Originally posted by: gems4emma
The husband isn't supposed to say talak three times in a row.This is a severe cultural mistake and distortion.
I went to an Islamic high school here in the USA and we had an extensive Islamic Studies class on marriage during 11th and 12th grades.
The husband can divorce his wife three times.
The first time he says "talak", then there is a waiting period, then they can get back together if eveyrthing is resolved in that period OR become legally divorced.
If they remarry or get back together after that, the husband can say talak once more. The same cycle occurs.
The third time he says it, after the waiting period, they can not get back together. The only way they can get back together is if the wife marries someone else, consummates, they divorce (for the first time) and then she remarries her first husband.
Again, you aren't supposed to say "talak talak talak" three times like that in a row. It's a mistake many Indian/Pakistani/Bengali Muslims make.
Women CAN obtain a divorce. Its called Khula. She can go to an imam/religious leader to make it official. Technically, she's "asking" her husband for a divorce, but when she says she wants a divorce, its called khula. He is obliged to divorce her.
In the case of khula, the waiting period is only 1 month. In talak, the waiting period is approximately 3 months.