The context behind the revelation Sūrat al-Mujādilah

Dear Islamic brothers, let us look at an issue of fiqh known as ẓihār. Books of fiqh contain an entire chapter on ẓihār. Those who are married should definitely learn about this. In simple terms, ẓihār is where a man equates his wife with his mother or sister. For example, a husband may say to his wife, “To me you’re like my mother”, which is ẓihār. In Islam’s early days, ẓihār carried the same ruling as divorce. Meaning, if somebody said his wife was like his mother or sister to him, his wife would become haram for him.

Khawlah bint Thaʿlabah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا was a female Companion. One day, her husband said to her, “You’re like my mother to me.” He said what he did, but then regretted his words. Now there was extreme worry, as one’s nikah ended because of this and a wife became haram for her husband.

In this state of worry, Sayyidatunā Khawlah bint Thaʿlabah رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهَا went to see the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and explained the entire situation. She exclaimed:

O Messenger of Allah! I have no wealth left, my parents have passed away, I have aged, and my children are young. If I leave them with their father, how will these small children be brought up without their mother? Yet, if I keep them with me, they will die of hunger. Is there any way my husband and I can stay together?

After listening to all of what she had to say, the Messenger of Allah    صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared, “I have not yet received an order regarding your matter.”