وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُونَهُۥ وَقَدْ أَفْضَىٰ بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَأَخَذْنَ مِنكُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًا 21
Translations
And how could you take it while you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?
Transliteration
Wa-kayfa ta'khudhoonehu wa-qad afdaa ba'dukum ilaa ba'din wa-akhdhna minkum meethaqan ghaleetha
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the prohibition of taking back mahr (dower) from women after marriage, emphasizing that it is unlawful and shameful to demand its return. The phrase 'some of you have gone unto others' (afdaa ba'dukum ilaa ba'din) is interpreted by classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir as referring to intimate relations in marriage, which establishes complete marital union and makes the mahr irrevocably the woman's right. The 'solemn covenant' (meethaq ghaleetha) mentioned here refers to the marriage contract itself, highlighting the sacred and binding nature of the marital bond.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nisa's comprehensive legislation on women's rights during the Medinan period. It addresses pre-Islamic Arabian practices where men would sometimes demand the return of their mahr (dower gift) from their wives, and it establishes women's financial rights and dignity within marriage as fundamental Islamic principles.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895). Also relevant is the hadith: 'Do not take back any of the gifts you have given them [your wives], even if a horse hair' (Sunan Ibn Majah 1851), which directly applies this principle.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that marriage is a sacred covenant with binding obligations of mutual respect and financial fairness—men must honor women's rights to their mahr and treat them with kindness and dignity. For modern Muslims, it emphasizes that marital relations should be based on justice, compassion, and the sanctity of contractual obligations rather than exploitation or retrieval of gifts given in goodwill.
Related Ayahs
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ يَجِدِ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allāh will find Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
وَلْيَخْشَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا۟ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةً ضِعَـٰفًا خَافُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْيَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا
And let those [executors and guardians] fear [injustice] as if they [themselves] had left weak offspring behind and feared for them. So let them fear Allāh and speak words of appropriate justice.
وَإِذَا حَضَرَ ٱلْقِسْمَةَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينُ فَٱرْزُقُوهُم مِّنْهُ وَقُولُوا۟ لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا
And when [other] relatives and orphans and the needy are present at the [time of] division, then provide for them [something] out of it [i.e., the estate] and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.
۞ فَمَا لَكُمْ فِى ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ فِئَتَيْنِ وَٱللَّهُ أَرْكَسَهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوٓا۟ ۚ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَهْدُوا۟ مَنْ أَضَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُۥ سَبِيلًا
What is [the matter] with you [that you are] two groups concerning the hypocrites, while Allāh has made them fall back [into error and disbelief] for what they earned. Do you wish to guide those whom Allāh has sent astray? And he whom Allāh sends astray - never will you find for him a way [of guidance].