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There is considerable disagreement among Mālik’s disciples and others concerning the procedure for mutual imprecation, though the differences are slight. Whoever wishes to examine these differences should consult the relevant discussion. This subject will be addressed in its proper place in the book.

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There is disagreement concerning a man who accuses four wives of adultery in a single statement. Abū Bakr al-Abharī said: “I know of no explicit ruling on this matter. According to our school, he must undertake mutual imprecation with each wife separately, because mutual imprecation has the standing of testimony. Were he to produce witnesses, he would have to have them testify against each woman separately. It is also possible that a single mutual imprecation would suffice, by analogy with accusing a group of adultery in a single statement, and with pronouncing zihār concerning all of them in a single statement, for which a single expiation suffices.”

He then said: “Al-Istakhrī related from Ismā‘īl al-Qādī that a group of people claimed that a man owed them a debt, and he swore a single oath in response to them. On this basis, a single mutual imprecation should suffice for all of the wives.”