Chapter on Giving the Choice (To the Wife)
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 3|Book 4|Chapter 12
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh
Volume 3, Book 4, Chapter 12
Chapter on Giving the Choice (To the Wife)
6 hadiths · 1 commentary
وَ فِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي اَلصَّبَّاحِ اَلْكِنَانِيِّ: "أَنَّ زَيْنَبَ قَالَتْ لِرَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ لاَ تَعْدِلُ وَ أَنْتَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ وَ قَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ إِنْ طَلَّقَنَا وَجَدْنَا فِي قَوْمِنَا أَكْفَاءَنَا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَاحْتَبَسَ اَلْوَحْيُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً فَأَنِفَ اَللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِرَسُولِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اَللَّهُ: يٰا أَيُّهَا اَلنَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوٰاجِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ اَلْحَيٰاةَ اَلدُّنْيٰا وَ زِينَتَهٰا إِلَى قَوْلِهِ "أَجْراً عَظِيماً" فَاخْتَرْنَ اَللَّهَ وَ رَسُولَهُ فَلَمْ يَقَعِ اَلطَّلاَقُ وَ لَوِ اِخْتَرْنَ أَنْفُسَهُنَّ لَبِنَّ".
In the narration of Abu al-Sabbah al-Kinani: "Zaynab said to the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family): 'You صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم are not just, and You صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم are the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى!' And Hafsa said: 'If He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم divorces us, we will find suitable husbands among our people from Quraysh.' Then, the divine revelation was withheld from the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) for twenty-nine days. Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic, was displeased for His سبحانه وتعالى beloved Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, so Allah سبحانه وتعالى revealed: 'O Prophet! Say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and release you in a gracious manner. But if you desire Allah سبحانه وتعالى, His Messenger, and the Hereafter, then indeed Allah سبحانه وتعالى has prepared for the good-doers among you a great reward' (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:28-29). They chose Allah سبحانه وتعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, so divorce did not occur. But if they had chosen themselves, they would have been separated."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "إِذَا خَيَّرَهَا أَوْ جَعَلَ أَمْرَهَا بِيَدِهَا فِي غَيْرِ قُبُلِ عِدَّتِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يُشْهِدَ شَاهِدَيْنِ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ وَ إِنْ خَيَّرَهَا أَوْ جَعَلَ أَمْرَهَا بِيَدِهَا بِشَهَادَةِ شَاهِدَيْنِ فِي قُبُلِ عِدَّتِهَا فَهِيَ بِالْخِيَارِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا فَإِنِ اِخْتَارَتْ نَفْسَهَا فَهِيَ وَاحِدَةٌ وَ هُوَ أَحَقُّ بِرَجْعَتِهَا وَ إِنِ اِخْتَارَتْ زَوْجَهَا فَلَيْسَ بِطَلاَقٍ ".
Ibn Udhayna narrated from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir عليه السلام, who said: "If a man gives his wife the choice (to stay with him or separate) or places the matter of divorce in her hands outside of her waiting period ('iddah) and without the testimony of two witnesses, then it is of no consequence. However, if he gives her the choice or places the matter in her hands with the testimony of two witnesses during her waiting period, then she has the option as long as they have not separated. If she chooses herself (i.e., separation), then it is counted as one divorce, and he has the right to take her back. But if she chooses her husband (to remain married), then it is not considered a divorce."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اِبْنُ مُسْكَانَ عَنِ اَلْحَسَنِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: "اَلطَّلاَقُ أَنْ يَقُولَ اَلرَّجُلُ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ اِخْتَارِي فَإِنِ اِخْتَارَتْ نَفْسَهَا فَقَدْ بَانَتْ مِنْهُ وَ هُوَ خَاطِبٌ مِنَ اَلْخُطَّابِ وَ إِنِ اِخْتَارَتْ زَوْجَهَا فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ أَوْ يَقُولَ أَنْتِ طَالِقٌ فَأَيَّ ذَلِكَ فَعَلَ فَقَدْ حَرُمَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَ لاَ يَكُونُ طَلاَقٌ وَ لاَ خُلْعٌ وَ لاَ مُبَارَاةٌ وَ لاَ تَخْيِيرٌ إِلاَّ عَلَى طُهْرٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ بِشَهَادَةِ شَاهِدَيْنِ ".
Ibn Muskan narrated from Al-Hasan ibn Ziyad, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "Divorce occurs when a man says to his wife, 'Choose (for yourself),' And if she chooses herself, then she is separated from him, and he becomes one of the suitors (khuṭṭāb). But if she chooses her husband, then it is of no consequence. Or (divorce occurs) if he says, 'You are divorced,' then whichever of these he does, she becomes prohibited for him. However, divorce (ṭalāq), annulment (khul'), mutual separation (mubāra'ah), or giving the wife a choice (takhyīr) is not valid except while she is in a state of purity (ṭuhr), without prior intercourse, and in the presence of two witnesses."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اَلْحَلَبِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فِي رَجُلٍ يُخَيِّرُ اِمْرَأَتَهُ أَوْ أَبَاهَا أَوْ أَخَاهَا أَوْ وَلِيَّهَا فَقَالَ "كُلُّهُمْ بِمَنْزِلَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ إِذَا رَضِيَتْ".
Al-Halabi narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام regarding a man who gives his wife the choice (to separate or stay) or delegates the decision to her father, brother, or guardian. Imam عليه السلام said: "They are all in the same position, as long as she consents."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى اَلْحَسَنُ بْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ اَلْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ لاِمْرَأَتِهِ قَدْ جَعَلْتُ اَلْخِيَارَ إِلَيْكِ فَاخْتَارَتْ نَفْسَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقُومَ قَالَ "يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ" قُلْتُ فَلَهَا مُتْعَةٌ قَالَ "نَعَمْ" قُلْتُ فَلَهَا مِيرَاثٌ إِنْ مَاتَ اَلزَّوْجُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ عِدَّتُهَا قَالَ "نَعَمْ وَ إِنْ مَاتَتْ هِيَ وَرِثَهَا اَلزَّوْجُ".
Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Jamil ibn Salih, from Al-Fudayl ibn Yasar, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who said to his wife, "I have given you the choice," and she chose herself before standing up. Imam عليه السلام said: "That is valid against him." I asked: "Is she entitled to maintenance (compensation)?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes." I asked: "Does she inherit if the husband dies before her waiting period ends?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, and if she dies, the husband inherits from her."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh
وَ رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ قَالَ: "مَا لِلنِّسَاءِ وَ اَلتَّخْيِيرَ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ شَيْءٌ خَصَّ اَللَّهُ بِهِ نَبِيَّهُ صَلَّى اَللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ ".
Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام that he said: "What do women have to do with takhyīr (being given the choice in divorce)? That is something which Allah specifically granted to His Prophet (may Allah bless him and his family)."
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh, p. 299
Commentary #1