Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that three legal matters became known due to Sayyida Barirah (may Allah be pleased with her): First, when Sayyida Barirah (may Allah be pleased with her) was freed, she was given the choice, if she wished, to leave her husband. Second, when Sayyida Barirah (may Allah be pleased with her) was freed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Wala’ (the right of inheritance/loyalty) will belong to the one who sets her free." Third, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Sayyida Barirah (may Allah be pleased with her), and a pot of meat was on the fire. Sayyida Barirah (may Allah be pleased with her) presented some stew before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "That pot of meat is on the fire." The people said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! That meat is from charity, and you do not eat charity. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is charity for Barirah and a gift for us from Barirah."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) used to say: If a slave woman is married to a slave man, then she is set free, she will have the choice (to stay with him or leave), as long as her husband has not had intercourse with her after her emancipation.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: If the husband had intercourse with her after her emancipation and the slave woman said that she did not know about the issue of choice, then her excuse will not be accepted and she will no longer have the right of option.

It is narrated from Urwah bin Zubair that a slave woman of Banu Adi, whose name was Zabra, was married to a slave. She was set free. Sayyida Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) called her and said: I am telling you something, but I do not want you to act hastily; you have the choice as long as your husband has not had intercourse with you. If he does, then you will no longer have the choice. Zabra exclaimed: If that is the case, then divorce, then divorce, then divorce. She separated from her husband by saying it three times.

It reached Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, that Sa'id bin al-Musayyib said: If a person marries a woman and the husband turns out to have insanity or any other disease (such as leprosy or vitiligo), then the woman has the choice, whether to stay with the man or to separate from him.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: If a slave girl comes into the marriage of a slave, then is freed before consummation, and chooses separation from her husband, then she will not receive a dowry. This is the ruling according to us.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Ibn Shihab, may Allah have mercy on him, used to say: When a man divorces his wife and the woman chooses her husband, then divorce will not take effect.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: I have heard this as good.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: When a man gives his wife the choice and the woman chooses herself (i.e., desires separation from her husband), then three divorces will take effect. If the husband says: I only gave the choice of one divorce, this will not be accepted.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: If the husband gave his wife the choice of divorce, the woman said: I have accepted one divorce, the husband said: That was not my intention, I gave you the choice of three divorces, but the woman accepts only one divorce and does not take more, then she will not be separated from her husband.

It is narrated from Ibn Shihab (may Allah have mercy on him) that he used to say: When a man gives his wife the right of choice, and then the woman chooses him (her husband), then this choice will not be counted as a divorce.

Imam Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) said: This is the best statement that I have heard regarding this issue.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding the woman who is given the choice (to separate): When her husband gives her the choice (to separate), and then she chooses herself (and leaves her husband), then she will have three divorces. If her husband says, "I only gave you the choice of one divorce and nothing more," then this statement will not be accepted in favor of the husband, and this is the best statement that I have heard.

Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, said: And if her husband gives her the choice and she says, "I have accepted one divorce," and the husband says, "I did not mean the option of one divorce, I only gave you the option of three divorces together," then (in this case) undoubtedly, if the woman does not accept anything except one, (she will not be divorced at all) she will remain with her husband and this (action among them) will not be a cause of separation.

SA Benefit: EA According to all other Imams and Ahl al-Hadith except Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, in the mentioned case, one divorce will take place.