Background: Some think that a Muslim husband is able to divorce his Muslim wife 'on the spot', i.e. immediately, by saying "I want a divorce" 3 times.

In The Quran it is made clear there must be a waiting period before a divorce can be made official:

For those who are discontent with their wives, let them wait for four months. If they reconcile, then God is Forgiving, Merciful. And if they insist on the divorce, then God is Hearer, Knowledgeable. [2:226-227]

And if you feared a rift between the couple then appoint an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family; if they decide to reconcile, God will help them get together. God is Knower, Aware. [4:35]

O you prophet, if any of you have divorced the women, then they should be divorced while ensuring that their required interim is fulfilled, and keep count of the interim. You shall reverence God your Lord, and do not evict the women from their homes, nor should they leave, unless they have committed a proven adultery. And these are God's limits. And anyone who transgresses God's limits has wronged his soul. You never know; perhaps God will make something come out of this.
Once the interim is fulfilled, you may reconcile with them equitably, or go through with the separation equitably. You shall have two equitable witnesses witness the divorce before God. This is to enlighten those who believe in God and the Last Day. Anyone who reverences God, He will create a solution for him. [65:1-2]

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