from them, or similar to them. It differs from two men, for it is possible that they could both be [the source], as it is permissible for the [two ejaculations of two men] to gather in the womb of one woman; thus, it is possible for a child to be created from both, just as it is created from the ejaculation of the man and the woman. That is why the physiognomist said to Umar: 'They have both shared in it.' It does not follow that attributing him to someone from whom it is conceivable he originated requires attributing him to someone from whom it is impossible he originated, just as it does not follow from attributing him to someone who could be born of someone similar to him that he must be attributed to someone younger than him.

Section: If a man and a woman claim the lineage of a child, there is no contradiction between them, because it is possible that he is from both of them through a marriage that existed between them, or through an act of intercourse based on misconception (wat' shubha). Thus, he is attributed to both of them and becomes their son by their mere claim, just as if each one of them were alone in their claim. If a man says: 'This is my son from my wife,' and his wife claims that as well, and another woman claims him, he is the son of the man. As for whether his wife is given precedence over the other woman, there are two possibilities: One is that she is given precedence, because her husband is his father, so it is apparent that she is his mother. It is also possible that they are equal, because if each one of them were alone, he would be attributed to her; therefore, if they both unite, they are equal.

Section: If two women give birth to a son and a daughter, and each one of them claims that the son is her child, not the daughter, there are two possibilities: One is that the physiognomist observes the two women along with the two children, and each one is attributed to the one he associates him with, just as if they did not have another child. The second is that we present their milk to experts in medicine and knowledge. The milk of a male differs from the milk of a female in its nature and weight; it has been said that the milk of a son is heavy, and the milk of a daughter is light. Thus, they are evaluated