the leper. (1) The scholars have even said: The ruler must isolate lepers in one place, lest they mix with people and this disease spread.

His statement, “annulment is established for each of the two”: That annulment should be available to the woman is clearly in her interest, because divorce is not in her hands. Thus, if she is entitled to annulment, separation is achieved for her. But what benefit does the man gain from being entitled to annulment? We say that he gains three benefits:

First: it does not reduce the number of divorces available to him, so it is not counted as one of his divorces.

Second: he may recover the bridal gift from the one who deceived him—as will come, Allah willing.

Third: people will not regard him as a man who frequently divorces—that is, one who divorces often. This is a social benefit, because hardly anyone will be willing to give such a man a wife in marriage, fearing that he will divorce.

When we consider these defects, we find that some can be treated and some cannot. Are they all alike, or should we say that where the defect can be removed, there is no option of annulment? Vaginal atresia can be treated by an operation, but will the operation make the vagina normal? Apparently, it will not. The same applies to qarn (a vaginal obstruction); we do not know whether it will become normal or not. ʿAfal (a vaginal growth) can be treated, since, so long as it is a tumor, it can be treated without surgery. If it will heal only after ten years, he is not required to wait; but if it is