Expiation for Zihar

The expiation for zihar is ordered as follows: **1. Freeing a Slave:** Freeing a believing slave who is free from defects. **2. If Unable - Fasting:** If he cannot find a slave or cannot afford one, he fasts two consecutive lunar months. He should not separate between the months except for obligatory fasting like Ramadan, or obligatory breaking like for Eid and the days of Tashriq, or breaking due to illness or travel. **3. If Unable - Feeding:** If he cannot fast, he feeds sixty poor people - one mudd of wheat for each, or half a sa' of other than wheat, from the staple food of the land. **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: 3-4] - The hadith of Salamah ibn Sakhr al-Bayadi, when he declared his wife like the back of his mother: The Prophet ﷺ commanded him to free a slave. If he could not, then to fast two consecutive months. If he could not, then to feed [the poor]. --- **If He Has Intercourse Before Expiation:** If the one who pronounced zihar has intercourse before expiating, he is sinful and disobedient. Only one expiation is required of him, and the expiation remains suspended as his obligation until he expiates. The prohibition of his wife to him also remains until he expiates.