His statement, “or by evidence of his admission,” means that he denies it, but we have evidence against him from witnesses who testify that he previously admitted that he was impotent. His impotence is then established. What, then, is the ruling in his case?

The answer is in his statement, “He is granted a year from the time they bring their case before the judge.” He is given a year from the time of litigation. What is meant here by a year is a lunar year, not a solar year, because this is the type of year specified in the Quran:

“He is the One Who made the sun a radiant light and the moon a reflected light, and determined for it phases, so that you may know the number of years and the reckoning.” [Yunus: 5]

Thus, Allah made clear that years are lunar years. He also says:

“They ask you about the new moons. Say, ‘They are measures of time for people.’” [al-Baqarah: 189]

Is there any difference between a lunar year and a solar year? Yes. The solar year is longer, because it is connected to the zodiacal constellations, which are twelve constellations, and its days are longer than those of the lunar year. What matters, then, is that it is a lunar year; the periods granted to those suffering from impotence are determined accordingly.

His statement, “from the time they bring their case before the judge,” means not from the time of the marriage, nor from the time the claim is made. Thus, if she brings a claim against him, for example, in Muharram, but they do not bring their case before the judge until Rabiʿ, the period begins from Rabiʿ.

His statement, “He is granted a year,” means that it is the Islamic judge who grants him this period.

His statement, “If he has intercourse with her during it, otherwise she may annul the marriage,” means that if the husband has intercourse with her during this period, she has no right to annul the marriage, because it becomes clear that he is not impotent. Otherwise, she may annul it.