Thus, in (if), when there is no intention of immediate effect or contextual indication, always indicates deferment. As for the other particles, when there is no intention or contextual indication, then if they are coupled with lam, they indicate immediate effect; but if they are not coupled with it, they indicate deferment.

This distinction is important, because a number of issues that will come later are based upon it. It is also required by the Arabic language. As for common usage, it appears that people do not distinguish between them: an ordinary person does not differentiate between saying to his wife, “Whenever you do not get up, you are divorced,” and saying, “If you do not get up, you are divorced.” Yet in Arabic, the matter is as the jurists—may Allah have mercy on them—have stated: they distinguish between in and the other particles. Note, however, that this distinction is preceded by two stages as well: intention and contextual indication. Usually, there must be either an intention or a contextual indication. But if we suppose that someone uttered these words without intending anything, we say to him: in always indicates deferment, whereas all other particles indicate deferment unless coupled with lam, in which case they indicate immediate effect. Examples and applications will follow; but the most important thing is for a person to know the principle, for once he knows the principle, its application becomes easy.

If he says, “If you get up,” or “When you get up,” or “Whenever you get up,” or “At whatever time you get up,” or “Whichever woman gets up,” or “Whenever you get up, you are divorced,” then whenever the condition occurs, she is divorced. If the condition is repeated, the divorce does not recur, except in the case of kullamā (whenever). And if he says, “If I do not divorce you, then you are divorced,” and he did not intend any particular time, there was no contextual indication of immediate effect, and he does not divorce her, then she becomes divorced at the end of the life of the first of them to die, ..................

His statement, “If you get up,” means: then you are divorced.

His statement, “or when,” means: “When you get up, you are divorced.”

His statement, “or whenever,” means: “Whenever you get up, you are divorced.”

His statement, “or at whatever time,” means: “At whatever time you get up, you are divorced.”

His statement, “or whichever woman gets up,” means: then she is divorced.

His statement, “or whenever you get up, you are divorced; then whenever it occurs, she is divorced,” means: whenever the condition—namely, her getting up—occurs, she is divorced.