What is the ruling on one who jokingly or sarcastically says to his wife, "She is a man with male organs or male genitalia," without intending divorce or ẓihār? And is it considered ẓihār for a husband to say to his wife, "She is like his mother in body, or his sister in a part of the body," as a resemblance and not with the intention of ẓihār? Or for a husband to liken his newborn daughter to his wife in some characteristics?

A man's likening of his wife to other men, or to his mother, sister, or daughter in some characteristic, is not considered ẓihār. Ẓihār occurs with an explicit verbal declaration, such as "You are to me as the back of my mother," or through an indirect expression (kināyah) accompanied by the intention [of ẓihār]. So, if he says, "You are to me as my mother," and he intends ẓihār, then it is ẓihār according to the majority of scholars. However, if he intends honor, or that she is like her in age or characteristic, then it is not ẓihār.