Ila' (oath of abstinence). Furthermore, the demand for [restitution] only occurs after four months. Thus, if the period expires at four months or less, the demand is not valid without it being an Ila'. Abu Hanifah and those who agreed with him based this on their view regarding fai' (restitution of marital relations), that it occurs within the period of the four months. However, the apparent meaning of the verse contradicts this, for Allah, the Almighty, said: "Those who take an oath of abstinence (Ila') from their wives shall wait four months. Then, if they return..." He followed the [mention of] fai' immediately after the waiting period with the fa' of succession, which indicates its delay after it. If this is established, it is narrated from Ibn Abbas that the Muli is one who swears to abstain from intercourse forever or absolutely. This is because if he swears for less than that, it is possible for him to escape [the obligation] without breaking the oath, so he is not a Muli, just as if he had sworn not to have intercourse with her in a specific city. We argue that he cannot escape from his oath after the waiting period without breaking it, so he resembles one who has divorced, unlike an oath regarding a specific city, for he can escape without breaking the oath. Furthermore, four months is a period during which a woman is harmed by the delay of intercourse, so if he swears for more than that, he is a Muli, just like the eternal case. The evidence for this description is what was narrated that Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was patrolling one night in Medina and heard a woman saying:

This night has grown long, and its side has turned away, and there is no companion by my side to play with. By Allah, were it not for Allah, besides Whom there is no other, the sides of this bed would have been shaken.