But in Arabic usage, it is more common for the particle ka- not to be prefixed to an attached pronoun.
His statement, “And his agent is like him,” indicates that appointing an agent to pronounce divorce is valid. This is so because whatever may validly be delegated in its formation may also validly be delegated in its dissolution. Moreover, it is a legal act not bound to the person himself; it is not a physical act that the person must perform personally. Thus, a husband may appoint someone to divorce his wife, saying to him, “I appoint you as my agent to divorce my wife.” However, if he has more than one wife, he must specify which one.
The conditions required of the agent are the same as those required of the principal. For example, an agent has no authority to divorce the wife while she is menstruating, even if we know that her husband has not had intercourse with her for years. This is because the agent stands in the place of the husband, and just as the husband is not permitted to divorce his wife while she is menstruating, neither is the agent. Hence he said, “And his agent is like him.” The agent differs from the husband, however, in that his authority is restricted.
“He may pronounce one divorce whenever he wishes, unless the husband specifies for him a time and a number, …”
His statement, “He may pronounce one divorce,” means that he is bound by whatever restriction the husband places upon him. If the appointment is unrestricted, he has authority only for one divorce and may not pronounce more.
For example, Zayd says to Amr, “I appoint you as my agent to divorce my wife.” The agent then goes and says to her, “You are divorced three times.” No divorce takes effect, because he has acted without authorization: the husband did not tell him, “Pronounce three divorces.” Since the agency was unrestricted, he possesses authority only for the least to which the term divorce applies: one divorce.
His statement, “whenever he wishes, unless the husband specifies for him a time and a number,” means that he may pronounce the divorce whenever he wishes: today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, after a month, or after two months—on condition that it is not during menstruation or during a period of purity in which the husband has had intercourse with her.