Divorce by three pronouncements is not permissible

Question: The husband came to me, accompanied by his wife and her brother. The aforementioned husband admitted that he became angry with his aforementioned wife and divorced her with three pronouncements, in a single utterance, on Wednesday, corresponding to 26/3/1393 AH. He had not divorced her before that, nor after it. When she was asked about this, she answered that she did not hear the aforementioned phrase, but rather she heard him say: "Talaq, talaq." She admitted that he had not divorced her before that, nor after it. When he was asked about what the wife said, he answered that he did not utter what the wife said, and he does not know that it came from him. The reality is that he divorced her with three pronouncements in a single phrase only. When her brother was asked, he answered that he was not present with them at the time of the divorce, and he does not know what came from the husband, except for what he admitted to. He does not know that he divorced her before that, nor after it.

Answer: Based on this, I issued a ruling to the aforementioned husband that one pronouncement of divorce has taken effect on his aforementioned wife through his aforementioned divorce, and he has the right to take her back as long as she is in the waiting period. This is because it is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) what indicates that the aforementioned divorce is considered one pronouncement. He took her back in my presence, in the presence of her and the aforementioned brother. By this, she remained in his marriage bond. I explained to everyone that divorce by three pronouncements is not permissible, and that the husband must repent from that.
May Allah improve the condition of everyone. This was dictated by the one who is poor before Allah the Exalted, 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Baz. May Allah forgive him, and may Allah send prayers upon Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.