يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ إِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا 28
Translations
O Prophet, say to your wives, "If you should desire the worldly life and its adornment, then come, I will provide for you and give you a gracious release.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha an-nabiyyu qul li-azwajika in kuntunna turidna al-hayata ad-dunya wa zeenataha fa-ta'aalayna umatti'kunna wa-usarrihanakunna sarahan jameela
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad regarding his wives, presenting them with a choice between desiring worldly life and its adornments, or choosing the Hereafter. If they choose the world, the Prophet is instructed to provide them with maintenance and release them in a kind manner (gracious divorce). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this was revealed after the Battle of the Trench when the Prophet's wives were experiencing hardship and scarcity, testing their commitment to faith over material comfort. The ayah emphasizes that the wives of the Prophet must prioritize spiritual devotion and the Hereafter, establishing a high standard of sacrifice and commitment expected of the Prophet's household.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the context of Surah Al-Ahzab (The Combined Forces), which addresses the affairs of the Prophet's household and community during the Medinan period. It specifically relates to the Prophet's marriages and the trials faced by his wives during times of hardship, particularly following the siege of Medina. The surah establishes elevated standards of conduct and devotion expected from the Prophet's family as role models for the Muslim community.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3331): Aisha reported that the Prophet's wives requested increased maintenance, and this ayah was revealed in response to their request, emphasizing the choice between worldly comfort and the Hereafter. Additionally, traditions in Sahih Muslim regarding the Prophet's household note the simplicity and sacrifice of his wives in preference for spiritual reward.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true faith requires prioritizing spiritual commitment over material comfort, and establishes that kindness and dignity must be maintained even in difficult personal circumstances such as divorce. For believers today, it emphasizes that the measure of a person's faith is reflected in their choices when faced with the temptation of worldly pleasures versus devotion to God and the Hereafter.
Related Ayahs
وَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلْأَحْزَابَ قَالُوا۟ هَـٰذَا مَا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَصَدَقَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ۚ وَمَا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّآ إِيمَـٰنًا وَتَسْلِيمًا
And when the believers saw the companies, they said, "This is what Allāh and His Messenger had promised us, and Allāh and His Messenger spoke the truth." And it increased them only in faith and acceptance.
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَمِنكَ وَمِن نُّوحٍ وَإِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ ۖ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًا
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus, the son of Mary; and We took from them a solemn covenant
مَّا كَانَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍ فِيمَا فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ ۖ سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ قَدَرًا مَّقْدُورًا
There is not to be upon the Prophet any discomfort concerning that which Allāh has imposed upon him. [This is] the established way of Allāh with those [prophets] who have passed on before. And ever is the command of Allāh a destiny decreed.
وَلَوْ دُخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَقْطَارِهَا ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا۟ ٱلْفِتْنَةَ لَـَٔاتَوْهَا وَمَا تَلَبَّثُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَّا يَسِيرًا
And if they had been entered upon from all its [surrounding] regions and fitnah [i.e., disbelief] had been demanded of them, they would have done it and not hesitated over it except briefly.