The Holy Quran 33:37 — Surah Al-Ahzab

Arabic text

وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِىٓ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَتُخْفِى فِى نَفْسِكَ مَا ٱللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَىٰهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ زَيْدٌ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَـٰكَهَا لِكَىْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِ أَدْعِيَآئِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا۟ مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًا

Translation

(Rasulullaah ﷺ married his adopted son Zaid bin Haaritha to his cousin Zaynab bint Jahash, who accepted the proposal on Rasulullaah ﷺ's recommendation. However, the couple could never adapt to each other and when Zaid wanted to divorce her, Rasulullaah ﷺ advised him to maintain the marriage. Referring to this, Allaah says,) When you (O Rasulullaah ﷺ) said to the one on whom Allaah had bestowed His grace (by guiding him to Islaam), and on whom you had bestowed your grace (by teaching and raising him, referring to Zaid bin Haaritha رضي الله تعالى عنه), "Keep your wife and fear Allaah." (As you did this), You concealed in your heart (Allaah's command to you to marry Zaynab bint Jahash) what Allaah was (soon) to disclose (after the couple had separated). You feared (what) the people (would say when you married the wife of your adopted son, whom they regarded as a real son), whereas Allaah is more worthy of being feared (His command to marry her is more important than what people say). (Eventually, when the couple could no longer live together, Zaid divorced her). So when Zaid completed his need from her (divorced her), We married her (Zaynab) to you (O Rasulullaah ﷺ) so that there may not be any restriction on the Mu'mineen with regard to (marrying) the wives of their adopted sons, when they (the adopted sons) have fulfilled their need from them (divorced their wives. By marrying his adopted son's wife, Rasulullaah ﷺ dispelled all previous notions of people who believed that adopted sons are like real sons). Allaah's command will always come to pass (and nothing can prevent it).

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

that is, Zayd ﵁ divorced her and the iddah (waiting period) also passed, so that he no longer had any concern or claim with Zaynab ﵂. The story of the marriage of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Zaynab ﵂: when Zaynab ﵂ came into the marriage of Zayd ﵁, he seemed lowly in her eyes.

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