What is the ruling when the wife, given the choice, states, 'I choose myself'?
Chapter on Explicit Divorce and Others
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
When the wife given the authority or choice says, 'I choose myself,' it results in one revocable divorce. This ruling is narrated from 'Umar, Ibn Mas'ud, and Ibn 'Abbas, and adopted by 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, Al-Thawri, Ibn Abi Layla, Al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, Abu 'Ubayd, and Abu Thawr. This is because her acceptance of the ownership transfer dissolves the husband's authority, which should result in a complete separation that retains the possibility of return (revocable divorce).
Supporting text
It is narrated from 'Ali that it constitutes one irrevocable (ba'in) divorce, held also by Abu Hanifa and his school, because the husband's transfer of authority necessitates the cessation of his dominion, which cannot coexist with the possibility of return. Zayd ibn Thabit and some others stated it constitutes three divorces. Malik held that if the wife had not been previously consummated, the husband may stipulate one or two divorces, their proof being that the severance of authority requires three divorces unless the marriage was unconsummated, in which case Malik accepts one severance.