If he dwells with her elsewhere, he has indeed dwelled with her, and thus he violates the oath by contradicting what he swore to abandon. This becomes like the question of the Bedouin to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): "I had intercourse with my wife in the day of Ramadan," and he said, "Free a slave." Since the mention of his wife had no effect in necessitating the expiation, we removed it from the cause, and the cause became the act of intercourse, whether it was for the wife or someone else. If the house had an effect in his oath, such as if he disliked residing in it, was disputed over it, or was favored by it, he does not violate the oath if he dwells with her elsewhere, because he intended by his oath the shunning in that specific house, so he did not contradict what he swore against. If the cause and intention are absent, he does not violate it except by performing what his wording encompassed, which is dwelling with her in that specific house; because it is obligatory to follow his wording when there is neither an intention nor a cause that diverts the wording from its implication or necessitates an addition to it. The meaning of "dwelling" (al-awi) is entering. Thus, whenever he swears not to dwell with her, and he enters the house with her, he violates the oath, whether their stay was short or long. Allah the Almighty said, informing us about the youth of Moses: "When we betook ourselves to the rock" (Qur'an 18:63). Ahmad said: This was only for a short while, or whatever Allah the Almighty willed. It is said: "Awaytu ana" (I dwelled) and "Awaytu ghayri" (I caused someone else to dwell). Allah the Almighty said: "When the youths took refuge in the cave" (Qur'an 18:10), and Allah the Almighty said: "And We sheltered them both to a high ground" (Qur'an 23:50).
Section: If he treats her kindly with a gift or otherwise, or meets with her in a place that is neither a house nor a building, he does not violate the oath, whether there was a cause in his oath for the house or not; for he intended by it the shunning of this type, and he does not violate it by something else. If he swears not to dwell with her in a house for a [specific] cause, then the cause ceases to exist,
(3) Omitted from B. (4) Its derivation has been mentioned previously in 4/373. (5) Omitted from M. (6) Surah Al-Kahf: 63. (7) Omitted from B, M. (8) In the original, A, and B: "kam". (9) Surah Al-Kahf: 10. (10) Surah Al-Mu'minun: 50. (11) In A, B, and M: "ad-dar" (the house). (12) In A: "sababan" (a cause). (13) Omitted from M.