Is Divorce Valid in the Month of Safar?

Question

My husband divorced me during the month of Safar, but my mother-in-law says the divorce is not valid because it happened in this month and that we must pay kaffarah. Is this true?

Bottom Line

Divorce is divorce. No month cancels it.

Quick Answer

Islam does not tie divorce to seasons or superstitions. Safar is like every other month created by Allah. A divorce is considered valid if issued in accordance with the rules, regardless of the timing. What matters is the manner in which it was given, not the month on the calendar.

Key Points

• Divorce in Safar is valid; no month makes divorce invalid.
• Innovated divorce (talaq bid‘i) is haram, but the majority say it still counts.
• A Sunnah divorce is one pronouncement in a pure period without intercourse.
• Triple divorce counts as one, according to the stronger view of scholars like Ibn Taymiyah and Ibn ‘Uthaymin.

Detailed Answer

There is no special ruling about divorce in Safar. Islam does not link divorce to lucky or unlucky months. To say otherwise is to confuse faith with superstition. Safar is simply another measure of time, and rulings do not change with the calendar.

What is an innovative divorce?

If a man divorces his wife during her menses, postnatal bleeding, or in a pure period after intercourse, that is talaq bid‘i. It is sinful because it goes against the Prophet’s guidance. Allah says:

“O Prophet, when you divorce women, divorce them at their prescribed periods and count their prescribed period.” At-Talaq 65:1

This means divorce should happen at a time when the waiting period can be properly observed.

Does innovative divorce count?

Most scholars agree that it still counts, although it is considered sinful. Some, like Ibn Taymiyah, argued it does not. The safer position is that it counts, and the husband must repent for going against the Sunnah.

What about triple divorce?

The stronger opinion is that three pronouncements at once count as one. Ibn Abbas reported:

“At the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr, and the first years of ‘Umar, a threefold divorce was counted as one.” Sahih Muslim 1472

This shows the law was meant to restrain haste and preserve families, not end them in one sitting.

What This Means for You

If your husband divorced you in Safar, it counts. The month has no bearing in Islamic law. If it was given in an impermissible way, it may still count, but carries sin. If it was three at once, the stronger scholarly view is that it counts as one. At its heart, Islam teaches us to ground family matters in wisdom and patience not superstition.

And Allah knows best.

References

Primary Sources

Qur’an

1. At-Talaq 65:1: Divorce should be given at the prescribed times.

Hadith

2. Sahih Muslim 1472: Ibn Abbas reports that threefold divorce was counted as one in the Prophet’s time.

Secondary Sources

3. Al-Khatib ash-Sharbini, *Tafsir* (4/310).
4. Ibn Taymiyah, *Fatawa* (22/247); *Raf‘ al-Malam*.
5. Fatawa al-Lajnah al-Da’imah (20/58).
6. Ibn ‘Uthaymin, *Ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘*, 13/94.