until her condition is set right. She may perhaps mend her ways in one night, or two nights; or she may not mend her ways except after a month.

The point is that the author’s statement, “for as long as he wishes,” is conditional upon her remaining in her rebelliousness. The ruling revolves around its effective cause, and discipline ceases once the person being disciplined has reformed. Thus, if she reforms after he has forsaken her for a week, then praise be to Allah; he has no right to extend it further. This is like medicine: it is determined by the illness. Once a person has been cured, he does not continue taking the medicine, because it would become harmful. Accordingly, once she reforms, he must end the forsaking.

His statement, “and in speech for three days,” means that he may forsake her in speech for three days, and may not exceed this, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “It is not lawful for a Muslim to forsake his brother for more than three days: they meet, and this one turns away while that one turns away. The better of them is the one who begins with the greeting of peace.” (1) Thus, he may forsake her for two or three days, but no longer than that. Forsaking ends with the greeting of peace: if he enters the house while she is by the door, or in the nearby sitting room, and says, “Peace be upon you,” the forsaking has ended. Likewise, if he says to her, “How are you this morning, mother of so-and-so?” that is sufficient, because he has spoken to her.

Thus, at the end of every three days, he should greet her once. In that case, the woman will be bursting with anger, and the desired discipline will be achieved.

His statement, “If she persists, he may strike her without severity”: this is the third stage.