He said to his wife: You are to me like the back of my mother if I were to marry another woman over you
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Fatwa No. ( 14536 )
Q: I married a woman, and she was my first wife. After some years, she said to me: “Say: You are to me like my mother; I will not marry another woman over you.” She meant that I should not marry another woman in addition to her. So I said this phrase to please her, out of my ignorance of its ruling. But recently, it became clear to me that this phrase is a serious matter. Previously, I was ignorant of its ruling, and I neither read nor write. Now, Allah has bestowed upon me, and I desire to marry, but this phrase has become an obstacle between me and marriage. I know that I will fulfill the rights of
my first wife; I will never neglect her obligation. My question is: What is the expiation for this phrase, given that I was ignorant of its ruling when I uttered it? I am also suffering from lung inflammation according to the doctors’ report, and fasting affects me during the days of Ramadan. However, I desire the correct method that will lead me to good, if Allah wills. May Allah guide you to what is best for this Ummah.
A: There is no blame on you regarding marriage. However, once you marry, you must not have any intimacy with your first wife until you expiate the zihar. The expiation is: freeing a believing slave before you touch her. If you cannot find one, then fast for two consecutive months before you touch her. If you are unable to do so, then feed sixty poor people, giving each poor person half a sa’ of wheat, dates, rice, or the like of the local staple food. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mujadila 58:3-4] And you must repent to Allah the Exalted and seek forgiveness for what came from
you. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I married a woman, and she was my first wife. After some years, she said to me: “Say: You are to me like my mother; I will not marry another woman over you.” She meant that I should not marry another woman in addition to her. So I said this phrase to please her, out of my ignorance of its ruling. But recently, it became clear to me that this phrase is a serious matter. Previously, I was ignorant of its ruling, and I neither read nor write. Now, Allah has bestowed upon me, and I desire to marry, but this phrase has become an obstacle between me and marriage. I know that I will fulfill the rights of
my first wife; I will never neglect her obligation. My question is: What is the expiation for this phrase, given that I was ignorant of its ruling when I uttered it? I am also suffering from lung inflammation according to the doctors’ report, and fasting affects me during the days of Ramadan. However, I desire the correct method that will lead me to good, if Allah wills. May Allah guide you to what is best for this Ummah.
A: There is no blame on you regarding marriage. However, once you marry, you must not have any intimacy with your first wife until you expiate the zihar. The expiation is: freeing a believing slave before you touch her. If you cannot find one, then fast for two consecutive months before you touch her. If you are unable to do so, then feed sixty poor people, giving each poor person half a sa’ of wheat, dates, rice, or the like of the local staple food. Allah the Exalted said:
(3) And those who pronounce thihar from their wives and then [wish to] go back on what they said - then [there must be] the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; and Allah is Acquainted with what you do. (4) And he who does not find [a slave] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe [completely] in Allah and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] Allah. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
وَالَّذِينَ يُظَاهِرُونَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا قَالُوا فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَتَمَاسَّا ذَلِكُمْ تُوعَظُونَ بِهِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ (3) فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَتَمَاسَّا فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا ذَلِكَ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌyou. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.