What is the legal ruling when a husband says, 'You are forbidden to me like the back of my mother'?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Zihar
Primary text
This statement constitutes explicit *Zihar* (a form of divorce-like prohibition) and cannot be interpreted as anything else, regardless of whether the husband intended divorce or not. This position has no scholarly disagreement because the husband explicitly stated *Zihar* and confirmed it with the word 'forbidden' (*haram*). This ruling is supported by the statement itself and applies when one says, 'You are forbidden to me like the back of my mother' or 'like my mother.' This view aligns with Abu Hanifa and is one position attributed to Al-Shafi'i.
Supporting text
A second opinion holds that if the husband intended divorce by saying 'You are forbidden to me,' it is indeed a divorce. This view is held by Abu Yusuf and Muhammad. Abu Yusuf further stated that he would not accept the husband's subsequent denial of *Zihar*. Their reasoning is that the statement 'You are forbidden to me' with the intent of divorce results in divorce, and adding 'like the back of my mother' afterward does not negate the divorce, similar to saying, 'You are divorced like the back of my mother.'