Quran 58: 1-4
The reason for revealing the following ayat:
[These ayat were revealed concerning a woman: one of the ‘Helpers’
the people of Medina who believed and helped the Prophet); that woman’s name was Khawla daughter of Th’alaba; her husband was Awss the son of Ssamit.
A quarrel occurred between the two, and he said to her: “You are to me, as is my mother’s back.” And this was their word of divorce in the Jahiliah (or the pre-Islam period of ignorance.)
Then he felt remorse for what he said; so his wife came to the Prophet asking him about that.
The Prophet said to her: “I see that you have become forbidden to him.”
So when she heard these words of the Prophet, she lifted her head to heaven and said: “God, You know my condition, so show mercy to me.
God, I have kids from him, if I let them go to him, they will be lost; and if I take them with me, they will starve.”
Therefore, these ayat were revealed:]
{ 1. God has heard the words of [Khawla] who disputes with you [Mohammed] concerning her husband, and complains [what she suffers] to God . God hears both of you conversing a together; surely God is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.
[Then God – be glorified – disapproved such custom of their divorce, and He said:]
2. Those of you [Muslims] who say, regarding their wives, "Be as my mother's back", they are not truly their mothers b; their mothers are only those who gave them birth, and they c are surely saying words that are not acknowledged [in religion], and a falsehood.
Yet surely God is Most Pardoning, Most Forgiving [to believers.]
3. And those who [for the first time] said, regarding their wives, 'Be as my mother's back,' [they are pardoned this first time without expiation.]
And if then they repeat once again what they said d [in the first time], they shall [in the second time expiate by] freeing a slave [or a captive], before the two of them may contact one another [in bed.]
By that e you are disciplined f; and God is Most Aware of [all] that you do g.
4. And whoso has not [the required money to free a slave] must fast two consecutive months before they may [sexually] contact one another h, but anyone unable [to fast] has to feed sixty of the needy i.
This [fasting or feeding] is in order that you may believe in God and His messenger j.
These [statements] are the limits prescribed by God [so trespass them not], and there will be a painful chastisement [in the Next Life] for those who deny [these limits.]}
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a i.e. your discussion and disputing.
b It means: These are the customs of the associaters, so desist from it, because the wife is not the mother.
c i.e. the associaters who divorce their wives by saying to them: "Be as my mother's back."
d It means: The first time he said such words as "Be as my mother's back" – God pardoned such first time: he can return his wife without expiation; but if he returns once again to say to his wife: "Be as my mother's back" the expiation is incumbent on him.
e Freeing of a slave.
f So that you may not repeat such words anymore.
g Therefore, He will reward you according to your deeds.
h i.e. before he may do sexual intercourse with her.
i i.e. he should feed them a major meal: either at noon or at evening.
j And to know that it is God Who commanded him to this.
The interpretation is by Mohammed-Ali Hassan Al-Hilly, the interpreter of the Quran and the Bible.
The reason for revealing the following ayat:
[These ayat were revealed concerning a woman: one of the ‘Helpers’
the people of Medina who believed and helped the Prophet); that woman’s name was Khawla daughter of Th’alaba; her husband was Awss the son of Ssamit.A quarrel occurred between the two, and he said to her: “You are to me, as is my mother’s back.” And this was their word of divorce in the Jahiliah (or the pre-Islam period of ignorance.)
Then he felt remorse for what he said; so his wife came to the Prophet asking him about that.
The Prophet said to her: “I see that you have become forbidden to him.”
So when she heard these words of the Prophet, she lifted her head to heaven and said: “God, You know my condition, so show mercy to me.
God, I have kids from him, if I let them go to him, they will be lost; and if I take them with me, they will starve.”
Therefore, these ayat were revealed:]
{ 1. God has heard the words of [Khawla] who disputes with you [Mohammed] concerning her husband, and complains [what she suffers] to God . God hears both of you conversing a together; surely God is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.
[Then God – be glorified – disapproved such custom of their divorce, and He said:]
2. Those of you [Muslims] who say, regarding their wives, "Be as my mother's back", they are not truly their mothers b; their mothers are only those who gave them birth, and they c are surely saying words that are not acknowledged [in religion], and a falsehood.
Yet surely God is Most Pardoning, Most Forgiving [to believers.]
3. And those who [for the first time] said, regarding their wives, 'Be as my mother's back,' [they are pardoned this first time without expiation.]
And if then they repeat once again what they said d [in the first time], they shall [in the second time expiate by] freeing a slave [or a captive], before the two of them may contact one another [in bed.]
By that e you are disciplined f; and God is Most Aware of [all] that you do g.
4. And whoso has not [the required money to free a slave] must fast two consecutive months before they may [sexually] contact one another h, but anyone unable [to fast] has to feed sixty of the needy i.
This [fasting or feeding] is in order that you may believe in God and His messenger j.
These [statements] are the limits prescribed by God [so trespass them not], and there will be a painful chastisement [in the Next Life] for those who deny [these limits.]}
......................................................
a i.e. your discussion and disputing.
b It means: These are the customs of the associaters, so desist from it, because the wife is not the mother.
c i.e. the associaters who divorce their wives by saying to them: "Be as my mother's back."
d It means: The first time he said such words as "Be as my mother's back" – God pardoned such first time: he can return his wife without expiation; but if he returns once again to say to his wife: "Be as my mother's back" the expiation is incumbent on him.
e Freeing of a slave.
f So that you may not repeat such words anymore.
g Therefore, He will reward you according to your deeds.
h i.e. before he may do sexual intercourse with her.
i i.e. he should feed them a major meal: either at noon or at evening.
j And to know that it is God Who commanded him to this.
The interpretation is by Mohammed-Ali Hassan Al-Hilly, the interpreter of the Quran and the Bible.
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