It is also possible that it is accepted from him, for the scholar (faqih) may be unaware of many legal rulings. Our companions said: This is not accepted from the scholar, but it is accepted from one raised in the desert or a recent convert to Islam. Is it accepted from other common people? There are two views. If he has an excuse that prevents him from attending to deny it, such as illness, imprisonment, being occupied with protecting property he fears will be lost, or being tied down by a creditor whose absence or departure he fears, you must examine the situation. If the duration of this is short [and he delays it until] he can attend so that his excuse is removed, his denial is not invalidated, because he is in the position of one who learned of it at night and delayed until the morning. If it is prolonged, and he was able to send word to the ruler to send someone to him to perform the li'an and denial, but he did not do so, his denial is invalidated. If he could not do that, he should bear witness that he is denying his wife's child. If he does not do so, his option is void, because if he is unable to perform the denial himself, bearing witness takes its place, just as the sick person establishes the "fay'a" (returning to intimacy) by his word as a substitute for "fay'a" by intercourse. If he says, "I did not believe the one who informed me," you must examine it; if the matter was widespread and common knowledge, his statement is not accepted, [and if it was not widespread, and the informant was of well-known integrity, his statement is not accepted], otherwise it is accepted. If he says, "I did not know that this was incumbent upon me," his statement is accepted because this is something that is hidden from people. If he knew while he was absent and was able to travel but occupied himself otherwise, his option is not invalidated, but if he stayed without need, it is invalidated because he delayed it without an excuse. If he had a need that prevented him from traveling, he is subject to what we mentioned earlier. If he delayed his denial without an excuse and said, "I delayed the denial in hopes that he would die so I could cover for him and myself," his option is void, because he delayed his denial when it was possible to do so without an excuse.

Section: If he is congratulated for the child and says "amin" to the supplication, it is binding upon him according to all their opinions. If he says, "May Allah reward you well," or "May Allah bless you," or "May Allah grant you one like him," the child is binding upon him. This is what was said by