Definition & Ruling

**Linguistic Definition:** Zihar is derived from "zahr" (back). **Technical Definition:** That a man likens his wife in prohibition to one of his mahram relatives - by lineage, breastfeeding, or affinity - or to a part of her. So the man says when he wants to refrain from enjoying his wife: "You are to me like the back of my mother," or "my sister," or others. When he does this, he has performed zihar against his wife. --- **Ruling:** Zihar is prohibited. **Evidence:** Allah says: "Those who pronounce zihar among you [to separate] from their wives" until His saying: "And indeed, they are saying an objectionable statement and falsehood" [Al-Mujadilah: 2] Zihar used to be a form of divorce in pre-Islamic times. When Islam came, it condemned it and considered it reprehensible and false - as a mercy from Allah and an ease for His servants. --- **Consequence:** It is forbidden for the one who pronounced zihar (muzahir) and the one against whom it was pronounced (muzahar minha) to enjoy each other - through intercourse and its preliminaries, such as kissing and enjoying what is below the private parts - before expiation. **Evidence:** - Allah says: "And those who pronounce zihar 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" [Al-Mujadilah: 3] - The Prophet ﷺ said to the one who pronounced zihar: "Do not approach her until you do what Allah commanded you" [Tirmidhi - hasan, Ibn Majah - sahih]