the view of Uthman, Ali, Zayd ibn Thabit, and Abdullah ibn Masud. It was also held by Ata, and adopted by al-Shafii and the scholars of legal reasoning.

It is related from Umar that she waits nine months; if she does not menstruate, she observes a waiting period of three months. [This is also the view of Malik. Al-Hasan said: She waits one year; if she does not menstruate, she observes a waiting period of three months.] (1) All of this concerns the waiting period following divorce.

As for a woman whose husband has died, her waiting period is four months and ten days, whether she is one who menstruates or not.

As for a pregnant woman, her waiting period ends upon delivery, whether her husband divorced her or died, by virtue of His saying, Exalted is He: “And for pregnant women, their term is until they deliver their burdens.”

Abd al-Wahhab ibn Muhammad al-Khatib informed us; Abd al-Aziz ibn Ahmad al-Khallal informed us; Abu al-Abbas al-Asamm informed us; al-Rabi informed us; al-Shafii informed us; Sufyan informed us, from al-Zuhri, from Ubaydullah [ibn Abdullah] (2), from his father: Subayah bint al-Harith gave birth a few nights after her husband’s death. Abu al-Sanabil ibn Bakak passed by her [and said] (3), “You have adorned yourself for prospective husbands, yet it is four months and ten days.” Subayah mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said: “Abu al-Sanabil has lied”—or, “It is not as Abu al-Sanabil has said. You have become lawful for marriage, so marry.” (4)

“Whoever fears Allah, He will make his affair easy for him”: He will make easy for him the affairs of this world and the Hereafter.

“That is the command of Allah, which He has sent down to you. Whoever fears Allah, He will expiate his evil deeds and greatly magnify his reward. (5)”