Expiation for Zihar
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Question: A young married man had a quarrel with his wife's mother, and he said to her: "Your daughter is like a mother to me from today on." What is the ruling on this statement, and is it permissible for him to continue living with his wife after this?
Answer: If he says: "Your daughter is like a mother to me," it means that he has committed zihar with her.As if he is saying: She is like my mother, or she is like the back of my mother.And this is forbidden, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Mujadilah: 2], so she is not his mother, but rather his wife. It is forbidden for him to utter such words, but since this occurred from him, it is not permissible for him to approach her until he expiates for the zihar. The expiation is freeing a slave; if he cannot find one, then fasting for two consecutive months; if he is unable to do that, then feeding sixty poor people, in this order.
First: Freeing a slave, if he is able to do so.
Second: If he is unable to free a slave, fasting becomes obligatory upon him.
Third: If he is unable to fast, feeding sixty poor people becomes obligatory upon him, and he must not approach his wife until he has performed this expiation.
Answer: If he says: "Your daughter is like a mother to me," it means that he has committed zihar with her.As if he is saying: She is like my mother, or she is like the back of my mother.And this is forbidden, as Allah the Exalted said:
And indeed, they are saying an objectionable statement and a falsehood.
وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنْكَرًا مِنَ الْقَوْلِ وَزُورًاFirst: Freeing a slave, if he is able to do so.
Second: If he is unable to free a slave, fasting becomes obligatory upon him.
Third: If he is unable to fast, feeding sixty poor people becomes obligatory upon him, and he must not approach his wife until he has performed this expiation.