يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ إِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا 28
Translations
O Prophet, say to your wives, "If you should desire the worldly life and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and give you a gracious release.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nabiyyu qul li-azwajika in kuntunna turidna al-hayata ad-dunya wa zeenataha fa-ta'aalayna umatti'kunna wa-usarrihanakunna sarahan jameela
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad regarding his wives, presenting them with a choice between desiring worldly life and its adornments, or choosing the Hereafter. If they choose the world, the Prophet is instructed to provide them with maintenance and release them in a kind manner (gracious divorce). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this was revealed after the Battle of the Trench when the Prophet's wives were experiencing hardship and scarcity, testing their commitment to faith over material comfort. The ayah emphasizes that the wives of the Prophet must prioritize spiritual devotion and the Hereafter, establishing a high standard of sacrifice and commitment expected of the Prophet's household.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Al-Ahzab (The Combined Forces), which addresses the affairs of the Prophet's household and community during the Medinan period. It specifically relates to the Prophet's marriages and the trials faced by his wives during times of hardship, particularly following the siege of Medina. The surah establishes elevated standards of conduct and devotion expected from the Prophet's family as role models for the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3331): Aisha reported that the Prophet's wives requested increased maintenance, and this ayah was revealed in response to their request, emphasizing the choice between worldly comfort and the Hereafter. Additionally, traditions in Sahih Muslim regarding the Prophet's household note the simplicity and sacrifice of his wives in preference for spiritual reward.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith requires prioritizing spiritual commitment over material comfort, and establishes that kindness and dignity must be maintained even in difficult personal circumstances such as divorce. For believers today, it emphasizes that the measure of a person's faith is reflected in their choices when faced with the temptation of worldly pleasures versus devotion to God and the Hereafter.