لَّا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِنَّ فِىٓ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ وَلَآ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ وَلَآ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ وَلَآ أَبْنَآءِ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ وَلَآ أَبْنَآءِ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ وَلَا نِسَآئِهِنَّ وَلَا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُنَّ ۗ وَٱتَّقِينَ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدًا 55
Translations
There is no blame upon them [i.e., women] concerning their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons or their women or those their right hands possess [i.e., slaves]. And fear Allāh. Indeed Allāh is ever, over all things, Witness.
Transliteration
Lā junāḥa ʿalayhinna fī ābāʾihinna wa-lā abnāʾihinna wa-lā ikhwānihinna wa-lā abnāʾi ikhwānihinna wa-lā abnāʾi akhawātihinna wa-lā nisāʾihinna wa-lā mā malakat aymānuhunna. Wa-ttaqīna Allāh. Inna Allāha kāna ʿalā kulli shayʾin shahīdan.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, referring to the wives of the Prophet (may peace be upon him), specifies the categories of men who are not bound by the hijab requirement when interacting with these women—namely their close male relatives (fathers, sons, brothers, cousins) and their female attendants. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain that these individuals are exempt because they are muḥram (unmarriageable relatives), making private interaction permissible without fear of temptation. The ayah concludes with an exhortation to piety, reminding the wives of the Prophet and the Muslim women to maintain God-consciousness, as Allah witnesses all actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina as part of Surah Al-Ahzab, which addresses the etiquette and honor of the Prophet's household following the events of the Battle of the Confederates (Ghazwat al-Aḥzāb) in 5 AH. The broader context of verses 53-59 concerns regulations for the Prophet's wives' interactions with visitors, establishing principles of modesty and privacy for the household of the Prophet.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (Kitab An-Nikah) records hadith regarding the Prophet's instructions on the segregation of men and women, with exceptions for mahram relations. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains traditions about the importance of maintaining Islamic etiquette in domestic spaces, particularly regarding the Prophet's household.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that Islamic guidelines regarding interaction between genders are not meant to create unnecessary hardship but rather to preserve dignity and prevent corruption; the exception for close relatives demonstrates wisdom in Islamic law, while the closing reminder about taqwa (God-consciousness) emphasizes that true virtue comes from internal awareness of Allah rather than external rules alone.
Related Ayahs
۞ لَّئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَٱلْمُرْجِفُونَ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لَنُغْرِيَنَّكَ بِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَا يُجَاوِرُونَكَ فِيهَآ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease and those who spread rumors in al-Madīnah do not cease, We will surely incite you against them; then they will not remain your neighbors therein except for a little,
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
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.
وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَقْطَارِهَا ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا۟ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ لَـَٔاتَوْهَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَّا يَسِيرًا
And if they had been entered upon from all its [surrounding] regions and fitnah [i.e., disbelief] had been demanded of them, they would have done it and not hesitated over it except briefly.
وَقَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّآ أَطَعْنَا سَادَتَنَا وَكُبَرَآءَنَا فَأَضَلُّونَا ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠
And they will say, "Our Lord, indeed we obeyed our masters and our dignitaries, and they led us astray from the [right] way.