If he says, “You are to me like my mother,” meaning in affection, respect, and veneration, then this is not ẓihār, because he has not declared her unlawful to himself. If he says, “You are my mother,” then it depends on his intention: if he intends thereby to declare her unlawful, it is ẓihār; but if he intends to honor her, it is not ẓihār. Thus, if he says, “My mother, come and prepare lunch,” this is not ẓihār.

The jurists mentioned that it is disliked for a man to call his wife by the names of women who are permanently unmarriageable to him, so that he should not say, “My sister,” “My mother,” or “My daughter,” and the like. But what they say is not correct, because it is understood that he intends to honor her. There is nothing wrong with this; rather, such expressions promote affection, love, and intimacy.

Question: If he likens her to someone other than his mother, does this constitute ẓihār? For instance, if he says, “You are to me like my sister’s back,” is this ẓihār? Those who adhere to the outward wording say that it is not ẓihār, because the back of someone other than one’s mother is not equivalent to the back of one’s mother. Indeed, making one’s mother lawful is more grave than making one’s sister lawful. Therefore, likening one’s wife—who is the most lawful of women—to one’s mother—who is the most forbidden of women—is more repugnant than likening her to one’s sister; thus, the latter cannot be analogized to the former. However, the majority of scholars differ from this view, holding that ẓihār is not confined to one’s mother, but includes her and others as well.

And it is prohibited. Thus, whoever likens his wife—or any part of her—to any part or the whole of any woman who is permanently unlawful for him to marry by reason of blood relationship or breastfeeding, whether it be her back or her belly, …

His statement, “And it is prohibited,” means that ẓihār is prohibited. The evidence is the saying of Allah, Most High: “They are certainly uttering an evil statement and a falsehood” [al-Mujādilah 58:2]. Allah, Most High, has declared their statement false both in His decree and in His legislation: in His decree, in His saying, “They are certainly uttering an evil statement and a falsehood”; and in His legislation, in His saying, “They are certainly uttering an evil statement and a falsehood.” What is evil is prohibited, and falsehood is prohibited.