The Holy Quran 58:2 — Surah Al-Mujadila

Arabic text

ٱلَّذِينَ يُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِنكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِهِم مَّا هُنَّ أُمَّهَـٰتِهِمْ ۖ إِنْ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى وَلَدْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنكَرًا مِّنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ وَزُورًا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ

Translation

Those of you who practise Zihaar with their wives, (should remember that) their wives are not their mothers (and cannot become such merely by using the words of Zihaar). Their mothers are only those who have given birth to them. Indeed (by using the words of Zihaar) they are merely making foolish and false statements. (However, if they repent after making such statements, then) Verily Allaah is Most Pardoning, Most Forgiving (and He is prepared to forgive them).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The ruling on zihar: that is, how can a wife (who did not give birth to him) become his actual mother, so that by these mere words she becomes unlawful for him for ever, like his real mother? However, when a man, out of his ill manners, utters a false, unreasonable and indecent statement, the penalty for it is that he give expiation (kaffarah)

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