يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَحِلُّ لَكُمْ أَن تَرِثُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ كَرْهًا ۖ وَلَا تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ لِتَذْهَبُوا۟ بِبَعْضِ مَآ ءَاتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ إِلَّآ أَن يَأْتِينَ بِفَـٰحِشَةٍ مُّبَيِّنَةٍ ۚ وَعَاشِرُوهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِن كَرِهْتُمُوهُنَّ فَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكْرَهُوا۟ شَيْـًٔا وَيَجْعَلَ ٱللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا 19
Translations
O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them in order to take [back] part of what you gave them unless they commit a clear immorality [i.e., adultery]. And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allāh makes therein much good.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu la yahillu lakum an tarithu an-nisa karhan wa la ta'dulu hunna litudhahibu bibardi ma ataytumuhunna illa an ya'tina bi-fahishah mubayyinah wa aashiruhunna bil-ma'ruf fa-in karihtumoohunna fa-asa an takrahu shay'an wa yaj'al allahu fihi khayran kathira
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prohibits the pre-Islamic Arabian practice of inheriting women as property and forbids men from unjustly withholding women's wealth to coerce them into returning their mahr (dower). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the ayah establishes women's rights to financial security and protection from exploitation in marriage. It concludes with an emphasis on kind treatment ('mu'ashara bil-ma'ruf') in married life, and counsels patience and hope that perceived faults may contain hidden blessings from Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period addressing the community after the prohibition of pre-Islamic customs following the hijrah. It reforms the jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic) practice where men could inherit deceased husbands' widows as chattels, and addresses the contemporary problem of men misappropriating women's financial rights to force them into obedience or divorce without compensation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives' (Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah). Additionally, Hadith in Sahih Bukhari records the Prophet's farewell sermon: 'Treat women well, for they are like prisoners in your hands [you are responsible for them]'—emphasizing compassionate treatment as a sacred duty.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah establishes that women are not property to be inherited or exploited, but are dignified beings deserving of financial security and kind treatment—a revolutionary principle in 7th century Arabia. Modern believers should recognize that respecting spousal rights and treating partners with compassion ('mu'ashara bil-ma'ruf') is not merely cultural preference but a religious obligation, and that patience with perceived difficulties may reveal unseen good from Allah.
Related Ayahs
رُّسُلًا مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ حُجَّةٌۢ بَعْدَ ٱلرُّسُلِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
[We sent] messengers as bringers of good tidings and warners so that mankind will have no argument against Allāh after the messengers. And ever is Allāh Exalted in Might and Wise.
لَّيْسَ بِأَمَانِيِّكُمْ وَلَآ أَمَانِىِّ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۗ مَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا يُجْزَ بِهِۦ وَلَا يَجِدْ لَهُۥ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا
It [i.e., Paradise] is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allāh a protector or a helper.
وَمَن يَكْسِبْ خَطِيٓـَٔةً أَوْ إِثْمًا ثُمَّ يَرْمِ بِهِۦ بَرِيٓـًٔا فَقَدِ ٱحْتَمَلَ بُهْتَـٰنًا وَإِثْمًا مُّبِينًا
But whoever earns an offense or a sin and then blames it on an innocent [person] has taken upon himself a slander and manifest sin.
إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَيَأْتِ بِـَٔاخَرِينَ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ قَدِيرًا
If He wills, He can do away with you, O people, and bring others [in your place]. And ever is Allāh competent to do that.