If it is objected, “But this does not recur in conditional divorce or manumission,” the answer is: The emancipation of the same person cannot recur. Likewise, the conditional divorce itself cannot recur. Rather, a second divorce has a different legal effect from the first, and divorce is limited to three pronouncements.

However, if someone makes a vow, saying, “I owe it to Allah, if He grants me a child, to free a slave on the child’s behalf; and whenever He grants me wealth, to pay its zakat or give a tenth of it in charity,” the obligation recurs. A fuller discussion of this belongs elsewhere.

Section

Allah Most High says:

“If you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you has relieved himself, or you have touched women…”

This verse has puzzled some people. A group of them said that “or” means “and,” interpreting the wording as: “and one of you has relieved himself, and you have touched women.”

They argued that “or” would imply that illness and travel each necessitate dry ablution, just as relieving oneself and touching women do.

This, however, is contrary to the meaning of the verse.