Uttering talaq words in the presence of two wives without specifying or pointing

Question

Muhammad ‘Abd al-Haqq, having quarrelled with both his wives, gave “one talaq, two talaqs, three talaqs ba’in” (ek talaq do talaq tin talaq ba’in), but he did not name either woman, nor did he point. A witness heard what ‘Abd al-Haqq said. What is the ruling of the Shari‘a now?

Answer

If the quarrel was with both, then major (mughallaza) divorce has fallen on both; let him separate from both. If that is not the case, then ‘Abd al-Haqq should be asked: whichever of them he specifies, saying, “I gave talaq to so-and-so,” talaq will be deemed to have fallen on her.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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