"[Verse 236 - 237] "There is no blame upon you if you divorce women while you have not yet touched them"—meaning: had sexual intercourse with them—"or specified for them an obligation (dower). But give them compensation; the wealthy according to his capability and the poor according to his capability." The wealthy (al-musiʿ) is one who has been granted abundance in provision, and the poor (al-muqtir) is one who has been restricted in it. "A provision according to what is suitable."
Yahya said: There is no fixed duration for the compensation (mutʿah), except for what a man chooses for himself in seeking virtue in that matter. Among the predecessors (Salaf) were those who would provide a servant as compensation, those who would provide clothing, and those who would provide food.
Muhammad said: "A provision" (mataʿan) can be accusative (nasb) based on the meaning: "Grant them a provision." It is said: A man has become wealthy (awsaʿa) if he has become rich, and he has become poor (aqtara) if he is someone upon whom provision has been restricted. The origin of iqtar is constriction."
﴿لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنْ طَلَّقْتُمُ النِّسَاء مَا لم تمَسُّوهُنَّ﴾ يَعْنِي: تجامعوهن ﴿أَوْ تَفْرِضُوا لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً وَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ عَلَى الْمُوسِعِ قَدَرُهُ وعَلى المقتر قدره﴾ الموسع: الَّذِي وُسع عَلَيْهِ فِي الرزق، والمقتر: المقتر عَلَيْهِ ﴿مَتَاعًا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ﴾.
يَحْيَى: وَلَيْسَ فِي الْمُتْعَة أَمر مُؤَقّت، إِلَّا مَا أحب لنَفسِهِ من طلب الفَضْل فِي ذَلِكَ، وَقد كَانَ فِي السّلف من يمتع بالخادم، وَمِنْهُم من يمتع بالكسوة، وَمِنْهُم من يمتع بِالطَّعَامِ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: ﴿مَتَاعا﴾ يجوز أَن يكون النصب فِيهِ على معنى: ومتعوهن مَتَاعا وَيُقَال: أوسع الرجلُ؛ إِذا اسْتغنى، وأقتر؛ إِذا كَانَ مقترا عَلَيْهِ، وأصل الإقتار: الضّيق.
