What is the ruling on a husband saying to his wife, "You are like my mother," if he is angry and did not intend Ẓihār, and does that entail the necessity of Kaffārah, and what are its rulings?
A husband's statement to his wife, "You are my mother," is not an explicit ẓihār (a statement by which a husband likens his wife to a forbidden female relative, making her unlawful to him). Rather, it is an implicit statement (kināyah) by which ẓihār only occurs if accompanied by intention or a contextual indicator. Since this phrase was uttered in response to the wife's statement, "You are not my mother, and you will not be able to do without me," the intended meaning is, "You are like my mother [in age or respect], and I can do without you." In this case, ẓihār does not occur.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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