Are divorce, manumission, Zihar (statutory disavowal), or rendering something forbidden legally effective if attached to hair, a nail, or the spirit?
Chapter on Divorce by Calculation
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
Divorce, manumission, Zihar, and rendering something forbidden are not effective if attached to hair, a nail, or the spirit. This is the established view affirmed by Muhanna bin Yahya and Al-Fadl bin Ziyad Al-Qattan, which is followed. The rationale is that the spirit (ruh) is neither an organ nor a tangible thing over which benefit can be derived.