وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِىٓ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَتُخْفِى فِى نَفْسِكَ مَا ٱللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَىٰهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ زَيْدٌ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَـٰكَهَا لِكَىْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِ أَدْعِيَآئِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا۟ مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا 37
Translations
And [remember, O Muḥammad], when you said to the one on whom Allāh bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allāh," while you concealed within yourself that which Allāh is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allāh has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort [i.e., guilt] concerning the wives of their claimed [i.e., adopted] sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command [i.e., decree] of Allāh accomplished.
Transliteration
Wa-idh taqoolu lilladhee an'ama Allahu alayhi wa-an'amta alayhi amsik alayка zawjak wattaqi Allaha wa-tukhfee fee nafsika ma Allahu mubydeeh wa-takhsha an-nasa wa-Allahu ahaqqu an takhshahu. Falamma qada Zaydun minha watra zawwajnakaha likay la yakuna ala al-mu'mineena harajun fee azwaji ad'iyaa'ihim idha qada minhunna watra. Wa-kana amru Allahi maf'ula.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet Muhammad regarding Zayd ibn Harithah (his freed slave and adopted son) and Zaynab bint Jahsh. The Prophet was told to command Zayd to keep his wife, though the Prophet felt internal reluctance (which Allah knew and would later reveal). This ayah also addresses the repeal of the legal barrier that had previously prohibited the Prophet's companions from marrying the ex-wives of their adopted sons. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this ayah clarifies that adoption does not create actual kinship, thus permitting such marriages after the dissolution of the original union.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina regarding a specific historical incident involving the Prophet's adopted son Zayd ibn Harithah and his wife Zaynab bint Jahsh. The revelation addressed both the personal situation and established an important Islamic legal principle: adopted children do not have the same marital restrictions as biological children, thereby abolishing the pre-Islamic custom of treating adopted children as biological offspring.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari: 'A'ishah reported that the Prophet said about Zayd and Zaynab's marriage, 'I have married her to you.' This confirmed the permissibility of the marriage after Zayd's divorce. Additionally, Sunan Abu Dawud contains accounts of the Prophet's instructions to Zayd regarding his wife before the separation occurred.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that fearing Allah must supersede fearing human judgment, and that Allah's wisdom in His laws may sometimes differ from societal customs or personal preferences. It reminds us that obedience to Allah's commands, even when difficult or unconventional, leads to wisdom and removes hardship from the Muslim community.