The honorable Shaykh, what is the expiation for zihar? Is it based on choice or sequence? And what is the ruling if he has intercourse with his wife before the expiation?
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh, what is the expiation for zihar? Is it based on choice or sequence? And what is the ruling if he has intercourse with his wife before the expiation?
The Shaykh : First, one must know what zihar is.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Zihar is when a man likens his wife to a woman who is permanently forbidden to him, such as saying, "You are to me like the back of my mother," or "You are to me like the back of my sister," or "You are to me like the back of my daughter," or the like. It is an abomination and a lie, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mujadila 58:2] It is forbidden. If this occurs from the husband, Allah says: [Al-Mujadila 58:3-4] So we say to the man who has committed zihar: It is obligatory for you to free a slave. If you do not find one, then fast two consecutive months, without breaking the fast for even one day except for an excuse such as travel or illness. If you are unable to do that, then feed sixty poor people. As you see, the expiation in this case, and as the questioner sees, is based on sequence, not choice.
It is not permissible for the man who has committed zihar to have intercourse with his wife until he performs the expiation, because Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Mujadila 58:3] If he does so, meaning if he has intercourse before performing the expiation, he is sinful and he must repent to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. The scholars said: He must restart the fasting from the beginning. Accordingly, if he has intercourse with his wife and only five days remain of the two months, he must repeat them; he must restart the two months from the beginning, because Allah made it a condition and said: [Al-Mujadila 58:3] Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This listener to the program is Umm Muhammad.
The Shaykh : First, one must know what zihar is.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Zihar is when a man likens his wife to a woman who is permanently forbidden to him, such as saying, "You are to me like the back of my mother," or "You are to me like the back of my sister," or "You are to me like the back of my daughter," or the like. It is an abomination and a lie, as Allah the Exalted said:
And indeed, they are saying an objectionable statement and a falsehood.
وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنْكَرًا مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَزُورًا(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.
وَالَّذِينَ يُظَاهِرُونَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا قَالُوا فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ أن يَتَمَاسَّا ذَلِكُمْ تُوعَظُونَ بِهِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ * فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أن يَتَمَاسَّا فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًاIt is not permissible for the man who has committed zihar to have intercourse with his wife until he performs the expiation, because Allah the Exalted said:
before they touch one another
مِنْ قَبْلِ أن يَتَمَاسَّاbefore they touch one another
مِنْ قَبْلِ أن يَتَمَاسَّاThe questioner : May Allah bless you. This listener to the program is Umm Muhammad.