with intercourse, for virginity does not remain intact after intercourse.

Here, the testimony of one woman suffices, even though it is well known that the testimony of two women is equivalent to that of one man. So why do we accept the testimony of a single woman? The scholars said: because this is among the matters that are generally known only to women; thus, the testimony of one woman is sufficient in it, just as it is in the case of breastfeeding. A single woman’s testimony concerning breastfeeding is sufficient, as stated in the authentic hadith (1), and this is similar. In their time, there is no doubt that this was indeed the case: in such circumstances, women were examined only by women. Today, however, women may be examined by both women and men. Nevertheless, the position relied upon by the jurists is sound: if an upright woman testifies that her virginity has not ceased, then his claim that he had intercourse with her is not correct, and her statement is accepted.

His words, “an upright woman,” may raise a question: how can the adjective be masculine while the noun it qualifies is feminine? The answer to this question is that ʿadl (uprightness) is a verbal noun; when a verbal noun is used adjectivally, it remains singular and masculine. Thus one says: “upright men,” “an upright woman,” and “an upright man.” Ibn Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said in the Alfiyyah:

They frequently use a verbal noun as an adjective,
so it remains singular and masculine.

Accordingly, there is no issue with the author’s wording.