Q: A man traveled to another country and left his wife at home with his parents. Then, the news came to him that his wife left his home and returned to her parents. He said, "My wife is as unlawful for me (Part No. 20; Page No. 267) as my mother." Later, he knew that the news was true. What is the ruling on this?

A: If the situation is as you have mentioned, that you said, "My wife is as unlawful for me as my mother", based on what you heard of her leaving your home, and then you made sure that the news was true, this will be considered Zhihar (a man likening his wife to an unmarriageable relative); it is prohibited and you should perform Tawbah (repentance to Allah) of it, 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. If you want to return to your wife, you must observe Sawm (fasting) for two consecutive months before having intercourse with her. This is in case you find no slave to emancipate. If you cannot observe Sawm, you must feed sixty needy people before having intercourse with her. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.