The Noble Prophet (S) said: "Allah has not specified such law.

The Noble Prophet (S) said: "Allah has not specified such law." Terrified, the woman said: "I complain to Allah about my misfortune and my lost youth and health. If I leave my children to my husband, they will be ruined. If they stay with me, they will starve." The blessed Verses of the Chapter in question were revealed before long according to which whoever acts in this fashion will be required to expiate. Further, it is said that there is no divorce.

Since the husband could not afford to purchase a slave and act upon the manumission ordainment nor could he feed sixty poor people nor was he able to fast for two months, the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) rendered him some sufficient aid such that he could feed sixty poor people and thus expiated his sin and returned to his former life.[^1] It is worthy of note that in the blessed Verse in question, God Almighty says three times that He is the All-Hearing (sami‘) and people may speak unto Him.

Thus, it is incumbent upon us to take heed of our words, since God Almighty hears them. He hears our supplications and invocations. Therefore, we may invoke him to answer our prayers. We may take refuge in God Almighty in vicissitudes. Surah Mujadila - Verse 2 الَّذِينَ يُظَاهِرُونَ مِنكُم مِّن نِّسَائِهِم مَّا هُنَّ أُمَّهَاتِهِمْ ۖ إِنْ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا اللَّائِي وَلَدْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنكَرًا مِّنَ الْقَوْلِ وَزُورًا ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ 2.

Those among you who make their wives unlawful to them by saying to them "You are like my mother's back" (zihar), they cannot be their mothers. None can be their mothers except those who gave them birth. And indeed, they utter an ill word and a lie. And indeed, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Oft-Pardoning.

Mention was made in the preceding Verse of the type of divorce in pre-Islamic times as per which the husband said: "Sleeping with you is like sleeping with my mother." Islam sanctioned this type of divorce and obliged the husband to expiate for this sin. Úihar, as an instance of injustice done to women, was sanctioned by the Islamic law and those committing such sin had to pay dearly for expiating it.

Thus, the blessed Verse is saying that those of you who say unto their wives: "You are like my mother to me" utter falsehood, since their wives are note like their mothers as their mothers are those who gave birth to them. Being a mother or a child depends neither on words nor sophistry, but it is an indisputable reality.

✦ ✦ ✦