Swearing and Taking an Oath

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), state this Hadith. ‘If a man swears not to go to bed with his wife, not to touch her and not to place his head next to her head, he then has the choice before passing of four months. When four months pass he then must be taken in custody to reach a settlement and go to bed with her, or decide to divorce, thus, he must leave her until she experiences Hayd (menses) and becomes clean from Hayd (menses), then divorce her once before going to bed with her and in the presence of two just witnesses. Thereafter he has the right to go back to her until her passing three cycles of Hayd (menses)-free periods.”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who separates from his wife without divorce and swearing. He does not go near her bed for one year. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must go to his wife.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘If one swears about his wife, it takes place by one’s saying, “No, by Allah, I will not have sexual intercourse with you so and so, and say, by Allah I must reduce you” and then become angry with her. He can wait for four months. After four months, he must be taken in custody, so that he may reach reconciliation with his wife; Allah is forgiving and merciful. If he does not reach a settlement, he then is made to divorce. Divorce cannot take place until he is placed under custody. If it is after four months, still he is made to reach a settlement or divorce.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘If one swears about his wife and it takes place by one’s saying, “By Allah, I will not have sexual intercourse with you so and so,” and says, “By Allah I must reduce you” and then become angry with her. He can wait for four months. After four months, he must be taken in custody so that he pays expiation, which is reconciliation with his wife or divorce. Divorce cannot take place until he is placed under custody. If it is after four months, still he is made to expiate (find remedy) or divorce.’”

“Abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said, ‘If a man swears not to go near his wife, then he has no say and no right for four months; and it is not a sin on him to stay away from her for four months. When four months pass if he agrees to touch her and she remains silent and agrees, then it is fine. He is within the law and his choices; but if she takes her case to the court he then will be told to expiate (find a remedy), then he can touch her or divorce her. Divorce becomes final when he leaves her until she experience Hayd (menses) and becomes clean, then he divorces her and he has the right to go back to her until three Hayd (menses)-free periods pass. This is the ‘Ila’ (swearing) that Allah, most Blessed, most High, has revealed in His book and in the Sunnah of His prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.”’

“One who swears is made to divorce in the form of a final divorce which makes the spouses strangers to each other. People other than Mansur have narrated that he divorces once but has the right to go back to her; and certain persons of his people have said to him that this is deleted. He replied that it is true if she complains and says that he compels her, harms her and prevents her from getting married. In such case he is made to divorce her in the form of a final divorce which makes them to become strangers to each other; but the one who remains silent and does not complain then if he wants he can divorce her once with the choice to go back to her.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man came to ’Amir al-Mu’minin and said, ‘O ’Amir al-Mu’minin, my wife breastfed a boy and I said, “By Allah, I will not go to bed with you until you wean him.’” He (the Imam) said, ‘ 7/a’ (swearing) does not take place in constructive and virtuous deeds.’”

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who after going to bed with his wife swears not to go to bed with his wife. He (the Imam) said, ‘When four months pass he is taken in custody even after a while. If he expiates (finds a remedy), then it is fine and she is his wife. If he decides to divorce he can do so.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘ 7/a’ (swearing) takes place when one says to his wife, ‘By Allah, I will reduce you to make you look bad.’ Thereafter, separates from her and does not go to bed with her up to four months. When four months pass then swearing becomes effective and the Imam must make him to expiate or divorce. If he expiates (finds remedy), Allah is Forgiving and Merciful but if he decides to divorce, Allah is hearing and knowing and that is the word of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, in His book.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘One who swears not to go to bed with his wife is taken in custody after four months. He may keep her in a fair manner or leave her in the same way. If he decides to divorce it then is once and he has the right to go back to her.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about 7/a’ (swearing) and what it is. He (the Imam) said, ‘It takes place when a man says to his wife, ‘By Allah, I will not go to bed with you so and so, and says, ‘By Allah I will reduce you and then waits for four months. Thereafter he is taken in custody, if he expiates and reconciles with his wife, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful and if he did not expiate he then is made to divorce. Divorce cannot take place if it is after four months until it is taken before the Imam.’”

About the case of a man’s 7/a’ (swearing) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that if he refuses to divorce ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, that an enclosure of reeds must be made for him and to keep him there without food and drink until he agrees to divorce.’”

“About the case of a man’s 7/a’ (swearing), abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He either expiates or divorces or is beheaded.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If a man angers his wife and does not go to bed with her without swearing for four months and she complains against him, he then must expiate or divorce her. If he leaves her without anger or swearing, then the rules of 7/a’ (swearing) do not apply.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when a man because of 7/a’ (swearing) refused to divorce ’Amir al-Mu’minin placed him inside an enclosure and gave him one-fourth of his food and drink until he agreed to divorce.”