Al-Qasim ibn al-Rabiʿ al-Ṣaḥḥaf narrated from Muḥammad ibn Sinan that Abu al-Ḥasan Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha عليه السلام wrote to him in response to his questions: "The reason for allowing divorce up to three times is to provide a period of reflection between each instance, from the first to the third, for any renewed affection that may arise or for the calming of anger if it had been present. This process serves as a warning and a means of disciplining the woman and deterring her from disobeying her husband. If a woman engages in what is improper by neglecting her husband's obedience, she becomes deserving of separation and estrangement. As for the reason why a woman becomes permanently forbidden (ḥaram) to her husband after nine divorces, it is a form of punishment to prevent the man from taking divorce lightly and from oppressing the woman. It encourages him to be thoughtful, attentive, and reflective in his actions. This also brings both parties to despair of ever reconciling after nine divorces."