إِن تَتُوبَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا ۖ وَإِن تَظَـٰهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَىٰهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَـٰلِحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ 4
Translations
If you two [wives] repent to Allāh, [it is best], for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him - then indeed Allāh is his protector, and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers and the angels, moreover, are [his] assistants.
Transliteration
In tatūbā ilallāhi faqad saghat qulūbukumā wa-in tathahhарā alayhi fa-inna allāha huwa mawlāhu wa-jibrīlu wa-sālihul-mu'minīn wa-al-malā'ikatu ba'da dhālika zahīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who conspired against him, offering them the opportunity to repent to Allah, as their hearts have already inclined toward wrongdoing. If they persist in their conspiracy against the Prophet, Allah assures him that He is his ally, along with Jibril (Gabriel), the righteous believers, and the angels who will support him. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note this demonstrates Allah's protection of His Messenger and the severe consequences of opposing him, while simultaneously offering a path to redemption through sincere repentance.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah At-Tahrim, which addresses an incident where some of the Prophet's wives conspired against him regarding a matter he had kept confidential. The surah begins with the famous incident involving Aisha and Hafsa, though classical scholars differ on specific details. The broader context emphasizes the Prophet's household responsibilities and the consequences of disloyalty to him.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record the incident of the Prophet's wives conspiring together, with Aisha and Hafsa specifically mentioned as being involved in the matter that led to this surah's revelation. Additionally, the hadith in Muslim emphasizes the Prophet saying his wives tried to unite against him, connecting to the theme of 'tathahhara' (conspiring together) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that sincere repentance is always available to those who stray, even in serious matters, while simultaneously reminding us that opposing Allah's Messenger invites divine displeasure—encouraging believers to support the truth and its bearers rather than conspire against them.
Related Ayahs
قَدْ فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ تَحِلَّةَ أَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Allāh has already ordained for you [Muslims] the dissolution of your oaths. And Allāh is your protector, and He is the Knowing, the Wise.
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ نُوحٍ وَٱمْرَأَتَ لُوطٍ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَـٰلِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا وَقِيلَ ٱدْخُلَا ٱلنَّارَ مَعَ ٱلدَّٰخِلِينَ
Allāh presents an example of those who disbelieved: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous servants but betrayed them, so they [i.e., those prophets] did not avail them from Allāh at all, and it was said, "Enter the Fire with those who enter."
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ٱبْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And Allāh presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
O you who have disbelieved, make no excuses that Day. You will only be recompensed for what you used to do.