Yahya related to me from Malik that he had asked Ibn Shihab about whether the deadline was set from the day he had married her, or from the day she raised the question before the Sultan. He said. 'It is from the day she presents it before the Sultan.' Malik said, "As for someone who has intercourse with his wife and then is prevented from intercourse with her, I have not heard that there is a deadline set for him or that they are separated."
أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ ابْنَ شِهَابٍ مَتَى يُضْرَبُ لَهُ الأَجَلُ أَمِنْ يَوْمِ يَبْنِي بِهَا أَمْ مِنْ يَوْمِ تُرَافِعُهُ إِلَى السُّلْطَانِ فَقَالَ بَلْ مِنْ يَوْمِ تُرَافِعُهُ إِلَى السُّلْطَانِ قَالَ مَالِكٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِي قَدْ مَسَّ امْرَأَتَهُ ثُمَّ اعْتَرَضَ عَنْهَا فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَسْمَعْ أَنَّهُ يُضْرَبُ لَهُ أَجَلٌ وَلاَ يُفَرَّقُ بَيْنَهُمَا