وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا وَصِيَّةً لِّأَزْوَٰجِهِم مَّتَـٰعًا إِلَى ٱلْحَوْلِ غَيْرَ إِخْرَاجٍ ۚ فَإِنْ خَرَجْنَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى مَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ مِن مَّعْرُوفٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 240
Translations
And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - for their wives is a bequest: maintenance for one year without turning [them] out. But if they leave [of their own accord], then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable way. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Transliteration
Wa alladhina yutawaffawna minkum wa yadhrawna azwajan wasiyyatan li-azwajihim mataʿan ila al-hawli ghayra ikhrajin. Fa-in kharajn fala junaha ʿalaykum fi ma faʿalna fi anfusihinna min maʿruf. Wa Allahu ʿAzizun Hakimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the obligation of men to make a bequest (wasiyyah) for their wives in case of death, providing them maintenance for one year without being forced to leave the home. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this was a directive of compassion toward widows before the detailed laws of inheritance were fully established. The phrase 'without expulsion' emphasizes the widow's right to remain in the marital home, and if she chooses to leave of her own accord with propriety, there is no blame upon the heirs.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Medinan legislation on family law and inheritance matters revealed in Surah Al-Baqarah. It addresses the rights of widows during a transitional period of Islamic law, establishing both their financial security and housing rights after a husband's death. The subsequent verse (2:241) clarifies inheritance rights more explicitly, indicating this ayah represents an earlier stage of Islamic legal guidance on widows' provisions.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding women's rights: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives' (Jami` at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the Prophet emphasized honoring one's wife and maintaining family bonds, which relates to the compassionate intent behind this provision for widows.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islam prioritizes the dignity and financial security of vulnerable women, requiring men to plan for their families' wellbeing after death. Modern believers should view estate planning and wills as religious obligations rooted in compassion rather than legal formalities alone.
Related Ayahs
أَيَوَدُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ لَهُۥ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَأَصَابَهُ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَلَهُۥ ذُرِّيَّةٌ ضُعَفَآءُ فَأَصَابَهَآ إِعْصَارٌ فِيهِ نَارٌ فَٱحْتَرَقَتْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Would one of you like to have a garden of palm trees and grapevines underneath which rivers flow in which he has from every fruit? But he is afflicted with old age and has weak [i.e., immature] offspring, and it is hit by a whirlwind containing fire and is burned. Thus does Allāh make clear to you [His] verses that you might give thought.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.
وَإِنْ عَزَمُوا۟ ٱلطَّلَـٰقَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And if they decide on divorce - then indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
ٱلطَّلَـٰقُ مَرَّتَانِ ۖ فَإِمْسَاكٌۢ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌۢ بِإِحْسَـٰنٍ ۗ وَلَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِمَّآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّآ أَن يَخَافَآ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا يُقِيمَا حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا فِيمَا ٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا ۚ وَمَن يَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَ ٱللَّهِ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ
Divorce is twice. Then [after that], either keep [her] in an acceptable manner or release [her] with good treatment. And it is not lawful for you to take anything of what you have given them unless both fear that they will not be able to keep [within] the limits of Allāh. But if you fear that they will not keep [within] the limits of Allāh, then there is no blame upon either of them concerning that by which she ransoms herself. These are the limits of Allāh, so do not transgress them. And whoever transgresses the limits of Allāh - it is those who are the wrongdoers [i.e., the unjust].