لِّلَّذِينَ يُؤْلُونَ مِن نِّسَآئِهِمْ تَرَبُّصُ أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ ۖ فَإِن فَآءُو فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 226
Translations
For those who swear not to have sexual relations with their wives is a waiting time of four months, but if they return [to normal relations] - then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Lilladhīna yu'lūna min nisā'ihim tarabbusu arba'ati ashhurin fa-in fā'ū fa-inna Allāha ghafūrun rahīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the waiting period (tarabbuṣ) of four months for men who take an oath to abstain from sexual relations with their wives (known as īlā' in Islamic jurisprudence). According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurṭubī, if the husband breaks his oath and returns to his wife within this period, Allah is forgiving and merciful; if he does not, the marriage contract requires resolution. This verse strikes a balance between preserving marital bonds and protecting women's rights by imposing a time limit on such oaths.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during the early Islamic period to address a pre-Islamic Arabian custom where men would abandon their wives through vows of abstinence. The broader context in Surah Al-Baqarah addresses various marital matters, establishing Islamic guidelines for marriage rights and responsibilities. This verse establishes legal protections against indefinite separation without divorce.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of 'Ā'ishah (Sahih Bukhari) discusses the ruling on īlā' and marital disputes. Additionally, the hadith in Abu Dawud regarding the Prophet's ﷺ handling of cases where men took such oaths illustrates the practical application of this principle in early Islamic jurisprudence.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while Islamic law provides time for reconciliation and reflection in marital disputes, it does not permit indefinite harm or abandonment of spouses; it emphasizes that God's mercy encompasses those who repent and rectify their actions. For modern Muslims, this underscores the importance of honoring marital commitments and resolving disputes with compassion rather than through harmful vows or prolonged separation.
Related Ayahs
الٓمٓ
Alif, Lām, Meem.
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,
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلشَّهْرِ ٱلْحَرَامِ قِتَالٍ فِيهِ ۖ قُلْ قِتَالٌ فِيهِ كَبِيرٌ ۖ وَصَدٌّ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَكُفْرٌۢ بِهِۦ وَٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَإِخْرَاجُ أَهْلِهِۦ مِنْهُ أَكْبَرُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱلْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ ٱلْقَتْلِ ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُونَ يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَن دِينِكُمْ إِنِ ٱسْتَطَـٰعُوا۟ ۚ وَمَن يَرْتَدِدْ مِنكُمْ عَن دِينِهِۦ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
They ask you about the sacred month - about fighting therein. Say, "Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allāh and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] al-Masjid al-Ḥarām and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allāh. And fitnah is greater than killing." And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقُولُوا۟ رَٰعِنَا وَقُولُوا۟ ٱنظُرْنَا وَٱسْمَعُوا۟ ۗ وَلِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
O you who have believed, say not [to Allāh's Messenger], "Rāʿinā" but say, "Unẓurnā" and listen. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.