The Book of Zihar

Zihar is derived from the word 'zahr' (back). They singled out the back for this, among all other limbs, because every mount is called a 'zahr' (back) due to the fact that the riding is usually done upon its back, so they compared the wife to that. It is prohibited, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: 'And indeed, they speak an evil word and a lie' (Surah al-Mujadilah, 2). Its meaning is that the wife is not like the mother in terms of prohibition. Allah the Exalted said: 'They are not their mothers' (Surah al-Mujadilah, 2). And He the Exalted said: 'And He has not made your wives whom you declare to be like your mothers your [true] mothers' (Surah al-Ahzab, 4). The basis for Zihar is the Book and the Sunnah. As for the Book, it is His saying, the Exalted: 'Those who pronounce zihar among you from their wives - they are not [their] mothers' (Surah al-Mujadilah, 2), and the verse that follows it. As for the Sunnah, Abu Dawud narrated with his chain of transmission from Khuwaylah bint Malik bin Tha'labah, who said: 'Aws bin al-Samit committed Zihar against me, so I came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to complain, while the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was arguing with me regarding him and saying: "Fear Allah, for he is your cousin." I did not leave until the Qur'an was revealed: "Allah has heard the speech of the one who argues with you concerning her husband" (Surah al-Mujadilah, 1). He said: "He must free a slave." I said: "He does not possess one." He said: "Then he must fast for two consecutive months." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, he is an old man, he is not capable of fasting." He said: "Then he must feed sixty poor persons." I said: "He does not possess anything to give in charity."