Al-Mujadila 58:2
The Pleading Woman · Medinan · Juz 28 · Page 542
Zihar
ٱلَّذِينَ يُظَٰهِرُونَ مِنكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِهِم مَّا هُنَّ أُمَّهَٰتِهِمۡۖ إِنۡ أُمَّهَٰتُهُمۡ إِلَّا ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔي وَلَدۡنَهُمۡۚ وَإِنَّهُمۡ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنكَرࣰا مِّنَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ وَزُورࣰاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورࣱ ٢
Such of you as put away your wives (by saying they are as their mothers) - They are not their mothers; none are their mothers except those who gave them birth - they indeed utter an ill word and a lie. And lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
Those who pronounce zihar on their wives, their wives are not their mothers; their mothers are only those who bore them.
Insight
Elmalılı explains “zihar” from “zahr”, back: a pronouncement likening one’s wife to one’s mother’s back to distance oneself from her; the Qur’an calls it a hateful and false saying.
Reflect
Don’t say hurtful, false words to your spouse.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›