Divorcing the two wives with one pronouncement

Q: I said to my two wives, "You are both divorced; get out." I did so to take revenge on them because they did not prepare dinner for my guests; a request that I had already made. Is this considered divorce for the two wives?

A: In principle, a sane man is aware of what he says. Here, the revenge you wanted to take indicates that you intended to divorce your wives. Thus, what you said is considered one pronouncement of divorce for both your wives. Actually, you are allowed to take both or one of them back in marriage since you did not divorce them previously. This requires that they must still be in their `Iddah (woman's prescribed waiting period after divorce). You must bring two just witnesses when you take them back in marriage. If their `Iddah has already expired, you may revoke the divorce of one or both of them with a new marriage contract and Mahr (mandatory gift to a bride from her groom), provided that they give their consent. If the `Iddah of one of them has expired and that of the other has not expired yet, (Part No. 20; Page No. 49) each has its own rulings. In other words, you may take back in marriage the wife whose `Iddah has not yet expired, and conclude a new marriage contract with the wife whose `Iddah has expired. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.