If Nikah Was Contracted Twice with Two Women, Does It Count as Four?

Question

(1) There is a Muslim who belongs to the Hanafi school, adheres to the Qur’an and Sunna, and is my close brother. He first contracted one nikah (with “A”), then divorced her and married a second time (with “B”). After a year there was discord with her as well, and he gave (“B”) too a Shar‘i talaq in writing through the court — not over three ‘iddas as the Shari‘a says. After some time (8 months) this woman (“B”)

Answer

(1) Send the very Shar‘i talaq which the said person gave (“B”) in writing, or a copy of it: by seeing it, it will be possible to know whether the nikah he contracted with her again afterwards was permitted by the Shari‘a or not. Also state whether the renewed nikah took place by offer and acceptance (ijab and qabul) before witnesses, or whether he took her back (raj‘a)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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