What is Triple Talaq?

“Talaq” is a commonly used term for the divorce.

Divorce is a situation which arises when a married couple is no longer ready to stay with each other, so they decide to dissolve their marriage and go separate ways.

“Triple Talaq” is a procedure for divorce, defined in Quran based on principles laid by “Allah”. As the name itself suggests, it calls for speaking the “talaq” three times, to separate the husband and wife, but what is lesser known is the procedure of talaq, which is not as simple as it seems. A “Triple Talaq” is divided into three steps:

First Talaq: According to Quran, when the husband or the wife says “Talaq” for the first time, this gives the couple an opportunity to either they go their separate ways or wait for a period of at least three to four months, try to reconcile the differences and marry again. This mistake then shall be forgiven by “Allah”. The period of wait is known as “Iddat”, in which the woman should complete three of her menstrual cycles.

Second Talaq: When either half of the couple utters “Talaq” for the second time. The procedure to be followed is same as above. They can either lead their lives separated or wait for the “Iddat” period and marry for the third time.

Third Talaq: When “Talaq” is uttered for the third and final time, then there are no second chances and the marriage is dissolved in front of “Allah”. The couple can no longer remarry and the wife shall be “Haraam” for the husband. In case, the couple wants to be together again, then they need to complete the “Iddat” period, followed by marriage of the wife to another man. When and only when the new husband divorces the wife, the former couple can get remarried.

It needs to be kept in mind, that just by speaking the word ”Talaq” for three times at one go, does not mean the marriage is dissolved. The couple needs to complete the “Iddat” period before the dissolution of marriage. Also, the "Mahr" or the bridal money given to the bride during the marriage should be returned by the wife, when and only when "Talaq" was asked from her end.