۞ تُرْجِى مَن تَشَآءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُـْٔوِىٓ إِلَيْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ وَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَيْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن تَقَرَّ أَعْيُنُهُنَّ وَلَا يَحْزَنَّ وَيَرْضَيْنَ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْتَهُنَّ كُلُّهُنَّ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَلِيمًا 51
Translations
You, [O Muḥammad], may put aside whom you will of them or take to yourself whom you will. And any that you desire of those [wives] from whom you had [temporarily] separated - there is no blame upon you [in returning her]. That is more suitable that they should be content and not grieve and that they should be satisfied with what you have given them - all of them. And Allāh knows what is in your hearts. And ever is Allāh Knowing and Forbearing.
Transliteration
Turjee man tasha'u minhunna wa tu'wee ilayka man tasha'u wa mani ibtaghayta mimman 'azalta fa la junaha 'alayka. Dhalika adna an tuqarra 'ayunuhunna wa la yahzanna wa yardhayna bima ataytahunna kulluhunna. Wa-Allahu ya'lamu ma fee qulubikum. Wa kana Allahu 'aliman haliman.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Prophet's (ﷺ) domestic arrangements with his wives, permitting him to postpone visiting some wives and to lodge with whomever he wished among them without sin. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this verse was revealed to settle disputes among the Prophet's wives regarding conjugal rights, establishing a framework that balanced equity with practical necessity. The ayah concludes by emphasizing that Allah knows the hearts of all people and is All-Knowing and Forbearing, suggesting divine wisdom in the directive and divine awareness of sincere intentions.
Revelation Context
This verse was revealed in Medina during the period when the Prophet (ﷺ) had multiple wives, and disputes arose regarding equal treatment and visitation rights. The context of Surah Al-Ahzab deals with the Battle of the Confederates (Ahzab) and matters of family law. This specific ayah addresses the practical reality of the Prophet's household and provides guidance on managing multiple marriages with justice and kindness.
Related Hadiths
Aisha (RA) reported in Sahih Bukhari (#5193) regarding the Prophet's fair distribution among his wives and his practice of dividing his time among them. Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah regarding the Prophet's counsel to treat wives with kindness relates to the overall theme of equitable treatment emphasized in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islamic jurisprudence addresses practical human circumstances with compassion rather than rigid absolutism, and that sincere intention combined with fairness in difficult situations earns divine approval. For believers, it underscores the importance of balancing justice with mercy in family matters and trusting that Allah comprehends what is in the heart beyond external actions.
Related Ayahs
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
And rely upon Allāh; and sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.
وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَدَعْ أَذَىٰهُمْ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا
And do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites and disregard their annoyance, and rely upon Allāh. And sufficient is Allāh as Disposer of affairs.
وَأَنزَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَـٰهَرُوهُم مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِن صَيَاصِيهِمْ وَقَذَفَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلرُّعْبَ فَرِيقًا تَقْتُلُونَ وَتَأْسِرُونَ فَرِيقًا
And He brought down those who supported them among the People of the Scripture from their fortresses and cast terror into their hearts [so that] a party [i.e., their men] you killed, and you took captive a party [i.e., the women and children].
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نَكَحْتُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ فَمَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ عِدَّةٍ تَعْتَدُّونَهَا ۖ فَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ وَسَرِّحُوهُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا
O you who have believed, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them [i.e., consummated the marriage], then there is not for you any waiting period to count concerning them. So provide for them and give them a gracious release.