or other similar explicit expressions by which he declares his wife forbidden to him.

574—This is a reprehensible and false statement.

575—His wife does not thereby become forbidden to him. However, it is not lawful for him to touch her until he fulfills what Allah commanded in His words: “Those who pronounce zihār against their wives and then retract what they have said”—and so on to the end of the verses [al-Mujādilah: 3, 4].

1—He must free a believing slave who is free of defects that impair the ability to work.

2—If he cannot find one, he must fast for two consecutive months.

3—If he is unable to do so, he must feed sixty poor people.

576—This applies whether the zihār is unconditional or limited to a particular period, such as Ramadan or the like.

577—As for declaring one’s female slave, food, clothing, or anything else forbidden to oneself, this requires expiation for an oath1;

for Allah Most High says: “O believers! Do not forbid the good things which Allah has made lawful for you”—until Allah mentions the expiation for an oath in relation to these matters [al-Mā’idah: 87–89].