the first husband when the pregnancy was by the second husband. If this is taken into account in the waiting period following a husband’s death, it must also be taken into account in the waiting period following divorce. If it is taken into account following divorce, giving birth does not discharge her waiting period, and she must begin a fresh count of three menstrual periods after delivery. Delivery is not the later of the two terms, since the menstrual periods do not fall within the pregnancy. Allah knows best.
The book of Ibn al-Mawwāz states, after mentioning the disagreement above: “If the pregnancy resulted from adultery, it would in no circumstances discharge a waiting period binding upon her.” This means cases in which both spouses acknowledge the adultery and the child’s paternity is disclaimed without mutual imprecation; the woman admits to adultery after mutual imprecation; or the husband is castrated but has an intact penis, such that his wife must observe a waiting period but the child is not attributed to him, subject to the disagreement on this matter. We explain it in this way because, if the husband denies paternity and undertakes mutual imprecation, the waiting period ends upon delivery. If he does not deny paternity, the child is attributed to him, and her waiting period likewise ends upon delivery, since the marital presumption of paternity remains in effect.
Section
On Missing Persons
The loss of something means its disappearance after being present, and its absence after having existed. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
“They said, turning towards them, ‘What are you missing?’” [Joseph: 71]
“They said, ‘We are missing the king’s measuring cup. Whoever brings it shall have a camel-load, and I guarantee it.’” [Joseph: 72]
A missing person is therefore someone who disappears, whose trail is lost, and of whom no news is known. There are four categories: someone missing in Muslim lands; someone missing in enemy lands; someone missing from the Muslim ranks while fighting the enemy; and someone missing in fighting among Muslims during the civil conflicts that arise between them.
Section
As for someone missing in Muslim lands, the procedure, when his wife brings her case before the ruler, is for him to require her to establish the marriage and the husband’s absence. Once she has established this before him, he writes to the governor of the town where the man is thought to be, or to the principal town if he is not thought to be in any particular town, requesting a thorough inquiry into his whereabouts. In his letter, he identifies the man by his name, lineage, description, and business. The governor, in turn, writes with these particulars to the various districts of his territory. Then, when