Is zihar a divorce?

The questioner : Hello, yes. May Allah keep you in goodness.

The Shaykh : May Allah keep you safe.

The questioner : I say, in your long life, regarding zihar: it is now known that there is an expiation for whoever wants to return. But if a person does not return, is it considered a divorce or not?

The Shaykh : No, it is not a divorce.

The questioner : May Allah keep you safe.

The Shaykh : It is not a divorce.

The questioner : If he repents.

The Shaykh : It is not considered a divorce.

The questioner : No, it is not considered a divorce. Yes, that is right, meaning he does not want to divorce.

The Shaykh : Yes, if he does not want the wife, he must divorce her.

The questioner : Where do you want it, O Allah?

The Shaykh : I say, if he does not want the wife.

The questioner : If he returns, he returns, but does the threat end or does he divorce?

The Shaykh : Yes. Yes. Yes, that is right.

The questioner : Meaning, he must divorce her.

The Shaykh : It is known.

The questioner : Meaning, like if... Hello.

The Shaykh : Like ila', but the expiation for ila' is the expiation of an oath.

The questioner : Fine, now we know the expiation, but the issue is if it is not expiated.

The Shaykh : The important point is that if a man commits zihar with his wife, she is not divorced.

The questioner : She is not separated.

The Shaykh : Rather, she remains in his marriage bond.

The questioner : Yes, okay.