2182 - 'Isam b. Rawwad narrated to us, Adam narrated to us, Hushaym narrated to us, from Muhammad b. Salim, from al-Sha'bi, from Ibn Mas'ud, who said: "If a barrier arises between him and her due to illness, travel, an army, or anything for which he has an excuse, then his declaration [to resume the relationship] is a return (fay')."

His saying, the Most High: "Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful"

2183 - I read to Muhammad b. al-Fadl b. Musa, Muhammad b. 'Ali b. al-Hasan b. Shaqiq narrated to us, Muhammad b. Muzahim informed us, from Bukayr b. Ma'ruf, from Muqatil b. Hayyan, regarding His saying: "Then if they return, indeed Allah is Forgiving, Merciful"—[He is forgiving] for the oath in which he broke his vow.

His saying: "And if they decide upon divorce, then indeed Allah is Hearing, Knowing"

2184 - Muhammad b. Isma'il al-Ahmasi narrated to us, Waki' narrated to us, from Shu'bah, from al-Hakam, from Miqsam, from Ibn 'Abbas, who said: "The determination of divorce is the completion of the four months, and the return (al-fay') is sexual intercourse." Abu Muhammad said: It was reported from Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn al-Hanafiyyah, and Muqatil b. Hayyan something similar to that.

2185 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashaj narrated to us, Abu Khalid narrated to us, Hajjaj informed us, from al-Hakam, from Miqsam, from Ibn 'Abbas, who said: "The determination (al-'azm) is abstaining until four months have passed."

His saying, the Most High: "Divorced women shall wait [as regards] themselves for three periods"

2186 - My father narrated to us, Abu al-Yaman narrated to us, Isma'il, meaning Ibn 'Ayyash, narrated to us, from 'Amr b. Muhajir, from his father, that Asma' bint Yazid b. Sakan al-Ansariyyah said: "I was divorced during the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and there was no waiting period ('iddah) for the divorced woman. Then, when Asma' was divorced, Allah revealed the waiting period for divorce; so she was the first woman for whom the waiting period for divorce was revealed," meaning: "Divorced women shall wait [as regards] themselves for three periods."

His saying: "three periods"

[The first interpretation]

2187 - Al-Ahmasi narrated to us, Sufyan b. 'Uyaynah narrated to us, from al-Zuhri, from 'Amrah, from 'Aishah, who said: "The periods (al-iqra') are the periods of purity (al-athar)." Abu Muhammad said: It was reported from Zayd b. Thabit, Ibn 'Umar, Ibn 'Abbas, Salim b. 'Abd Allah, al-Qasim b. Muhammad, 'Urwah b. al-Zubayr, Sulayman b. Yasar, Abu Bakr b. 'Abd al-Rahman, 'Ata' b. Abi Rabah, Qatadah, and al-Zuhri something similar to that.