Verses 220–224
2. Al-Baqara · The Cow
Madinan286 verses
فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ ۖ قُلْ إِصْلَاحٌۭ لَّهُمْ خَيْرٌۭ ۖ وَإِن تُخَالِطُوهُمْ فَإِخْوَٰنُكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ ٱلْمُفْسِدَ مِنَ ٱلْمُصْلِحِ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَعْنَتَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ
2:220about the world and the Hereafter. And they ask you concerning the orphans. Say, ‘It is better to set right their affairs, and if you intermingle with them, they are of course your brothers: Allah knows those who cause corruption from those who set things right, and had Allah wished He would have put you to hardship.’ Indeed Allah is all-mighty, all-wise.1
وَلَا تَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكَٰتِ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنَّ ۚ وَلَأَمَةٌۭ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍۢ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ ۗ وَلَا تُنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّىٰ يُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ وَلَعَبْدٌۭ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌۭ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍۢ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ ۗ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَدْعُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَٱلْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۖ وَيُبَيِّنُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
2:221Do not marry idolatresses until they embrace faith. A faithful slave girl is better than an idolatress, though she should impress you. And do not marry [your daughters] to idolaters until they embrace faith. A faithful slave is better than an idolater, though he should impress you. Those invite [others] to the Fire, but Allah invites to paradise and pardon, by His will, and He clarifies His signs for the people so that they may take admonition.2*
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًۭى فَٱعْتَزِلُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِى ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
2:222They ask you concerning [intercourse during] menses. Say, ‘It is hurtful.’ So keep away from wives during the menses, and do not approach them till they are clean. And when they become clean, go into them as Allah has commanded you. Indeed Allah loves the penitent and He loves those who keep clean.345
نِسَآؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌۭ لَّكُمْ فَأْتُوا۟ حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّىٰ شِئْتُمْ ۖ وَقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُم مُّلَٰقُوهُ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
2:223Your women are a tillage for you, so come to your tillage whenever you like, and send ahead for your souls, and be Godwary, and know that you will encounter Him; and give good news to the faithful.6
وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عُرْضَةًۭ لِّأَيْمَٰنِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ وَتُصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ
2:224Do not make Allah an obstacle, through your oaths, to being pious and Godwary, and to bringing about concord between people. And Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 220
1.During the days of ignorance people used to have relationships with orphans only to grab their property. When Islam prevented them to touch their properly and Muslims absolutely kept the orphans away some people asked about both the types. The reply was that you must usurp their wealth, hut you must rectify them and not keep them separate. You can keep them with you but with an honest intention because Allah knows the intentions too. And when you keep them with you, you can recover their expenses from their property and not put yourself in trouble.
Verse 221
2.Islam has given preference to belief over beauty and wealth. Muslim slaves are better than free infidels because they have no worldly possessions but they have the wealth of faith and that is the greatest wealth. Then marriage affects the human society and the infidels pull us towards Hell or the training of the children becomes unislamic or at least one gets to like infidelity or lack of hatred or liberal views all of whom are certainly dangerous for the belief.
Verse 222
3.Before Islam Jews abstained from intercourse during the menses but the Christians had no restrictions. The common infidels even refrained from interacting with them. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was asked about these problems. He clarified that only intercourse was unlawful and thats all and that too because this time and the organ was dirty and in discomfort. Intercourse during this time may cause disease in the private parts and very uncomfortable for the women because the mood is to throw out something from the body and here she is forced to ingest semen. It is an open conflict which has very serious risk for the health.
4.This word indicates that it is necessary to follow the divine command in sexual intercourse and there is no complete freedom.
Verse 223
5.The word anna is used in Arabic to ask where, and from where and how the testimonies of all are present in Quran and in this way it also justifies anal intercourse. Just as Razi has reported from Ibne Umar and Malik and Abubakar Andalusi on page 73 of Ahkaamul Quran quoted many companions and Taabe’een and written thus. But the word ‘farming’ indicates that seeds have to be sown where there is possibility of cultivation. Otherwise the seed would be wasted and nothing will come out from it. Although as she is your wife you are free in this matter.
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
- 1
Help can be monetary or by good behaviour. These people are in need of both.
- 2
Nikah also means marriage and sex too. Mushrik is the one who disputes in the oneness of God. Ahle-Kitab are other than this.
Benefit
What does Mushrekeen denote in the 221st ayat. Regarding this there is difference among the commentators. Some also include the People of the Book considering shirk absolute. Some say that they are mentioned separately from Ahl-e-Kitab and the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had ordered that polytheist be expelled from the Arabian Gulf and the People of the book were not expelled. It means that they are,not included among the common polytheists and marriage is allowed with them.
- 3
Haiz means flowing. That is why the pool is called Hauz because water flows into it.
- 4
Mahez - It is the time and also place of Haiz. For this aspect sex could be prohibited during this time and also the place of Haiz.
- 5
If it is Yataheroon it means Purity and bath is not the condition and if it is Yattaheroon sex is haram before Ghusl.
- 6
There is freedom of place in sex and one can perform it wherever he likes and there is freedom in method also. That is standing, sitting or lying position.