Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—also said concerning the words of Allah Most High:

“Divorced women shall wait for three periods,”

up to His words:

“Their husbands have a greater right to take them back during that time, if they desire reconciliation. Women have rights similar to their obligations, according to what is reasonable, but men have a degree above them,”

and up to His words:

“Divorce is twice; then either retain them on reasonable terms or release them with kindness.”

He thus made either of two courses permissible: retaining them on reasonable terms or releasing them with kindness. He stated that men have a greater right to take them back only if they desire reconciliation, and He granted women rights similar to their obligations, according to what is reasonable. Allah Most High also says:

“When you divorce women and they approach the end of their waiting period, either retain them on reasonable terms or release them on reasonable terms.”

In another verse, Allah Most High says:

“Either retain them on reasonable terms or part with them on reasonable terms.”

Allah Most High also says:

“Do not prevent them from marrying their husbands when they mutually agree on reasonable terms.”

His words here, “on reasonable terms,” indicate that if a woman agreed to something contrary to what is reasonable, her guardians would have the right to prevent the marriage. What is reasonable is marriage to a suitable match.

Those who hold that the dowry customary for a woman of her standing is part of what is reasonable may also cite this as evidence, since what is reasonable is what is customary among those concerned.

Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will, nor to constrain them in order to take back some of what you have given them,”

up to His words:

“Live with them in kindness.”

He has thus stated that mutual consent is to be on reasonable terms, and that retaining