Muwatta Malik (Yahya) 1180 — on Divorce of a Sick Person

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Yahya bin Haban that his grandfather Haban had two wives, one Hashimi and one Ansari. He divorced the Ansari woman, and she used to breastfeed. She did not menstruate for a year, and after that Haban died. She said: I will take the inheritance because I have not menstruated, and my waiting period has not passed. When this case was presented before Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), he ordered that she be given the inheritance. The Hashimi woman began to speak ill of Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), and he said: This ruling is actually from your cousin, he told me the same, meaning Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said that Ibn Shihab (may Allah have mercy on him) used to say: If someone divorces his wife with three divorces during illness and then dies, she will receive the inheritance.

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If someone divorces such a woman during illness with whom he has not had intercourse, she will receive half the dowry and the inheritance, and the waiting period will not be obligatory. And if he divorces her after intercourse, she will receive the full dowry and the inheritance. Both virgin and previously married women are equal in this ruling.