Verses 51–54
33. Al-Ahzaab · The Clans
Madinan73 verses
۞ تُرْجِى مَن تَشَآءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُـْٔوِىٓ إِلَيْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ وَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَيْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن تَقَرَّ أَعْيُنُهُنَّ وَلَا يَحْزَنَّ وَيَرْضَيْنَ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْتَهُنَّ كُلُّهُنَّ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَلِيمًۭا
33:51You may put off whichever of them you wish and consort with whichever of them you wish, and there is no sin upon you [in receiving again] any [of them] whom you may seek [to consort with] from among those you have set aside [earlier]. That makes it likelier that they will be comforted and not feel unhappy, and all of them will be pleased with what you give them. Allah knows what is in your hearts, and Allah is all-knowing, all-forbearing.1
لَّا يَحِلُّ لَكَ ٱلنِّسَآءُ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَلَآ أَن تَبَدَّلَ بِهِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَٰجٍۢ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ رَّقِيبًۭا
33:52Beyond that, women are not lawful for you, nor that you should change them for other wives even though their beauty should impress you, except those whom your right hand owns. Allah is watchful over all things.2
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَٰظِرِينَ إِنَىٰهُ وَلَٰكِنْ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوا۟ فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ وَلَا مُسْتَـْٔنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى ٱلنَّبِىَّ فَيَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنكُمْ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَٰعًۭا فَسْـَٔلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَآءِ حِجَابٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُؤْذُوا۟ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَن تَنكِحُوٓا۟ أَزْوَٰجَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمًا
33:53O you who have faith! Do not enter the Prophet’s houses for a meal until you are granted permission, without hanging around for it to be readied. But enter when you are invited, and disperse when you have taken your meal, without cozying up for chats. Such conduct on your part offends the Prophet, and he is ashamed of [asking] you [to leave]; but Allah is not ashamed of [expressing] the truth. When you ask [his] womenfolk for something, do so from behind a curtain. That is more chaste for your hearts and theirs. You should not offend the Apostle of Allah, nor may you ever marry his wives after him. Indeed that would be a grave [sin] with Allah.3
إِن تُبْدُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا
33:54Whether you disclose anything or hide it, Allah indeed knows all things.
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 52
1.After giving the permission of nine wives, Allah put restriction that now it is not allowed to you to marry more women nor can you change them. This is the last limit and Allah settled it lawful for the Prophet and this is specially for the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.).
Verse 53
2.The companions were having the old habit of entering the house without taking permission and waited for the food to be prepared so that they can partake it and then after that they could sit and chat. Allah forbade this and said: This is against ettiquete because this is inconvenient for the Prophet (s.a.) and he cannot even turn you out as it would be against the norms of hospitality.
3.It is mentioned by way of example that male and female should not intermix as it creates trouble. When it is not legal in the house of Allah’s Apostle then how will it be legal in other houses?
4.This Ayat was revealed at that time when Talha Bin Abdullah said: I shall marry Ayesha after the death of Prophet (s.a.) and this ayat disappointed him and this intention was also settled as a crime. We can also estimate from this ayat that this law was not announced when this woman had come in marriage. Therefore this wifehood cannot also be considered as sacrifice for the whole 1ife.
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
Benefit
Arjaa is in the meaning of delay and Iwaa is in the sense of giving refuge. That it was one of the special characteristics of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) that he had the freedom to allot whatever time he liked to any of his wives while others are obliged to give equal time to each of his wife. The reason is probably that in a life full of sorrows how is it possible to be equitable? Also being equitable is very enjoyable when one has discretion to act as one likes.
- 1
Just as the Holy Prophet (s.a. w.s.) had the pennission to have multiple wives, he also had the license to keep or divorce them whenever he liked and also the permission to take them back again. And this was a means of comfort for all.
- 2
This word proves that we are allowed to look at the women we are serious about marrying.
Benefit: ‘After’ in the 52nd ayat indicates the above-mentioned command that after being given the freedom to divide the hours he didn’t have the permission to take another wife because in this way every tribe would like to give a bride and would be angry if he didn’t take it. Or in case he married, the present wives will be aggrieved.
- 3
Nazreen - It is in the meaning of Montazereen (awaiters) and ‘Ana’ is with a Qasr as well as with a Madd, which although a vessel it implies food that is eaten from the vessel. Fantasheroo is in the meaning of returning and the Mustaneseenal Hadith means not to keep sitting after dinner to chat.