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

Book 39 · Issue 2 · Bab 3

Open in Qurani

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.