لَّا يَحِلُّ لَكَ ٱلنِّسَآءُ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَلَآ أَن تَبَدَّلَ بِهِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَٰجٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رَّقِيبًا 52
Translations
Not lawful to you, [O Muḥammad], are [any additional] women after [this], nor [is it] for you to exchange them for [other] wives, even if their beauty were to please you, except what your right hand possesses. And ever is Allāh, over all things, an Observer.
Transliteration
Lā yaḥillu laka al-nisāʾu min baʿdu wa-lā an tabaddala bihinna min azwāj wa-law aʿjabaka ḥusnuhunna illā mā malakat yamīnuka wa-kāna Allāhu ʿalā kulli shayʾin raqībā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah restricts the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from marrying additional women beyond those he had already married, and forbids him from divorcing his current wives to replace them with others, even if he found other women more beautiful—with the exception of captives of war (those whom his right hand possessed). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this was a special restriction for the Prophet alone, establishing limits on his marriages as a sign of honor and to prevent discord among his wives. The ayah concludes with a reminder that Allah is observing all matters, emphasizing divine oversight of even the Prophet's personal conduct.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period during the context of the Battle of the Confederates (Ahzāb), when the Prophet's household faced threats and tensions arose regarding his marriages. The restriction appears to have been revealed to address marital complexities and to establish clear boundaries, preventing further additions to his household that could create discord, while also distinguishing between his wives and captives of war.
Related Hadiths
Aʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet's wives became jealous of her, leading to verses of revelation about his marriages (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Mājah describes the Prophet saying he had been given permission for plural marriage unlike other men, but this ayah subsequently restricted even his practice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that even the most honored individual is subject to divine law and boundaries, reminding believers that restrictions from Allah serve purposes of wisdom and justice. It emphasizes that commitment to one's covenants—particularly in marriage—is a fundamental Islamic value that supersedes personal desires, and that Allah's awareness of all our actions calls us to integrity in our most intimate affairs.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِنَّآ أَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ أَزْوَٰجَكَ ٱلَّـٰتِىٓ ءَاتَيْتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّـٰتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَـٰلَـٰتِكَ ٱلَّـٰتِى هَاجَرْنَ مَعَكَ وَٱمْرَأَةً مُّؤْمِنَةً إِن وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِىِّ إِنْ أَرَادَ ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَن يَسْتَنكِحَهَا خَالِصَةً لَّكَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۗ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا فَرَضْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ لِكَيْلَا يَكُونَ عَلَيْكَ حَرَجٌ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allāh has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her; [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess, [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort [i.e., difficulty]. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاذَوْا۟ مُوسَىٰ فَبَرَّأَهُ ٱللَّهُ مِمَّا قَالُوا۟ ۚ وَكَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَجِيهًا
O you who have believed, be not like those who abused Moses; then Allāh cleared him of what they said. And he, in the sight of Allāh, was distinguished.
ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ ۗ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًا
The Prophet is more worthy of the believers than themselves, and his wives are [in the position of] their mothers. And those of [blood] relationship are more entitled [to inheritance] in the decree of Allāh than the [other] believers and the emigrants, except that you may do to your close associates a kindness [through bequest]. That was in the Book inscribed.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
O you who have believed, fear Allāh and speak words of appropriate justice.