وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ 21
Translations
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.
Transliteration
Wa min ayatihi an khalaqa lakum min anfusikum azwajan litusaknoo ilayha wa jaala baynakum mawaddatan wa rahmah. Inna fi dhalika la-ayatin liqawmin yatafakkarun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents marriage as one of Allah's signs (ayat), highlighting that He created spouses from among yourselves so that you may find tranquility and peace with them, and He placed between spouses love (mawaddah) and mercy (rahmah). Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the creation of mates from the same human species demonstrates divine wisdom, while Ibn Kathir notes that mawaddah and rahmah are the foundations of marital harmony, with these blessings serving as evidence of Allah's existence and power for those who reflect.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period, this ayah appears within Surah Ar-Rum, which addresses the signs of Allah's power in creation and the natural world. The surah emphasizes monotheism and Allah's control over all existence. This particular verse serves as an interlude discussing the social and personal blessings of creation before returning to broader cosmic signs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their wives' (Tirmidhi, Hadith 3895). Additionally, the Prophet stated: 'Among my Sunnah is marriage' (Ibn Majah), emphasizing the importance and spiritual value of the marital bond as taught in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Marriage is not merely a social contract but a divine institution designed to provide emotional and spiritual tranquility, grounded in mutual love and compassion. This ayah invites believers to recognize the blessings within their families as evidence of Allah's mercy and wisdom, encouraging them to nurture relationships with kindness and thoughtfulness.
Related Ayahs
۞ مُنِيبِينَ إِلَيْهِ وَٱتَّقُوهُ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ
[Adhere to it], turning in repentance to Him, and fear Him and establish prayer and do not be of those who associate others with Allāh
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ وَٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْبَعْثِ ۖ فَهَـٰذَا يَوْمُ ٱلْبَعْثِ وَلَـٰكِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
But those who were given knowledge and faith will say, "You remained the extent of Allāh's decree until the Day of Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection, but you did not used to know."
قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّشْرِكِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Travel through the land and observe how was the end of those before. Most of them were associators [of others with Allāh].
ظَهَرَ ٱلْفَسَادُ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِى ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُوا۟ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He [i.e., Allāh] may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].