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
فَقُلْنَا ٱضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْىِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
So We said, "Strike him [i.e., the slain man] with part of it." Thus does Allāh bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you might reason.
أَوْ كَٱلَّذِى مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْىِۦ هَـٰذِهِ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۖ فَأَمَاتَهُ ٱللَّهُ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُۥ ۖ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ ۖ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۖ قَالَ بَل لَّبِثْتَ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامٍ فَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ ءَايَةً لِّلنَّاسِ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَى ٱلْعِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًا ۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥ قَالَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Or [consider such an example] as the one who passed by a township which had fallen into ruin. He said, "How will Allāh bring this to life after its death?" So Allāh caused him to die for a hundred years; then He revived him. He said, "How long have you remained?" He [the man] said, "I have remained a day or part of a day." He said, "Rather, you have remained one hundred years. Look at your food and your drink; it has not changed with time. And look at your donkey; and We will make you a sign for the people. And look at the bones [of this donkey] - how We raise them and then We cover them with flesh." And when it became clear to him, he said, "I know that Allāh is over all things competent."
تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
That is a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.
يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds.