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
وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا۟ عَـٰهَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ ٱلْأَدْبَـٰرَ ۚ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ ٱللَّهِ مَسْـُٔولًا
And they had already promised Allāh before not to turn their backs [i.e., flee]. And ever is the promise to Allāh [that about which one will be] questioned.
وَأَوْرَثَكُمْ أَرْضَهُمْ وَدِيَـٰرَهُمْ وَأَمْوَٰلَهُمْ وَأَرْضًا لَّمْ تَطَـُٔوهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرًا
And He caused you to inherit their land and their homes and their properties and a land which you have not trodden. And ever is Allāh, over all things, competent.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِنَّآ أَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ أَزْوَٰجَكَ ٱلَّـٰتِىٓ ءَاتَيْتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّـٰتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَـٰلَـٰتِكَ ٱلَّـٰتِى هَاجَرْنَ مَعَكَ وَٱمْرَأَةً مُّؤْمِنَةً إِن وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِىِّ إِنْ أَرَادَ ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَن يَسْتَنكِحَهَا خَالِصَةً لَّكَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۗ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا فَرَضْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ لِكَيْلَا يَكُونَ عَلَيْكَ حَرَجٌ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allāh has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you and a believing woman if she gives herself to the Prophet [and] if the Prophet wishes to marry her; [this is] only for you, excluding the [other] believers. We certainly know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and those their right hands possess, [but this is for you] in order that there will be upon you no discomfort [i.e., difficulty]. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.