Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 128

(Ayah 128) ➊ The meaning of { وَ اِنِ امْرَاَةٌ خَافَتْ … : ”نُشُوْزًا“ } is excess, quarrel, turning away, indifference. Nushooz or turning away is when one mistreats her, considers her insignificant, stops sitting or spending time with her, does not provide her maintenance, finds excuses to beat her, or if he has another wife whom he loves more, so his attention towards her is less. In this situation, there can be only two possibilities: one is that the woman thinks it is better for her to remain in the marriage with this person, even if she has to forgo some of her rights. The second is that she separates from him. In verse (128), the first situation is mentioned, and in verse (130), the second situation is mentioned.
➋ The indefiniteness of { اَنْ يُّصْلِحَا بَيْنَهُمَا صُلْحًا: ”صُلْحًا“ } (any kind of reconciliation) indicates that if the husband and wife reconcile in any way, there is no sin upon them. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: "A man would have a woman and now he did not want to keep her anymore and intended to divorce her, so the woman would say (do not divorce me, let me remain in your marriage), I allow you regarding my turn (that you may stay with whichever wife you wish), so this verse was revealed in this context." [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : «و إن امرأۃ خافت… » : ۴۶۰۱ ]
Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that Sawda (may Allah be pleased with her) feared that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would divorce her, so she said: "O Messenger of Allah! Give my day to Aisha, but do not divorce me," so the Prophet (peace be upon him) did so, and upon this, this verse was revealed: «{ وَ اِنِ امْرَاَةٌ خَافَتْ مِنْۢ بَعْلِهَا نُشُوْزًا اَوْ اِعْرَاضًا }» Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: "Whatever they both reconcile upon is permissible." [ ترمذی، تفسیر القرآن، باب و من سورۃ النساء : ۳۰۴۰ ] It is narrated from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when Sawda bint Zam'a (may Allah be pleased with her) became old, she gifted her day to Aisha, so the Prophet (peace be upon him) would spend her day with Aisha as well. [ بخاری، النکاح، باب المرأۃ تہب یومہا من زوجھا… : ۵۲۱۲ ]
➌ { وَ الصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ:} means that reconciliation is better in every case, because Satan brings close to himself and praises that agent of his who causes separation between husband and wife. [ مسلم، صفات المنافقین و أحکامھم، باب تحریش الشیطان … : 2813/67 ]
➍ The meaning of { وَ اُحْضِرَتِ الْاَنْفُسُ الشُّحَّ: ”الشُّحَّ“} is miserliness, along with greed, meaning that miserliness and greed are natural in humans. The miserliness of the man is that he benefits from the woman but does not fulfill all her rights, and the miserliness of the woman is that she fully receives the dowry and maintenance but falls short in fulfilling rights.
➎ { وَ اِنْ تُحْسِنُوْا وَ تَتَّقُوْا … : } means that despite this feeling of greed, if husband and wife treat each other with kindness and generosity and remain fearful of Allah, then they will surely receive its reward from Allah, Who is fully aware of all their actions.

128. 1. If a husband, for some reason, dislikes his wife and makes it a habit to stay away from her and turn away, or in the case of having more than one wife, if he turns away from a less beautiful wife, then if the woman gives up some of her right (from the dowry, or maintenance, or her turn) and reconciles with her husband, there is no sin on either the husband or the wife in this reconciliation, because reconciliation is, in any case, better. Hazrat Umm al-Mu'mineen Sawdah ؓ also, in her old age, gifted her turn to Hazrat Aisha ؓ, which the Prophet ﷺ accepted. (Sahih Bukhari)

128. 2. Shuhh refers to stinginess and greed. Here, it means one's own interest, which is dear to every soul, i.e., every soul acts with stinginess and greed in its own interest.

128. If a woman fears ill-treatment or neglect from her husband, there is no blame on them if they make terms of settlement between themselves, and reconciliation [168] is best. Greed is ever-present in human souls [169], but if you do good [170] and are mindful of Allah, then surely Allah is well aware of what you do.

[168] In the explanation of this verse, consider the following two hadiths:
1.
Mutual Agreement Between Spouses:

Sayyidah Aisha ؓ explains the meaning of this verse as follows: For example, a man has a wife with whom he has no relations and wants to leave her, and the woman says, "Alright, I forgo my turn or maintenance (but do not divorce me)." This verse was revealed regarding this matter. [بخاري، كتاب التفسير]
2. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas ؓ states that Sayyidah Sawdah ؓ feared that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ might divorce her, so she said to him, "Do not divorce me, keep me with you, and I will give my turn to Aisha ؓ." Thus, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did so, and at that time this verse was revealed. Thus, whatever condition the husband and wife reconcile upon is permissible. [ترمذي، ابواب التفسير]
[169] Here, greed does not refer only to wealth and riches, but includes all desires of the self, as is evident from hadith number 2. That is, if a woman considers her husband's preferences, surely the man's heart will also soften and the chances of reconciliation will brighten.
[170] That is, if you treat your wife better and do not divorce her purely out of fear of Allah, without any greed, then surely Allah will reward you for this kindness.