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wa-lladhīna yuẓāhirūna min nisāʾihim thumma yaʿūdūna li-mā qālū fa-taḥrīru raqabatin min qabli ʾan yatamāssā dhālikum tūʿaẓūna bihī wa-llāhu bi-mā taʿmalūna khabīrun
Those who repudiate their wives by ³ih¡r and then retract what they have said, shall set free a slave before they may touch each other. This you are advised [to carry out], and Allah is well aware of what you do.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Mujadila - Verse 3
3. And those who make unlawful to them their wives by zihar and wish to redeem themselves of what they uttered, [the expiation] in that case is the manumission of a slave before they touch each other. That is an admonition to you. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.
Manumission as an expiation for involuntary homicide, unredeemed oath, and zihar is attested in the Holy Qur’an2. Since such abominable act could not be ignored by the Islamic faith, the blessed Verse in question says:
Qur’an exegetes have thought of different interpretations regarding the blessed Verse in question and in his Tafsir Kanz al-‘Irfan, FaÃil Miqdad presents six interpretations. However, the literal sense of the word, taking into account the clause:
is that they repent their words and intend to return to their family life and sexual intercourse. Such interpretation is also attested in traditions narrated from Ahl al-Bayt.3 The blessed Verse proceeds to say:
i.e. He is All-Aware of your zihar, refraining from expiation, and your intentions.
Footnotes