Muawiyah bin Abu Ayyash was sitting with our masters Abdullah bin Zubair and Asim bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) when Muhammad bin Iyas bin Bukair came and said that a Bedouin man had given his wife three divorces before consummation, so what is your opinion? Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "We do not know anything about this issue. Go to Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him); I left them both with Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), and inform me of what they say." Muhammad bin Iyas went there and asked them. Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said to Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), "You tell, for a difficult issue has come to you." Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "In one divorce, there are two forms: it becomes irrevocable (bain), and in three divorces, she becomes forbidden (haram) until she marries another man." Then Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said the same.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: In our view, this is the ruling: if someone marries a previously married woman and gives her three divorces before consummation, she becomes unlawful for him until she marries another husband.