About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

O Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)! Why do you make unlawful for youself that which Allah has made lawful, in order to please your wives? And Allah is Very-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Allah has prescribed for you to break your oaths (by paying penalty). Allah is your Protector and He is the All-Knower, the All-Wise.

And (remember) when the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) told secretly about a matter to one of his wives [Hafsah ()], then she disclosed it to another [i.e. Aisha ()]. And Allah informed (about this disclosure) to his Messenger (through revelation). Then the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned part of this disclosure to her [Hafsah ()] and avoided part of it. She (surprisingly) said: “Who told you this?” The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The All-Knower, the Well Acquainted (Allah) has informed me.”

If you two [wives of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] turn in repentance to Allah (it will be better for you). Indeed, your hearts have inclined [to like something which the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) does not like – Fath al-Qadeer]. But if you continue to back each other against the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), then, indeed, Allah is his Protector, and Jibrael (Û), and the righteous among the believers, and the angels are his helpers too.

If he divorces you, then his Creator will replace for him better wives than you – Muslims, believ-ers, obedient, repentant, worship-ping Allah sincerely, regular in fast-ing (or emigrants for Allah’s sake), previously married and virgins.

O you who believe! Save yourselves and your familiesfrom the Hell-Fire whose fuel is men and stones over which are appointed stern and severe angels. They don’t disobey the commands they receive from Allah and they are always keen to do what they are commanded.

(It will be said to the dis-believers): “O you who disbelieve! Don’t make excuses this Day! You are being punished for what you used to do (in the worldly life).”

O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! Maybe Allah will remove your sins and admit you into Gardens beneath which rivers flow (i.e. Paradise). On that Day Allah will not disgrace the Prophet [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] and those who believe with him. The light (of their good deeds) will run in front of them and on their right hand side (since they will be holding their records of deeds in their right hands). They will say: “Our Creator! Keep our light intact (till we cross the slippery bridge over Hell) and grant us forgiveness. Indeed, you are Able to do all things.

O Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)! Strive hard against the disbelievers and hypocrites, and be severe against them. Their (final) residence is Hell which is a very bad destination.

Allah gives example of the wife of Nuh ( )and the wife of Lut ( )(as reminders) for the disbelievers. They were under Our righteous slaves but they both betrayed (i.e. were hypocrites). Hence, both (our righteous slaves) could not protect their respective wives against Allah’s (punishment), and it was said: “Both (you ladies) enter the Fire along with those who have entered the Hell-Fire.”

And Allah gives example of the wife of Firaun for (the guidance) of the believers when she said: “My Creator! Build a house for me from You in Paradise and save me from Firaun and his (evil) activities and save me from the people who are wrong-doers.”

And (Allah gives example of) Maryam, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity. So We breathed towards her (i.e. her clothes) through Our Ruh [i.e. Jibrael (Û)], and she testified the truth of the Words of her Creator [i.e. believed that Allah said: “Be.” And Isa ( )was there] and she testified the truth of His Scriptures, and she was from those who were obedient to Allah.