if the exception refers back to the five, the majority is excluded, which is invalid. If it refers to the three he possesses, the entirety is negated, both of which are invalid.