Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that a man cameto Abdullah ibn Masud and said, "I have divorced my wife by saying Idivorce you eight times." Ibn Masud said to him, "What have peopletold you?" He replied, "I have been told that I have to partabsolutely from her." Ibn Masud said, "They have spoken the truth. Aperson who divorces as Allah has commanded, Allah makes it clear forhim, and a person who obscures himself in error, we make stay by hiserror. So do not confuse yourselves and pull us into your confusion.It is as they have said."
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 29, Hadith 2
Arabic reference: Book 29, Hadith 1154