نِسَآؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَّكُمْ فَأْتُوا۟ حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّىٰ شِئْتُمْ ۖ وَقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُم مُّلَـٰقُوهُ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 223
Translations
Your wives are a place of cultivation [i.e., sowing of seed] for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish and put forth [righteousness] for yourselves. And fear Allāh and know that you will meet Him. And give good tidings to the believers.
Transliteration
Nisāʾukum ḥarthun lakum faʾtū ḥarthakum annā shiʾtum wa-qaddimū li-anfusikum wa-ttaqū l-Lāha waʿlamū anakum mulāqūhu wa-bashshir al-muʾminīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the permissibility of marital relations, using the metaphor of 'cultivation' (ḥarth) to describe the role of women in procreation and family building. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain that while husbands have the right to approach their wives, they must do so with consideration and preparation, avoiding harm. The ayah then shifts to the broader spiritual imperative: to send forward righteous deeds for oneself and maintain taqwa (God-consciousness), as all will meet Allah on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina in response to questions about the permissibility of different positions during marital relations. It falls within the broader Medinan context of establishing Islamic family law and social ethics. The ayah transitions from a practical matter to a fundamental spiritual reminder about accountability before Allah.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said regarding wives: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895). Additionally, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported guidance on marital conduct emphasizing kindness and consideration (Sunan Ibn Majah).
Themes
Key Lesson
While Islam permits marital intimacy, it must be approached with mutual respect, kindness, and consideration for one's spouse—not merely as a right but as a responsibility. The ultimate lesson is that all human actions, including private matters, occur within the presence of divine awareness, calling believers to maintain taqwa in all aspects of life.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَقَالَتِ ٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ لَيْسَتِ ٱلْيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا۟ فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ
The Jews say, "The Christians have nothing [true] to stand on," and the Christians say, "The Jews have nothing to stand on," although they [both] recite the Scripture. Thus do those who know not [i.e., the polytheists] speak the same as their words. But Allāh will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ كُلَّمَا رُزِقُوا۟ مِنْهَا مِن ثَمَرَةٍ رِّزْقًا ۙ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى رُزِقْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَأُتُوا۟ بِهِۦ مُتَشَـٰبِهًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِيهَآ أَزْوَٰجٌ مُّطَهَّرَةٌ ۖ وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, "This is what we were provided with before." And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا ۖ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُ عَنْ أَصْحَـٰبِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
Indeed, We have sent you, [O Muḥammad], with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner, and you will not be asked about the companions of Hellfire.