33 – The Book of Ilāʾ (the oath of abstinence)

If a man says to his wife, “By Allah, I will not approach you,” or, “I will not approach you for four months,” he is deemed to have performed ilāʾ. Should he have intercourse with her within those four months, he has broken his oath; he must pay the expiation, and the ilāʾ is cancelled.

If he refrains from her until four months have elapsed, she is separated from him by a single divorce.

If his oath was confined to those four months, it lapses when the term ends. If, however, he had sworn never to approach her, the oath remains in force. Should he then remarry her, the ilāʾ returns: if he has intercourse with her, expiation is due; if not, another divorce takes effect after a further four-month period. If he marries her once more, the ilāʾ is reinstated again, and on the completion of each four-month period another divorce occurs. Then if he marries her after—