The Ruling on Swearing Divorce Three Times

Question:
What is the ruling on swearing an oath of divorce three times? Does the divorce take effect if the oath is not directed at the wife, especially since some people have made it a habit and do not intend to divorce frequently? And what is the expiation if the divorce does take effect? Does it count as one divorce or three?

Answer:
There is a distinction regarding these matters of divorce. It is not the case that one simply chooses a ruling without first questioning the person who made the statement to understand his intention and the exact words he used, and to determine whether a previous divorce had occurred or not. He must appear before the library or the judge, or before the Dar al-Ifta. A general fatwa given in a lesson or in the mosque is not reliable in this context, because some people may misunderstand it and apply it to themselves, or they may convey it to others who then misunderstand it. This matter must be presented to the mosque or the judge. Yes.