Explanation of The Book of Divorce: Volume 2

From The Books Concerning Ẓihār, it refers to a man’s likening his wife to a woman[who is permanently and absolutely unlawful for him] intending by thisto make his wife unlawful for him. This is like saying to her: “You areto me like my mother’s back”, “You are to me like my sister’s back”,or “You are to me like your mother’s back”, for a man’s mother-inlawis permanently unlawful for him. Still, if he says to his wife: “Youare to me like your sister’s back”, this is not Ẓihār according to theright view [since a man’s sister-in-law is temporarily, not permanently,unlawful for him]. Some scholars maintain that even if he likens her toa woman who is temporarily unlawful for him, this is Ẓihār, but thisis not a correct view. The right view is that Ẓihār.