Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 1–6

66. At-Tahrim · The Prohibition

Madinan12 verses

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَآ أَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ لَكَ ۖ تَبْتَغِى مَرْضَاتَ أَزْوَٰجِكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

66:1O Prophet! Why do you disallow [yourself] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking to please your wives? And Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.1

قَدْ فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ تَحِلَّةَ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

66:2Allah has certainly made lawful for you the dissolution of your oaths, and Allah is your master and He is the All-knowing, the All-wise.2

وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِلَىٰ بَعْضِ أَزْوَٰجِهِۦ حَدِيثًۭا فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَتْ بِهِۦ وَأَظْهَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَرَّفَ بَعْضَهُۥ وَأَعْرَضَ عَنۢ بَعْضٍۢ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَهَا بِهِۦ قَالَتْ مَنْ أَنۢبَأَكَ هَٰذَا ۖ قَالَ نَبَّأَنِىَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

66:3When the Prophet confided a matter to one of his wives, but when she divulged it [instead of guarding the secret] and Allah apprised him about it, he acquainted [her] with part of the matter and ignored part of it. So when he told her about it, she said, ‘Who informed you about it?’ He said, ‘The All-knowing and the All-aware has informed me.’

إِن تَتُوبَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا ۖ وَإِن تَظَٰهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَىٰهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَٰلِحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ

66:4If the two of you repent to Allah... for your hearts have certainly swerved, and if you back each other against him, then [know that] Allah is indeed his guardian, and his supporters are Gabriel, the righteous among the faithful and, thereafter, the angels.3

عَسَىٰ رَبُّهُۥٓ إِن طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَن يُبْدِلَهُۥٓ أَزْوَٰجًا خَيْرًۭا مِّنكُنَّ مُسْلِمَٰتٍۢ مُّؤْمِنَٰتٍۢ قَٰنِتَٰتٍۢ تَٰٓئِبَٰتٍ عَٰبِدَٰتٍۢ سَٰٓئِحَٰتٍۢ ثَيِّبَٰتٍۢ وَأَبْكَارًۭا

66:5It may be that if he divorces you his Lord will give him, in [your] stead, wives better than you: [such as are] muslim, faithful, obedient, penitent, devout and given to fasting, virgins and non-virgins.4

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًۭا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌۭ شِدَادٌۭ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ

66:6O you who have faith! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel will be people and stones, over which are [assigned] severe and mighty angels, who do not disobey whatever Allah commands them and carry out what they are commanded.*

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 1

1.It so happened that, in the house of Prophet of Islam (s.a.w.s.), there were two parties among his wives. On one side there were Ayesha and Hafasah and on the other, rest of his wives. And these two did not tolerate the other wives. For instance one day the Prophet (s.a.) ate honey at the place of Zainab Binte Jahash, and the two of them conspired that when he comes home, we will tell him that your mouth is smelling. So accordingly after that first he met Hafasah and she acted as per the conspiracy. He explained the situation and said he would not have it again so that she is no more jealous of Zainab and no kind of problem is created in the house. But he told her not to mention it to anyone. Hafasah immediately informed her accomplice and when the Prophet (s.a.) said that he has the knowledge of this breach of trust she was frightened and asked him, who has informed you? He said Allah had informed him. And now the best thing for you is that you two ask forgiveness, because crookedness has come in your hearts. If you do not ask for forgiveness, and continue plotting remember that I have with me, Allah, Angels and those faithful persons who are of virtuous character and I don’t care for you. Even if I leave you, I can get far better women. It is astonishing that despite these facts in Quran, certain Muslims consider these women to be better than the whole world. They consider them to be full fledged sources of religion. Is it the correct way to derive laws in Islam? Can we take from those people in whose hearts there is perversity? About which the Quran itself has proclaimed? Then good bye to this Islam.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. Benefit

    If the word ‘Farz’ is with’ Ala’ it denotes the obligatory nature of it. If it with ‘Lam’ it denotes that it is recommended and ‘Lam Toharrim’ is not a scolding it is an expression of love and affection.

  2. 1

    Some literary experts believe that both toharrim and tabtaghi are both the Seegha of third person feminine. The implication is that which is allowed by Allah and she should desire from you that you care for the opinion of the spouse. But generally the commentators have concluded that it in particular refers to the Holy Prophet (s.a,w.s.) and he is addressed in it.

  3. 2

    In view of some the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had vowed never to partake honey again; and in view of others he had only promised as such but which was equal to a vow since he was a prophet.

  4. 3

    Some people say that the sentence says that you must repent only then it would be all right with you because a constriction has already been created in your hearts it has very bad consequences. And some say that if you repent your hearts will be inclined towards the truth.

  5. 4

    Sahhaat - A person who is fasting. 5. Hijara - The stones that are made idols and worshipped. Ghalaze Shadaad = very severe angels from whom no kind of concession is expected.

  6. Benefit

    The Holy Quran has mentioned a good character among the qualities of a good woman and not laid emphasis on her virginity because it is not worth comparing with character.