Is there a right of revocation (ruj'a) after Khul' (dissolution initiated by wife in exchange for compensation)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Khul' (Redemption Divorce)
Primary text
There is no right of revocation after Khul', regardless of whether Khul' is interpreted as a definitive separation (faskh) or a revocable divorce (talaq). This is the position held by the majority of scholars, including Al-Hasan, 'Ata, Tawus, Al-Nakha'i, Al-Thawri, Al-Awza'i, Malik, Al-Shafi'i, and Ishaq. Some reports indicate that Al-Zuhri and Sa'id ibn Al-Musayyib permitted the husband the option either to keep the compensation and retain the wife without a right of revocation, or to return the compensation and gain the right of revocation. The evidence for prohibiting revocation is the Almighty's statement: {as compensation for what she redeems therewith} [Quran 2:229]. Redemption (fida') only occurs when the wife exits the husband's control and authority. If the right of revocation remained, she would still be under his jurisdiction. Furthermore, the intention of Khul' is to remove harm from the woman; allowing revocation would cause the harm to return. This differs from manumission (itm'a) and its resulting loyalty (wala'), as manumission is irrevocable, whereas divorce can be revoked prior to consummation or when the full count of divorces has not been reached.
Supporting text
Abu Thawr stated that if the Khul' used the wording of divorce, the husband retains the right of revocation, as revocation is a right associated with divorce and cannot be nullified by compensation, similar to how loyalty persists with manumission.