حَدَّثَنِي حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى، عَنْ مَالِك، عَنْ
جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ ، عَنْ
أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ
عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ :
" إِذَا آلَى الرَّجُلُ مِنَ امْرَأَتِهِ، لَمْ يَقَعْ عَلَيْهِ طَلَاقٌ، وَإِنْ مَضَتِ الْأَرْبَعَةُ الْأَشْهُرِ حَتَّى يُوقَفَ، فَإِمَّا أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَفِيءَ " . قَالَ مَالِكٌ : وَذَلِكَ الْأَمْرُ عِنْدَنَا
Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: When a man makes an oath of abstinence (ila’) from his wife, divorce will not take place upon the woman, even if four months pass, until the matter is presented before the judge and the husband is compelled, either to divorce or to have intercourse.
Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: This is the ruling according to us.