Short answer
Yes, after one or two talaqs. During the iddah of a revocable talaq he can simply take her back. After the iddah, or after khula, they need a new nikah with her consent and a new mahr. After three talaqs she is not lawful for him until she marries another man in a genuine, consummated marriage that later ends.
After one or two talaq raj'i, the husband may take his wife back during the iddah by word or by intimacy. After the iddah, or after a talaq ba'in or khula, a fresh nikah is needed with her consent, witnesses and mahr. After three talaqs she becomes lawful to him only after a valid, consummated marriage to another man has ended and its iddah is over.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Taking a wife back during the iddah needs words; intimacy alone does not count. If she married someone else in between, the first husband keeps only the talaqs that were left.
- Maliki
- If she married someone else in between, the first husband keeps only the talaqs that were left.
- Hanbali
- If she married someone else in between, the first husband keeps only the talaqs that were left.
Explanation
Allah tells families not to prevent divorced women from remarrying their former husbands when both agree on good terms (2:232). Reconciliation is welcome. What the couple must do depends on how the marriage ended.
- During the iddah of one or two clear talaqs (raj'i). No new nikah is needed. He says, "I have taken you back," ideally before two witnesses, and in the Hanafi school resuming intimacy also counts. See iddah.
- After the iddah has ended, after a final (ba'in) talaq, after khula, or after a divorce before consummation. A new nikah is needed, with her free consent, two witnesses and a new mahr, and the wali according to the rules in marrying without a wali.
- After three talaqs. She is not lawful to him until she marries another man (2:230). That marriage must be real and consummated, and it must end by his death or his own choice to divorce, followed by her iddah. See halala.
The count carries over. If he divorced her once and they remarry, he has two talaqs left, not three. There is one Hanafi detail: if she married another man in between and then returned to the first, Abu Hanifa and Abu Yusuf hold that he starts again with three, while Imam Muhammad and the other three schools say he keeps only what was left.
Before you remarry, be sure how many talaqs were given and whether any was ba'in. Bring the exact words, dates and number to a mufti. See talaq raj'i and ba'in and three talaq at once.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:232
وَإِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَبَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ أَن يَنكِحْنَ أَزْوَٰجَهُنَّ إِذَا تَرَٰضَوْا۟ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ مِنكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۗ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٣٢﴾
And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, do not prevent them from remarrying their [former] husbands if they agree among themselves on an acceptable basis. That is instructed to whoever of you believes in Allah and the Last Day. That is better for you and purer, and Allah knows and you know not.
Reuniting a divorced couple who both wish it is encouraged.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:230
فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا تَحِلُّ لَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدُ حَتَّىٰ تَنكِحَ زَوْجًا غَيْرَهُۥ ۗ فَإِن طَلَّقَهَا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يَتَرَاجَعَآ إِن ظَنَّآ أَن يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ يُبَيِّنُهَا لِقَوْمٍۢ يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٣٠﴾
And if he has divorced her [for the third time], then she is not lawful to him afterward until [after] she marries a husband other than him. And if the latter husband divorces her [or dies], there is no blame upon the woman and her former husband for returning to each other if they think that they can keep [within] the limits of Allah. These are the limits of Allah, which He makes clear to a people who know.
The limit after a third talaq.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5260
Sahih... لا حتى يذوق عسيلتك وتذوقي عسيلته ...
"No, not until he tastes your sweetness and you taste his."
After three talaqs, the second marriage must be consummated before she can return.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2194
Graded hasan... ثلاث جدهن جد وهزلهن جد النكاح والطلاق والرجعة ...
"Three things are serious whether meant seriously or in jest: nikah, talaq and taking a wife back."
Taking a wife back (raj'ah) is a binding act.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, Bab al-Raj'ah. Return during the iddah by word or by intimacy, and what makes the divorced woman lawful again.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, Bab al-Raj'ah, on what makes the divorced woman lawful. The view of Abu Hanifa and Abu Yusuf that a second husband resets the count, and Imam Muhammad's disagreement.
- Minhaj al-Talibin (Nawawi), Kitab al-Raj'ah. The Shafi'i rule that return is by words only.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.