What is the ruling if the wife, when given authority, intends or utters more than one divorce?
Chapter on Explicit Divorce and Others
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
If the wife intends more than one divorce, what she intended occurs. This is because she has the capacity to pronounce three divorces explicitly, thus she possesses the capacity to do so implicitly, similar to the husband. If she uses any subtle terms (kinayat), her ruling is the same as the husband's: if the term would result in three divorces from the husband, it results in three from her. If she uses subtle or hidden terms, such as 'No entry to me except with permission,' then only what she intends occurs. Ahmad stated that if the husband says, 'Your affair is in your hand,' and she says, 'No entry to me except with permission,' the outcome depends on her intention; if she intends one, one occurs, but if she intends only to anger him, her intention is accepted and nothing occurs.
Supporting text
If authority is given to a third party, nothing occurs through subtle terms unless the agent intends divorce. If the agent then pronounces three explicit divorce terms, three divorces occur. If he uses an obvious subtle term, three occur; if he uses a hidden subtle term, only what he intends occurs.