لِّلَّذِينَ يُؤْلُونَ مِن نِّسَآئِهِمْ تَرَبُّصُ أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ ۖ فَإِن فَآءُو فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 226
Translations
For those who swear not to have sexual relations with their wives is a waiting time of four months, but if they return [to normal relations] - then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Lilladhīna yu'lūna min nisā'ihim tarabbusu arba'ati ashhurin fa-in fā'ū fa-inna Allāha ghafūrun rahīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the waiting period (tarabbuṣ) of four months for men who take an oath to abstain from sexual relations with their wives (known as īlā' in Islamic jurisprudence). According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurṭubī, if the husband breaks his oath and returns to his wife within this period, Allah is forgiving and merciful; if he does not, the marriage contract requires resolution. This verse strikes a balance between preserving marital bonds and protecting women's rights by imposing a time limit on such oaths.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in Medina during the early Islamic period to address a pre-Islamic Arabian custom where men would abandon their wives through vows of abstinence. The broader context in Surah Al-Baqarah addresses various marital matters, establishing Islamic guidelines for marriage rights and responsibilities. This verse establishes legal protections against indefinite separation without divorce.
Related Hadiths
The hadith of 'Ā'ishah (Sahih Bukhari) discusses the ruling on īlā' and marital disputes. Additionally, the hadith in Abu Dawud regarding the Prophet's ﷺ handling of cases where men took such oaths illustrates the practical application of this principle in early Islamic jurisprudence.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while Islamic law provides time for reconciliation and reflection in marital disputes, it does not permit indefinite harm or abandonment of spouses; it emphasizes that God's mercy encompasses those who repent and rectify their actions. For modern Muslims, this underscores the importance of honoring marital commitments and resolving disputes with compassion rather than through harmful vows or prolonged separation.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ كُلُوا۟ مِمَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَلَـٰلًا طَيِّبًا وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ
O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَـٰقُوا۟ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that they will return to Him.
نِسَآؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَّكُمْ فَأْتُوا۟ حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّىٰ شِئْتُمْ ۖ وَقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُم مُّلَـٰقُوهُ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Your wives are a place of cultivation [i.e., sowing of seed] for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish and put forth [righteousness] for yourselves. And fear Allāh and know that you will meet Him. And give good tidings to the believers.
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
So from wherever you go out [for prayer, O Muḥammad], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, and indeed, it is the truth from your Lord. And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.