a lump of flesh (mudgha) with no form, and the midwives did not testify that it is the beginning of a human creation, then the waiting period does not end with it, nor does she become an umm walad, because it has not been proven to be a child by evidence or observation, so it resembles a clot (alaqa). The waiting period does not end under any circumstances with the discharge of anything before the mudgha, whether it is a drop (nutfa) or a clot (alaqa), and regardless of whether it is said that it is the beginning of a human creation or not. Ahmad explicitly stated this, saying: "As for it being a clot, it is nothing; it is merely blood, the waiting period does not end with it, nor does a slave woman become free (emancipated) by it." We do not know of any dissenter regarding this, except for al-Hasan, for he said: "If it is known to be a pregnancy, the waiting period ends with it, and the ghurra (compensation) is due for it." The first view is more correct, and it is the position of the majority. The minimum period by which the waiting period expires in the case of pregnancy is that she delivers it after eighty days from the time when intercourse with her was possible; this is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Indeed, the creation of one of you is gathered in his mother's womb, being a drop (nutfa) for forty days, then he is a clot (alaqa) like that, then he is a lump of flesh (mudgha) like that." The waiting period does not end with anything less than a mudgha, so it is necessary that it be after eighty days. As for what is after four months, there is no ambiguity, because it is "inverted" (developed) in the fourth creation.

Section: The minimum gestation period is six months, based on what al-Athram narrated with his chain of transmission from Abu al-Aswad, that a woman was brought to Umar who had given birth at six months, so Umar intended to stone her. Ali said to him: "You do not have that right." Allah the Almighty says: {And the mothers shall nurse their children for two complete years} (12).