Nasai

(1) The difference is that some of al-Zuhri’s students have attributed this hadith to Aisha (radi Allahu anha), while others have attributed it to Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu). However, this difference is not harmful, as the hadith is authentically established from both of them.

(2) “He swore an oath.” Such an oath is called “ila’” in the terminology of the Shariah. If discord arises between a husband and wife, the husband may temporarily sever relations with his wife, but it is necessary for him to remain in the house so that the woman does not take any improper step. This state can last for a maximum of four months. If the oath is for longer than this, it is obligatory to break the oath, and after four months it is necessary to immediately resume relations; otherwise, he must divorce her. If he does neither, the judge or ruler will compel him to resume marital relations or will enforce a divorce, and the woman will be permanently separated from him. If the period is less than this, he may fulfill the oath. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) swore an oath for only one month, so he fulfilled the oath. The details of this incident will, insha’Allah, come later.

(3) “A month can also be of twenty-nine days.” That is, a lunar month, which is considered valid in Islamic rulings, can be of thirty days or twenty-nine days. Therefore, twenty-nine days will also be counted as a complete month. An oath of one month, according to the Shariah, will be for twenty-nine days. This is the correct meaning of this sentence. Some scholars have interpreted it to mean, “This month is of twenty-nine days,” as if he swore the oath upon sighting the new moon of the first date and entered (upon his wives) after sighting the next new moon. However, it is very unlikely that, despite being upset, he waited until sighting the new moon, then swore the oath, and then entered upon them as soon as he saw the next new moon. Did the dispute occur exactly on the day of the new moon? No hadith explicitly states this. Nor does this meaning appeal to the heart, whereas the first meaning is entirely clear. And Allah knows best.