Surah Al-Mujadilah — Verse 2

Word Meanings:

• Yuzaahiroon (يُظَاهِرُونَ): Those who declare their wives unlawful to themselves by comparing them to their mothers' backs — a practice known as *zihaar* in pre-Islamic Arabia.
• Unkuran (مُنكَرًا): A statement that is abhorrent, repugnant, and rejected by sound nature and divine law.
• Zooran (زُورًا): Falsehood, a lie that has no basis in reality.

Tafsir (Explanation):

This verse addresses a grave and deeply unjust practice that existed among the Arabs before Islam and was carried into the early Muslim community: the declaration of *zihaar*. When a man said to his wife, "You are to me like the back of my mother," he intended to sever the marital bond and deprive her of her rights — yet he did not grant her the freedom of divorce either. She was left suspended, neither a wife with rights nor a free woman.

Allah, in His perfect wisdom, immediately dismantles this falsehood: "They are not their mothers." A mother is only the woman who gave birth to a person — no one else can take that place, no matter what words are uttered. By equating his wife with his mother, the man is not elevating his wife; rather, he is committing a grave injustice against her and speaking a monstrous lie. The verse describes this speech as *munkar* — something utterly detestable to every sound mind and pure heart — and *zoor* — a falsehood that contradicts reality itself.

Yet, in the very same breath, the verse reveals the beauty of Allah's mercy: "And indeed, Allah is Most Pardoning, Most Forgiving." He does not leave the sinner trapped in his error. Instead, He opens the door of repentance and provides a way out — the expiation (*kaffarah*) that He legislated in the following verses, which frees a slave, or requires fasting for two consecutive months, or feeding sixty poor people. This is not merely a punishment; it is a purification and a restoration of justice.

A Da'wah Reflection:

How magnificent is this religion! Even when addressing a serious transgression, Allah pairs His warning with His mercy. He does not say, "You are doomed." He says, "I forgive, and I provide a path back to Me." This teaches us that no matter how grave the sin — even one that was deeply entrenched in a society's customs — sincere repentance can erase it. The door of *tawbah* is always open, and the mercy of Allah is vaster than any sin.

This verse also serves as a timeless reminder of the sanctity of women in Islam. A wife is not a possession to be discarded with careless words; she is a partner, a companion, and a trust from Allah. Islam came to protect her dignity, her rights, and her honor — and it corrects every attempt to degrade her, whether through *zihaar*, divorce without justice, or any other form of oppression.

Let every believer take heed: words have weight, and the tongue can either build or destroy. Guard your speech, honor your spouses, and when you err, rush to repentance — for Allah is *'Afuwwun Ghafoor*, Ever-Pardoning, Ever-Forgiving.