The third interpretation:

2177 - My father narrated to us, al-Musayyab b. Wadih narrated to us, Ibn al-Mubarak narrated to us, from Abu 'Awanah, from al-Mughirah, who said: al-Qa'qa' said: I asked al-Hasan about a man whose wife is nursing a child. He said: "I fear that he will not have intercourse with her until she weans her child." He said: "I do not consider this to be out of anger; indeed, al-ila' (the oath of abstinence) is only [in the context of] anger."

[His saying: Then if they return]

[The first interpretation]

2178 - Muhammad b. Isma'il al-Ahmasi narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us from Mutarrif, from 'Amir, from Ibn 'Abbas, who said: "The return (al-fay') is sexual intercourse." Abu Muhammad said: It was reported from 'Ali b. Abi Talib, Masruq, al-Sha'bi, Muqatil b. Hayyan, and Sa'id b. Jubayr something similar to that.

The second interpretation:

2179 - Al-Ahmasi narrated to us, Waki' narrated to us, from Sharik, from one who heard al-Sha'bi, meaning Muhammad b. Salim, from 'Abd Allah b. Mas'ud, who said: "The return (al-fay') is contentment."

Abu Muhammad said: It was reported from 'Alqamah and Ibrahim al-Nakha'i similar to that.

The third interpretation:

2180 - Muhammad b. Isma'il al-Ahmasi narrated to us, Waki' narrated to us, from Sufyan, from Mansur, from Ibrahim, that a man swore an oath of abstinence (ala) from his wife, then she began menstruating (nafasat), so Masruq and the companions of 'Abd Allah were asked, and they said: "He calls [two] witnesses."

Abu Muhammad said: It was reported from al-Hasan and one of the two opinions of 'Alqamah, that they both said: "The return (al-fay') is calling [two] witnesses."

The fourth interpretation: That he be excused, so he returns by his speech.

2181 - Al-Hasan b. Abi al-Rabi' narrated to us, 'Abd al-Razzaq informed us, Ma'mar informed us, from Qatadah, from al-Hasan, who said: "If he swears the oath, then becomes ill, is imprisoned, or travels, then he returns [to his normal state], then he has an excuse for not having intercourse." He said: And I heard al-Zuhri say something similar to that.