His statement: “his illness,” meaning that after contracting the marriage, he becomes ill and no longer has any desire for marriage. He is still obliged to provide maintenance, because the withholding is on his part.

His statement: “his being castrated.” Castration means the removal of the penis. Thus, if his penis has been removed, he is obliged to provide maintenance, because the withholding is on his part.

His statement: “his impotence.” Impotence is the inability to have intercourse: his penis does not become erect. He is therefore obliged to provide maintenance, because the withholding is on the husband’s part.

But if she is so young that one of her age is not fit for intercourse, he is not obliged to provide maintenance, since he is unable to enjoy marital relations with her. However, if we consider the apparent meaning of the Quran and the sunnah and say, “This is a wife,” then neither the Quran nor the sunnah stipulates that she must be of an age fit for intercourse. As for the dower, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “She is entitled to the dower because he has made her private parts lawful for himself.” (1)

Moreover, the husband who contracts marriage with this young girl does so knowingly: he knows that he will not be able to enjoy marital relations with her, yet he wishes to reserve her so that she will not marry another man. All of this is based on the view that marrying off a young girl is valid, and the disagreement over this issue has already been mentioned. Yet, assuming that marrying off a young girl is valid in certain cases, the apparent meaning of the Quran and the sunnah indicates that she must be maintained, for he entered into the marriage knowingly and she is his wife, while the basis requiring maintenance—namely, marriage—remains in effect, unless there is a scholarly consensus preventing this; for consensus can restrict and specify a general text.