Talaq only after every measure of admonition

Question

Question: (1) The instructions given by the Prophet ﷺ in the matter of talaq: before divorcing his wife one should admonish her; if she does not heed, one should scold her; if even then she does not take heed, he should separate her bed; if this too is not enough, beating is also permitted as far as necessary; if she still does not heed, he should give one talaq and leave her — perhaps that will suffice for reform. Final talaq was prescribed after all these methods have been used.

Answer

(1) There are two things: one is the prohibition of something, and the other is its command and ruling (hukm) despite that prohibition. Bearing this in mind, one should consider that talaq has been called “the most detested of permissible things” (abghad al-mubahat), which is a very ugly thing, and the innovated (bid‘i) talaq (giving three talaqs in one day)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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