Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

When Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reconciled with Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her), he appointed witnesses to it.

Hazrat Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about a man who divorced his wife and then took her back, but he did not know about appointing witnesses, so what should he do? He replied that when he comes to know, he should appoint witnesses.

Hazrat Aamir, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked: If a man divorces his wife and then, without appointing witnesses to his return, has intercourse with her, what is the ruling? He replied: O Mughira! What would you say about a man who does this with a woman from a people to whom he has no relation!

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: If a man divorces his wife and appoints witnesses to the divorce, but then takes her back without appointing witnesses to the reconciliation, what is the ruling? He replied: There is no sin upon him, but he may face denial among the people.

Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: If a man gives his wife one divorce and then has intercourse with her without appointing any witnesses, what is the ruling? He replied: For a man, having intercourse with the woman is itself a return (ruju‘); now he should appoint witnesses.

Ibrahim, Hazrat Sha'bi, and Hazrat Tawus (s) say that intercourse is considered as return (ruju'), now bring witnesses.

Hazrat Dahhak (may Allah have mercy on him), in the commentary of the verse { وَأَشْہِدُوا ذَوَیْ عَدْلٍ مِنْکُمْ } of the Holy Qur'an, states that people have been commanded to appoint witnesses at the time of divorce and reconciliation.

Hazrat Hakam, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked: If a person reconciles with his wife but does not appoint witnesses over it, what is the ruling? He replied that he should appoint witnesses over the reconciliation.

Hazrat Ata (may Allah have mercy on him) says that separation and return take place with witnesses.

Hazrat Hakam (may Allah have mercy on him) says that if a man divorces his wife, and after the completion of the waiting period (iddah), he swears that he had intercourse with her during the iddah, then his intercourse is considered as taking her back (ruju’).

It is also narrated similarly from Ibrahim, may Allah have mercy on him.

Hazrat Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked: If a man divorces his wife and does not appoint witnesses for it, and then takes her back and does not appoint witnesses for that either, what is the ruling? He replied: He has divorced without the Shari'ah method and has taken her back without the Shari'ah method; he should appoint witnesses for it.