Q: Please be advised that a twenty-year-old man married a twelve-year-old girl. When they quarreled, he unintentionally said to her that he would rather have sexual intercourse with his mother than with her. Please advise concerning this.

A: If a man unintentionally says to his wife that he would rather have sexual intercourse with his mother than with her, this is considered Zhihar (a man likening his wife to an unmarriageable relative). It is an objectionable statement and falsehood that is forbidden for a Muslim to say, according to Allah's Saying, Those among you who make their wives unlawful to them by (Zihâr; i.e. by saying to them "You are like my mother’s back,") they cannot be their mothers. None can be their mothers except those who gave them birth. And verily, they utter an ill word and a lie. And verily, Allâh is Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving. If he wants to return to his wife, he must pay a Kaffarah (expiation) (Part No. 20; Page No. 265) first by emancipating a believing slave. If he cannot do that, he must observe Sawm (fasting) for two consecutive months. If he cannot do that, he must feed sixty needy people, according to Allah's Saying, And those who make unlawful to them their wives by Zihâr and wish to free themselves from what they uttered, (the penalty) in that case is the freeing of a slave before they touch each other. That is an admonition to you (so that you may not repeat such an ill thing). And Allâh is All-Aware of what you do. And he who finds not (the money for freeing a slave) must fast two successive months before they both touch each other. And he who is unable to do so, should feed sixty Miskîns (poor). May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.