The Ruling on Conditional and Immediate Divorce

Question: The husband, H. M., and his wife, A. S., came to me. The aforementioned husband admitted that he became angry with his wife, who is listed in his residence permit—and she is the sister of the aforementioned A. S.—and said: "If you go out to your brother, you are divorced." She did not go out. Then he ordered her to do something, and she hesitated, so he said: "You are divorced three times." This was about five days ago, and he did not divorce her before or after that.
When she was asked about what the husband said, she answered that this is what actually happened, and that he did not divorce her before or after that. As for her brother, the aforementioned A. S., he stated that he knows nothing about the facts except from them, and he added that he does not know that the husband divorced her except for this divorce.

Answer: Based on that, I issued a ruling to them: that the conditional divorce did not take effect because she did not go out. As for the immediate divorce, one divorce took effect on her, and he may take her back as long as she is in the waiting period; because it is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the hadith of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) what indicates that such a divorce is considered one divorce. She was taken back in my presence, in her presence and the presence of her brother, and thus she remained in his marriage bond. We informed the aforementioned husband that pronouncing three divorces is not permissible, and that he must repent for that. May Allah improve the condition of everyone.
Said and attested by the one who is poor in need of the forgiveness of his Lord, Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz—President of the Islamic University of Madinah al-Munawwarah, may Allah forgive him—and may Allah send prayers and peace upon His servant and our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.