What is the ruling on a man who says to his wife, “You are my sister” or “You are my mother,” as a form of affection and gentleness?

Question : If he said, for example, “Peace be upon him,” meaning, “This is your sister,” i.e., your wife? Or like the one who, for example, says to his wife, “You are my wife and my sister.”

Answer : Listen to this man; do you see Ibrahim as one who has pronounced zihar (likening one's wife to a forbidden relative) regarding his wife now? What is this talk? He says “my sister,” meaning, “My sister in Allah, my sister in Islam.” A husband may say to his wife, “O my mother, O my sister,” as a form of affection and gentleness, and there is no harm in that. There is no harm; there is no breach of trust.