And Ibn al-Musayyib said: When, at the time of battle, a person is lost from the ranks, his wife should wait for him for one year (and then, after that, if she wishes, she may marry another). ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) bought a slave-girl from someone (the original owner went away somewhere without taking the price and got lost), so he searched for her first owner for a year. Then, when he could not find him, he began to give one or two dirhams at a time (from the price of the slave-girl) to the poor, and he prayed: O Allah! This is on behalf of so-and-so (who was her first owner and who got lost without taking the price). Then, if he (after coming back) rejects this charity (and demands the price), its reward will be for me, and the payment of the slave-girl’s price will be obligatory upon me. Ibn Mas‘ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: In the same way, you should do with luqatah — that is, a thing found lying on the road. Al-Zuhri said about such a captive whose place of residence is known: His wife should not marry another, nor should his wealth be distributed. Then, if news of him ceases, his case becomes like that of one whose whereabouts are unknown.

Ibn `Umar added: "When the period of four months has expired, the husband should be put in prison so that he should divorce his wife, but the divorce does not occur unless the husband himself declares it. This has been mentioned by `Uthman, `Ali, Abu Ad-Darda, `Aisha and twelve other companions of the Prophet ."