for if he does have intercourse, no fixed penalty is incurred and no discretionary chastisement is imposed, except upon someone who himself regarded the act as forbidden. A dower equal to that of her peers becomes obligatory if he does not take her back—and, according to the relied-upon position, even if he does. An oath of abstinence (īlāʾ), a declaration of ẓihār, a further divorce, or mutual imprecation (liʿān) pronounced between them is valid, and they still inherit from one another.

If, after the waiting period has expired, the husband claims that he effected a return within it and she denies this, then:
• If they agree on the date the waiting period ended—Friday, for example—and he says, “I took you back on Thursday,” while she insists, “Rather, on Saturday,” she is believed upon swearing an oath.
• If they agree on the date of the alleged return—Friday—and she maintains, “The waiting period finished on Thursday,” whereas he says, “On Saturday,” he is believed upon his oath.

When they dispute over which event came first without agreeing on either date, the basic rule is that precedence is given to the claim asserting the earlier occurrence. Accordingly, if she first claims that the waiting period had lapsed and he then alleges a prior return, she is believed with an oath; whereas if he claims a return before the waiting period’s end and she counters that it was after it, he is believed.

I add: If both of them assert precedence, her word is accepted—and Allah knows best.

Whenever he claims a return while the waiting period is still running, he is believed. If she initially denies it and is held credible, then later admits to it before he has made any admission, her confession is accepted.

If he pronounces fewer than three divorces and says, “I have had intercourse with you, therefore I have a right of return,” but she denies it, she is believed upon taking an oath. He has, however, acknowledged that the full dower is owed to her; if she has already taken possession of it, he no longer has any right of return, and if she has not, she may claim only half.