Ila — Waiting Period of Four Months
fiqh
Level: advanced
family
fqh-073
لِّلَّذِينَ يُؤۡلُونَ مِن نِّسَآئِهِمۡ تَرَبُّصُ أَرۡبَعَةِ أَشۡهُرٍ
— البقرة 226
Verse: "For those who swear not to approach their wives — a waiting period of four months. If they return, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And if they resolve on divorce, Allah is Hearing, Knowing." (2:226-227)
Ila: Swearing not to approach one's wife for four months or more — used in pre-Islam to leave women suspended, neither wife nor divorcee.
Ruling: Four-month limit — then two choices: (1) Return (Fai'a): resume marital relations and make expiation. (2) Divorce: end the marriage. If he does neither, the judge compels a choice.
Wisdom: Prevents harm to the woman — no suspending her indefinitely.
Source: Ahkam Al-Quran by Al-Jassas (1/491); Al-Qurtubi (3/107); Al-Mughni (11/3)
Question: What is ila and what happens after four months?
Answer: Ila: swearing to avoid the wife for four or more months. After four months: either return (with expiation) or divorce. If he refuses, the judge compels him.