What verbal expressions constitute the selection of a wife in a choice scenario?
Chapter on Marriage of Polytheists
Al-Mughni
Book of Marriage
Primary text
The choice (Ikhtiyar) in marriage is established by the utterance: 'I have chosen the marriage of these,' or 'I have chosen these,' or 'I have retained them' (amsaktuhunna), or 'I have chosen to keep them' (ikhtiyaru habsihi), or 'their retention' (imsakuhunna), or 'their marriage' (nikahuhunna), or 'I have retained their marriage' (amsaktu nikahahunna), or 'their marriage is confirmed' (thabata nikahuhunna), or 'I have confirmed them' (athbattuhunna). If a man having four wives states regarding those exceeding four, 'I have dissolved their marriage' (fasakhtu nikahahunna), this constitutes a selection of the four wives he retains. If he divorces one of them, it is a selection for that specific wife because divorce can only occur concerning a wife.