The same applies to ownership. Thus, if this man sells the slave whom he swore not to speak to, then later speaks to him, he has broken his oath.

Or if he says, “By Allah, I will not eat the meat of this lamb,” and it becomes a ram; or, “this fresh date,” and it becomes a dried date, date syrup, or vinegar; or, “this milk,” and it becomes cheese, kishk, or the like, and he then eats it, he has broken his oath in all such cases—unless he intended it only so long as it remained in that particular state.

His statement, “Or: ‘I will not eat the meat of this lamb,’ and it becomes a ram”: a lamb is the young of sheep. When it becomes a ram, the description of being a lamb has ceased, yet it remains the very same animal; therefore, he has broken his oath.

His statement, “Or this fresh date, and it becomes a dried date, date syrup, or vinegar”: if it becomes a dried date or date syrup—that is, it is pressed and the syrup comes out—and he eats some of its syrup, he has broken his oath.

His statement, “Or it becomes vinegar”: vinegar is made by placing fresh dates in water and leaving them for a day or two, after which it is drunk. The water acquires sweetness from the dates, while the dates absorb the unpleasant sediment in the water. People used to consume it in the past, and its taste was among the finest and most pleasant. Tea later took its place. Thus, if the fresh dates become vinegar and he drinks it, he has broken his oath, because the taste of the fresh dates remains in the water.

His statement, “Or this milk becomes cheese, kishk, or the like, and he then eats it; he has broken his oath in all cases”: it says in al-Rawḍ, “Or if he swears, ‘I will not eat’” (1) this milk. If someone asks, “How can milk be eaten?” we reply: a verb appropriate to it must be understood; thus, the intended wording is, “I will not drink this milk,” as in the poet’s words:

“I fed her straw and cool water.”