Article 83 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 83 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثاني: الطلاق
Any divorce accompanied by a number in words or by gesture, or repeated in one session, takes effect as only one divorce.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
كل طلاق اقترن بالعدد لفظاً أو إشارة أو تكرر في مجلس واحد لا يقع به إلا طلقة واحدة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 83 explained in plain English
This article addresses a common situation: where the husband divorces his wife with a number, such as saying "you are divorced three times", or repeats the word of divorce several times in the same setting.
The article settles the rule that only one divorce takes effect in these cases:
- Divorce accompanied by a number in words: such as "divorced three" or "divorced by three".
- Divorce accompanied by a number by gesture: such as indicating a number with his fingers along with the word of divorce.
- Divorce repeated in one session: such as "divorced, divorced, divorced" in the same sitting.
This rule has a major effect: Article 86 provides that a divorce completing the three makes the woman irrevocably separated by a major irrevocable divorce, and Article 85 explains that a woman in a major irrevocable divorce is not lawful for her divorcer except after she completes her waiting period from another husband who consummated a valid marriage with her. Treating these forms as one divorce means they do not in themselves lead to the major irrevocable divorce, unless they complete the three together with earlier divorces.
The article does not define what counts as one session, and assessing this is for the court, so it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in personal status matters.
Practical example
In a moment of anger a husband said to his wife: "you are divorced, divorced, divorced" in one session, and he had never divorced her before. Under this article only one divorce takes effect.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 83 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
How many divorces take effect if the husband says you are divorced by three?
Only one divorce takes effect, because any divorce accompanied by a number in words or by gesture takes effect as only one divorce.
Is repeated divorce in one session counted as more than one divorce?
No, a divorce repeated in one session takes effect as only one divorce.
More articles on Divorce
- Article 40
The article provides that the dower is owed under a valid marriage contract, confirmed in full by consummation, seclusion or death, and that a woman divorced before consummation is entitled to half the named dower or a consolation gift.
1- يجب المهر بموجب عقد الزواج الصحيح. 2- يتأكد المهر المسمَّى كاملاً -أو مهر المثل- بالدخول، أو الخلوة، أو وفاة أحد الزوجين. 3- تستحق المطلقة قبل الدخول نصف الم
- Article 53
The article provides that maintenance is owed to a woman in her waiting period after a revocable divorce until the period ends, and not to one in her waiting period after an irrevocable divorce unless she is pregnant, in which case she is entitled until she gives birth.
1- تجب النفقة للمعتدة من طلاق رجعي إلى حين انتهاء عدتها. 2- لا تجب النفقة للمعتدة البائن إلا إذا كانت حاملاً، فلها النفقة حتى تضع حملها.
- Article 76
The article sets out the cases in which separation occurs between spouses: divorce, khul', annulment of the marriage contract, the death of either spouse, and li'an.
تحصل الفرقة بين الزوجين في أي من الحالات الآتية: 1- الطلاق. 2- الخُلع. 3- فسخ عقد الزواج. 4- وفاة أحد الزوجين. 5- اللعان بين الزوجين.
- Article 77
The article defines divorce as dissolution of the marriage contract by the husband's will by words indicating it.
الطلاق حل عقد الزواج بإرادة الزوج باللفظ الدال عليه.
- Article 78
The article divides the words indicating divorce into explicit words, being the word divorce and its derivatives, and implicit words, which could mean divorce or something else and take effect only if the husband intended divorce.
اللفظ الدال على الطلاق نوعان: 1- صريح، وهو لفظ الطلاق أو ما تصرف منه. 2- كناية، وهو اللفظ الذي يحتمل الطلاق وغيره إذا نوى به الزوج الطلاق.
- Article 79
Divorce takes effect by speech or by writing, and when unable to do either, by an understood gesture.
يقع الطلاق بالنطق أو بالكتابة، وعند العجز عنهما فبالإشارة المفهومة.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.