وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِۦ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّآ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا۟ عُقْدَةَ ٱلنِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ أَجَلَهُۥ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ فَٱحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ 235
Translations
There is no blame upon you for that to which you [indirectly] allude concerning a proposal to women or for what you conceal within yourselves. Allāh knows that you will have them in mind. But do not promise them secretly except for saying a proper saying. And do not determine to undertake a marriage contract until the decreed period reaches its end. And know that Allāh knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allāh is Forgiving and Forbearing.
Transliteration
Wa lā junāḥa 'alaykum fīmā 'arrāḍtum bihi min khiṭbati an-nisāʾi aw aknanatum fī anfusikum. 'Alima -llāhu annakum satadhkarūnahunna wa-lākin lā tuwaʿidūhunna sirran illā an taqūlū qawlan maʿrūfan. Wa lā taʿzimū ʿuqdata an-nikāḥi ḥattā yablugha al-kitābu ajalahu. Wa-ʿlamū anna -llāha yaʿlamu mā fī anfusikum faḥdharu. Wa-ʿlamū anna -llāha ghafūrun ḥalīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses etiquette regarding proposals to women during their ʿiddah (waiting period) after the death of a husband or divorce. While there is no sin in indirect hints or thoughts about marrying such women—for Allah knows such thoughts are natural—one must not make secret promises or commitments to them. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the prohibition against 'aqd (finalizing the marriage contract) stands until the waiting period is complete, and one must observe propriety in all dealings, speaking only in recognized and lawful terms.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period as part of the comprehensive legislation on marriage, divorce, and women's rights. It follows verses addressing the ʿiddah period and aims to balance human nature with moral propriety, preventing exploitation of women in vulnerable circumstances while acknowledging the natural human inclination toward marriage.
Related Hadiths
The hadith from Jābir (Sahih Muslim) describes the Prophet's marriage to Umm Salamah during her ʿiddah through permissible indirect hints rather than direct proposals. Additionally, ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir narrated that the Prophet forbade secret agreements with women in waiting periods (Sunan an-Nasāʾī).
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse teaches that Allah is aware of our innermost thoughts and intentions, so we must be sincere and honorable even when unobserved by others. It emphasizes compassion for widows and divorced women by protecting them from exploitation while acknowledging natural human emotions regarding marriage.
Related Ayahs
أَيَوَدُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ لَهُۥ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَأَصَابَهُ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَلَهُۥ ذُرِّيَّةٌ ضُعَفَآءُ فَأَصَابَهَآ إِعْصَارٌ فِيهِ نَارٌ فَٱحْتَرَقَتْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Would one of you like to have a garden of palm trees and grapevines underneath which rivers flow in which he has from every fruit? But he is afflicted with old age and has weak [i.e., immature] offspring, and it is hit by a whirlwind containing fire and is burned. Thus does Allāh make clear to you [His] verses that you might give thought.
مَّا يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَلَا ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Neither those who disbelieve from the People of the Scripture [i.e., the Jews and Christians] nor the polytheists wish that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord. But Allāh selects for His mercy whom He wills, and Allāh is the possessor of great bounty.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مِيثَـٰقِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Who break the covenant of Allāh after contracting it and sever that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth. It is those who are the losers.
تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ ۖ وَلَا تُسْـَٔلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
That was a nation which has passed on. It will have [the consequence of] what it earned, and you will have what you have earned. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.