its preservation; thus, his right cannot be disregarded. Therefore, if retaliation becomes due against a pregnant woman—even at the very beginning of her pregnancy—she must be left until she gives birth.
His statement, “or against a non-pregnant woman who subsequently becomes pregnant”: an example is a woman who is not pregnant and deliberately, wrongfully kills someone, but becomes pregnant before a ruling of retaliation is issued against her. She is then left until she gives birth.
If you say: How can she be left when the right predates the pregnancy, and the principle is that what comes first takes precedence?
The answer is that this delay does not nullify the right. At most, it is deferred until this impediment is removed. Retaliation remains established, but because carrying it out would extend to someone other than the offender, it must be delayed.
His statement, “she is not executed until she gives birth to the child,” is in consideration of what the fetus will become. Otherwise, the fetus in the womb is not called a child until it is born.
His statement, “the child,” includes one or more; that is, she must give birth to everything in her womb.
His statement, “and nurses it with the first milk”: this is the milk produced by pregnant women at delivery. By Allah’s permission, it is among the most beneficial things for the child. They say that it is to the child’s stomach as tanning is to leather; it has immense benefit. This first milk is what rennet is taken from, by which things are curdled into cheese.
Then, if someone is found to nurse the child, otherwise she is left until she weans it. Retaliation is not carried out against her for an injury short of death until she gives birth, and the prescribed punishment in this regard is like retaliation.
His statement, “Then, if someone is found to nurse the child, otherwise she is left until she weans it”: if someone is found to nurse the child, retaliation is carried out against her; otherwise, she is left until she weans it.
The word “someone” refers to a rational being; that is, if a woman is found to nurse the child. In our time,