Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (12/25)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

for a woman observing a waiting period following her husband’s death, or for a woman irrevocably separated by divorce or annulment. The author will mention the latter category later. For example, he might say to her, “By Allah, a woman like you would be a fine catch,” or, “Let me know when your waiting period has ended,” or, “Do not let yourself slip away,” or, “I am interested in a woman like you,” or, “The mother of my children has grown old, and I need a wife,” or something similar. The point is that this is called an indirect allusion, and it is permissible for a woman observing a waiting period following her husband’s death, or for a woman irrevocably separated by divorce or annulment.

Both are permissible for one who has irrevocably separated his wife by less than three divorces ………

His statement, “Both are permissible,” means an explicit proposal and an indirect allusion.

His statement, “for one who has irrevocably separated her by less than three divorces,” means a husband who has irrevocably separated her by something other than a threefold divorce. An example is where he divorces her in exchange for compensation: a man and his wife agree that he will divorce her and that she, her guardian, or any other person will give him money. This is called an irrevocable separation in exchange for compensation. Allah, Exalted is He, has called this compensation a ransom, because the woman has bought herself from her husband:

“There is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself.” [al-Baqarah 2:229]

If we were to say that her husband had the right to take her back, she would gain nothing. Therefore, we say that he has no right to take her back except with her consent.

His statement, “by less than three divorces”: it would have been clearer had the author said, “by other than three divorces.” This includes, for example, divorcing her in exchange for compensation, or annulling the marriage because of a defect in her husband, or because he is unable to provide the bridal gift or maintenance, and the like. The point is that divorce in exchange for compensation and all annulments constitute an irrevocable separation, but they are not like irrevocable separation through three divorces. Thus, the husband who irrevocably separated her may make an explicit proposal or an indirect allusion to her, and may also contract a new marriage with her—even during her waiting period—with a new bridal gift, because the waiting period is owed to him and no one’s rights are infringed thereby.

للمعتدة من وفاة، والبائن بطلاق، أو فسخ، وسيأتي ذكرها في كلام المؤلف، مثل أن يقول لها: والله إن امرأة مثلك غنيمة، أو: إذا انقضت العدة فأخبريني، أو: لا تفوتي نفسك، أو: إني في مثلك لراغب، أو: أم العيال كبرت وأنا محتاج لزوجة، أو ما أشبه ذلك، فالمهم أن هذا نسميه تعريضاً، وهو جائز للمعتدة من وفاة، والبائن بطلاق أو فسخ. وَيُبَاحَانِ لِمَنْ أَبَانَهَا دُونَ الثَّلَاثِ ......... قوله: «ويباحان»، أي: التصريح والتعريض. قوله: «لمن أبانها دون الثلاث» يعني لزوج أبانها بغير الطلاق الثلاث، مثل ما لو طلقها على عوض، كرجل اتفق هو وزوجته على أنه يطلقها وتسلم له فلوساً، أو وليها، أو أي شخص آخر، فهذه نسميها بائناً بعوض، وقد سمى الله ـ تعالى ـ هذا العوض فداء؛ لأن المرأة اشترت نفسها من زوجها: ﴿فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا افْتَدَتْ بِهِ﴾ [البقرة: ٢٢٩]، فلو قلنا: إن زوجها له أن يراجعها ما استفادت، ولهذا نقول: لا رجعة له عليها إلا برضاها. وقوله: «دون الثلاث»، لو قال المؤلف: بغير الثلاث، لكان أوضح، مثل أن يطلقها على عوض، أو يفسخ العقد فسخاً لعيب في زوجها، أو لإعسار بالصداق، أو بالنفقة، أو نحو ذلك، المهم أن الطلاق على عوض وجميع الفسوخ، تعتبر بينونة، لكن ليست مثل البينونة بالثلاث، فيجوز لزوجها الذي أبانها أن يصرح ويعرِّض، ويعقد عليها أيضاً، ولو في العدة بمهر جديد؛ لأن العدة له، ولا عدوان في ذلك على أحد.