When a husband makes Ila' against all his wives, what is the ruling regarding demanding *Fay'ah* (return to cohabitation)?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of the Oath of Abstention (Ila')

Book 41 · Issue 2 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

In situations where the husband is deemed in Ila' against all wives, if they all demand *Fay'ah*, he must commit to waiting (وقف) for all of them simultaneously.

Supporting text

If the wives demand *Fay'ah* at different times, there are two narrations regarding the waiting period. One narration holds that the waiting period must commence for all wives simultaneously upon the demand of the very first wife to request it. Al-Qadi states this is the apparent view of Ahmad. The second narration holds that the waiting period is initiated for each wife individually upon her specific demand, a view chosen by Abu Bakr and held by the Shafi'i school.