‘A’isha said that God’s Messenger gave them their choice and they chose God and His Messenger; so that was not reckoned as counting in any way to their divorce.
'Abdallah b. ‘Umar said he divorced a wife of his while she was menstruating and that when ‘Umar mentioned the matter to God’s Messenger he became angry and said, “He must take her back and keep her till she is purified, then has another period and is purified. If it then seems good to him to divorce her he may do so when she is pure from the menstrual discharge before having intercourse with her, for that is the period of waiting which God has commanded for the divorce of women.” A version has, “Command him to take her back, then divorce her when she is pure from the menstrual discharge, or pregnant.”
One makes atonement for something he has made unlawful for himself.* You have had a good example in God’s Messenger.
* i.e. something not in itself unlawful. It is treated like an oath for breaking which atonement must be made. The Prophet’s example refers to his withdrawing from his wives for a period.
Ibn ‘Abbas told that the wife of Thabit b. Qais came to the Prophet and said, “Messenger of God, I do not reproach Thabit b. Qais in respect of character or religion, but I do not want to be guilty of infidelity* regarding Islam.” God’s Messenger asked her if she would give him back his garden, and when she replied that she would, he told him to accept the garden and make one declaration of divorce.
* Meaning she did not like him and so was afraid she might not show him the respect due to a husband. Kufran, translated ‘infidelity’, can also mean ‘ingratitude’.
