Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: If a person pronounces zihar on his slave woman, what is the ruling? He replied: "This zihar is nothing." It was asked: "Did Allah Almighty not say: ﴿وَالَّذِينَ يُظَاهِرُونَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ﴾ 'And those who pronounce zihar from their wives,' so are slave women not included among women?" Upon this, Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "Allah Almighty also said: ﴿وَاسْتَشْهِدُوا شَهِيدَيْنِ مِنْ رِجَالِكُمْ﴾ 'And take two male witnesses from among your men,' so is the testimony of slaves permissible?" That is, just as in the matter of testimony, the condition of men is specified and slaves are not included, similarly in the ruling of 'wives,' free women are meant, not slave women.