Chapter on Giving the Choice (to the wife)

فِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِ‌ أَنَّ زَيْنَبَ قَالَتْ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص لَا تَعْدِلُ وَ أَنْتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَ قَالَتْ حَفْصَةُ إِنْ طَلَّقَنَا وَجَدْنَا فِي قَوْمِنَا أَكْفَاءَنَا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فَاحْتَبَسَ الْوَحْيُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص تِسْعَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً فَأَنِفَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِرَسُولِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ- يا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْواجِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ ا

Hadith.4810 - In the narration of Abu al-Sabbah al-Kinani: "Zaynab said to the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family): 'You (sw) are not just, and You (sw) are the Messenger of Allah (swt)!' And Hafsa said: 'If He (sw) divorces us, we will find suitable husbands among our people from Quraysh.' Then

إِذَا خَيَّرَهَا أَوْ جَعَلَ أَمْرَهَا بِيَدِهَا فِي غَيْرِ قُبُلِ عِدَّتِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يُشْهِدَ شَاهِدَيْنِ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ وَ إِنْ خَيَّرَهَا أَوْ جَعَلَ أَمْرَهَا بِيَدِهَا بِشَهَادَةِ شَاهِدَيْنِ فِي قُبُلِ عِدَّتِهَا فَهِيَ بِالْخِيَارِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا فَإِنِ اخْتَارَتْ نَفْسَهَا فَهِيَ وَاحِدَةٌ وَ هُوَ أَحَقُّ بِرَجْعَتِهَا وَ إِنِ اخْتَارَتْ زَوْجَهَا فَلَيْسَ بِطَلَاقٍ‌[1].

"If a man gives his wife the choice (to stay with him or separate) or places the matter of divorce in her hands outside of her waiting period ('iddah) and without the testimony of two witnesses, then it is of no consequence. However, if he gives her the choice or places the matter in her hands with the testimony of two

الطَّلَاقُ أَنْ يَقُولَ الرَّجُلُ لِامْرَأَتِهِ اخْتَارِي فَإِنِ اخْتَارَتْ نَفْسَهَا فَقَدْ بَانَتْ مِنْهُ وَ هُوَ خَاطِبٌ مِنَ الْخُطَّابِ وَ إِنِ اخْتَارَتْ زَوْجَهَا فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ أَوْ يَقُولَ أَنْتِ طَالِقٌ فَأَيَّ ذَلِكَ فَعَلَ فَقَدْ حَرُمَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَ لَا يَكُونُ طَلَاقٌ وَ لَا خُلْعٌ وَ لَا مُبَارَاةٌ وَ لَا تَخْيِيرٌ إِلَّا عَلَى طُهْرٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ جِمَاعٍ بِشَهَادَةِ شَاهِدَيْنِ‌[3].

"Divorce occurs when a man says to his wife, 'Choose (for yourself),' And if she chooses herself, then she is separated from him, and he becomes one of the suitors (khuṭṭāb). But if she chooses her husband, then it is of no consequence. Or (divorce occurs) if he says, 'You are divorced,' then whichever of these he does

كُلُّهُمْ بِمَنْزِلَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ إِذَا رَضِيَتْ.

Hadith.4813 - Al-Halabi narrated from Abu Abdullah (as) regarding a man who gives his wife the choice (to separate or stay) or delegates the decision to her father, brother, or guardian. Imam (as) said: "They are all in the same position, as long as she consents."

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ قَدْ جَعَلْتُ الْخِيَارَ إِلَيْكِ فَاخْتَارَتْ نَفْسَهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَقُومَ قَالَ يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِ قُلْتُ فَلَهَا مُتْعَةٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قُلْتُ فَلَهَا مِيرَاثٌ إِنْ مَاتَ الزَّوْجُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ عِدَّتُهَا قَالَ نَعَمْ وَ إِنْ مَاتَتْ هِيَ وَرِثَهَا الزَّوْجُ‌[1].

I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a man who said to his wife, "I have given you the choice," and she chose herself before standing up. Imam (as) said: "That is valid against him." I asked: "Is she entitled to maintenance (compensation)?" Imam (as) said: "Yes." I asked: "Does she inherit if the husband dies before her wai

قَالَ: مَا لِلنِّسَاءِ وَ التَّخْيِيرَ[2] إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ خَصَّ اللَّهُ بِهِ نَبِيَّهُ ص‌[3].

Hadith.4815 - Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from Abu Abdullah (as) that he said: "What do women have to do with takhyīr (being given the choice in divorce)? That is something which Allah specifically granted to His Prophet (may Allah bless him and his family)."