they are extremely cautious about cauterizing a person’s lower back. Thus, in such a case, if we know that his sexual desire will not return, there is no benefit in postponement, for his case resembles that of a man whose penis has been severed, for whom recovery cannot be hoped; indeed, it is certain that he is incapable of intercourse.

As for the reason for deferring the matter for a year, they said: it is so that all four seasons may pass over him: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Spring begins with the sign of Aries, when night and day become equal after the long nights. The season of spring comprises Aries, Taurus, and Gemini. Summer begins when the daytime reaches its greatest length, and it comprises Cancer, Leo, and Virgo. Then autumn begins, when night and day become equal after the long days, and it comprises Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. Winter then begins when the night reaches its greatest length and the day starts to increase until night and day become equal, at which point spring begins.

The scholars say: if he is granted this one-year respite and the seasons pass over him, it will become clear whether his impotence is due to his natural constitution. In that case, the changing seasons will not benefit him, for a person has four natural qualities: heat, cold, moisture, and dryness. One of these four qualities may predominate, such that one season of the year does not suit him while another does. This is why the matter is deferred for a year, so that his condition may become clear.

Question: Is a man’s weakness in intercourse considered impotence? It is not. So long as he is able to have intercourse, he is not impotent, even if he has intercourse only once a month, for example, because it has been established that he is able to have intercourse.

Question: Can a person be partially impotent, meaning