Short answer
They are the three ways a talaq can be given. Ahsan (best): one talaq in a clean period with no intimacy, then letting the iddah pass. Hasan (good): one talaq in each of three clean periods. Biddat (innovated): three at once, or a talaq during her period, or after intimacy in that clean period. Biddat is sinful, but in the Hanafi school it still takes effect.
Talaq al-sunnah has two forms, ahsan and hasan, while talaq al-bid'ah is haram for the husband but valid. Three talaqs in one sitting count as three, and a talaq during menstruation counts, with the husband told to take her back if it was revocable and to divorce later if he still wishes.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Giving three talaqs at once is not a sin, though one at a time is better; it counts as three. A talaq during the period is forbidden but valid.
Explanation
Allah says, "divorce them for the commencement of their waiting period" (65:1), and "Divorce is twice" (2:229). When Ibn Umar divorced his wife during her period, the Prophet ﷺ told him to take her back, keep her until she was pure, had another period and became pure again, and then divorce her before touching her if he wished. From these texts the Hanafis set out three types.
- Talaq-e-ahsan (best): one talaq in a tuhr (clean period) in which they were not intimate, then no more talaq while the iddah runs. If they reconcile, he takes her back. If not, the iddah ends and they are apart, but they can remarry later with a new nikah and no halala.
- Talaq-e-hasan (good): one talaq in each of three successive clean periods without intimacy. After the third it is final. For a woman who does not menstruate, one talaq a month.
- Talaq-e-biddat (innovated): three talaqs in one sentence or one sitting, or any talaq during her period, or in a clean period after intimacy. It is a sin, but the Hanafi school, with the other three, counts it, and three in one sitting count as three. Some later scholars, such as Ibn Taymiyyah, held that three said at once count as one; the mainstream Hanafi fatwa does not follow that view. See three talaq at once.
Ahsan is the best because it leaves the most room to think again. Most regretted divorces are biddat ones given in anger. A pregnant wife may be divorced at any time in her pregnancy. See divorce during pregnancy.
If you are thinking of divorce, first read what to do in an unhappy marriage. If a talaq has been given, ask a mufti which type it was and what follows. See talaq raj'i and ba'in.
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 At-Talaaq 65:1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِذَا طَلَّقْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَطَلِّقُوهُنَّ لِعِدَّتِهِنَّ وَأَحْصُوا۟ ٱلْعِدَّةَ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ ۖ لَا تُخْرِجُوهُنَّ مِنۢ بُيُوتِهِنَّ وَلَا يَخْرُجْنَ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَٰحِشَةٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَةٍۢ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ ظَلَمَ نَفْسَهُۥ ۚ لَا تَدْرِى لَعَلَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحْدِثُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ أَمْرًۭا ﴿١﴾
O Prophet, when you [Muslims] divorce women, divorce them for [the commencement of] their waiting period and keep count of the waiting period, and fear Allah, your Lord. Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses, nor should they [themselves] leave [during that period] unless they are committing a clear immorality. And those are the limits [set by] Allah. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah has certainly wronged himself. You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different] matter.
Talaq is given at the right time.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:229
ٱلطَّلَٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَٰنٍۢ ۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ ﴿٢٢٩﴾
Divorce is twice. Then, either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment. And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep [within] the limits of Allah. But if you fear that they will not keep [within] the limits of Allah, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself. These are the limits of Allah, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allah - it is those who are the wrongdoers.
Talaq is given one at a time.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5251
Sahih... مره فليراجعها ثم ليمسكها حتى تطهر ثم تحيض ثم تطهر ...
"Tell him to take her back, then keep her until she is pure, then has a period, then is pure again."
A talaq during the period is wrong, and the sunnah time is a clean period.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, Bab Talaq al-Sunnah. The ahsan, hasan and bid'i forms and their rulings.
- Minhaj al-Talibin (Nawawi), Kitab al-Talaq, on sunni and bid'i talaq. The Shafi'i view that three at once is not bid'ah.
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.