حَدَّثَنِي يَحْيَى، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ إِذَا آلَى الرَّجُلُ مِنِ امْرَأَتِهِ لَمْ يَقَعْ عَلَيْهِ طَلاَقٌ وَإِنْ مَضَتِ الأَرْبَعَةُ الأَشْهُرِ حَتَّى يُوقَفَ فَإِمَّا أَنْ يُطَلِّقَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَفِيءَ ‏.‏ قَالَ مَالِكٌ وَذَلِكَ الأَمْرُ عِنْدَنَا ‏.‏

Yahya related to me from Malik from Jafar ibn Muhammad from hisfather that Ali ibn Abi Talib said, "When a man takes a vow to abstainfrom intercourse, divorce does not occur immediately. If four monthspass, he must declare his intent and either he is divorced or herevokes his vow . " Malik said, "That is what is done amongus." Translation Not Available

Book Ref: Muwatta Imam Malik Book 29 Hadith 1170
Web Ref:  Muwatta Imam Malik Book 29 Hadith 17