It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Banu Muttalib’s Sayyiduna Rukanah bin Yazid (may Allah be pleased with him) gave his wife three divorces in one sitting and then became very distressed. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked him: How did you give the divorce? He said: I gave her three divorces. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: In one sitting? He said: Yes. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then this is only one. If you wish to take her back, then do so. So he took her back. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) was of the opinion that divorce should be given in every (separate) period of purity.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), in the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and during the first two years of the caliphate of Sayyiduna Umar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), three divorces were counted as only one divorce. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: People are hastening in a matter in which they should proceed with utmost deliberation, so if we enforce the decision of all three divorces taking effect, then he enforced this decision.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d Sa’idi (may Allah be pleased with him) that when a man from Banu Ajlan, Sayyiduna ‘Uwaymir, performed li’an with his wife, he said:“O Messenger of Allah! Now if I keep her in my house even after li’an, it would be oppression on my part towards her, therefore she is divorced, divorced, divorced.”In one narration it is stated: He gave her three divorces even before the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). In another narration it is stated: This became the practice among those who performed li’an.