The Book of Divorce - Sahih Muslim 1473 b

When a man declares his wife unlawful for himself that is an oath which must be atoned, and he said: There is in the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) a noble pattern for you.

Commentary on the Prohibition Oath (Zihar)

This hadith addresses the practice known as "Zihar," where a man declares his wife to be as unlawful to him as his mother. This was a pre-Islamic form of divorce that Islam reformed. The declaration itself does not dissolve the marriage but creates a temporary prohibition requiring expiation.

The ruling establishes that such an oath requires kaffarah (atonement) before marital relations can resume. The expiation is the same as for breaking an oath: freeing a slave, feeding sixty poor people, or fasting two consecutive months if unable to perform the first two options.

The Prophetic Example

The concluding phrase "There is in the Messenger of Allah a noble pattern for you" emphasizes that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) demonstrated the proper implementation of this ruling in his own life, particularly in the incident with his wife Sawdah where this ruling was revealed.

This establishes that the Prophet's conduct serves as the ultimate practical demonstration of Islamic teachings, providing believers with a living example of how to apply divine commandments in daily life.

Legal Implications

Zihar is considered a major sin but does not constitute immediate divorce. The marriage remains valid, but intimacy is forbidden until atonement is made. This ruling protects women from arbitrary separation while maintaining the sanctity of marital vows.

Scholars emphasize that this ruling demonstrates Islam's reform of pre-Islamic customs, replacing harsh practices with measured, compassionate solutions that preserve family structure while upholding religious principles.