(Divorce must be pronounced twice and then (a woman) must be retained in honour or released in kindness…) [2:229].
Ahmad ibn al-Hasan al-Qadi informed us> Muhammad ibn Ya'qub> al-Rabi'> al-Shafi'i> Malik> Hisham ibn 'Urwa> his father who said: “The norm was that when a man divorced his wife, he had the right to take her back before the end of her waiting period, even if he divorced her a thousand times. One particular man divorced his wife and then waited for her until the waiting period was about to elapse and then took her back. He then divorced her immediately and said to her: 'By Allah! I will not take you back nor will I ever allow you to marry someone else'. Allah, glorious and majestic is He, then revealed (Divorce must be pronounced twice and then (a woman) must be retained in honour or released in kindness…)”.
Abu Bakr al-Tamimi informed us> Abu Ja'far Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Marzuban> Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Hazawwari> Muhammad ibn Sulayman> Ya'la al-Makki, the client of the household of Zubayr> Hisham ibn 'Urwah> his father> 'A'ishah that a woman came to her and asked her about something relating to divorce. She said: “I mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace. And then this verse was revealed (Divorce must be pronounced twice and then (a woman) must be retained in honour or released in kindness)”.
Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi , trans. Mokrane Guezzou