سُوْرَةُ الْمُجَادَلَةِ
Surah Al-Mujaadila (58) — Ayah 3
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِن نِّسَآئِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا قَالُوا۟ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَتَمَآسَّا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ تُوعَظُونَ بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿3﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And those who make unlawful to them their wives by Zihâr and wish to free themselves from what they uttered, (the penalty) in that case is the freeing of a slave before they touch each other. That is an admonition to you (so that you may not repeat such an ill thing). And Allâh is All-Aware of what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
And those who
يُظَـٰهِرُونَ
yuẓāhirūna
pronounce zihar
مِن
min
[from]
نِّسَآئِهِمْ
nisāihim
(to) their wives
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يَعُودُونَ
yaʿūdūna
go back
لِمَا
limā
on what
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they said
فَتَحْرِيرُ
fataḥrīru
then freeing
رَقَبَةٍۢ
raqabatin
(of) a slave
مِّن
min
before
قَبْلِ
qabli
before
أَن
an
[that]
يَتَمَآسَّا ۚ
yatamāssā
they touch each other
ذَٰلِكُمْ
dhālikum
That
تُوعَظُونَ
tūʿaẓūna
you are admonished
بِهِۦ ۚ
bihi
to it
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرٌۭ
khabīrun
(is) All-Aware
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
3. 1. Now the details of this command are being explained. The meaning of "ruju‘" is: to desire intercourse with the wife.
3. 2. That is, before intercourse, he should pay the expiation:
1. Freeing a slave.
2. If he does not have the ability, then he must fast for two consecutive months. A Shar'i excuse refers to illness or travel. Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله says that if, due to illness or similar reasons, he does not have the ability to fast, then he should feed sixty needy people. Some say that each needy person should be given two mudd, i.e., half a sa‘ (about one and a quarter kilograms), and some say one mudd is sufficient. However, from the words of the Quran, it appears that food should be given in such a way that they are satisfied, or food should be given in such an amount. It is not necessary to feed all at once; rather, this number can be completed in several installments. Fath al-Qadir. However, it is necessary that until this number is completed, intercourse with the wife is not permissible.
3. 2. That is, before intercourse, he should pay the expiation:
1. Freeing a slave.
2. If he does not have the ability, then he must fast for two consecutive months. A Shar'i excuse refers to illness or travel. Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله says that if, due to illness or similar reasons, he does not have the ability to fast, then he should feed sixty needy people. Some say that each needy person should be given two mudd, i.e., half a sa‘ (about one and a quarter kilograms), and some say one mudd is sufficient. However, from the words of the Quran, it appears that food should be given in such a way that they are satisfied, or food should be given in such an amount. It is not necessary to feed all at once; rather, this number can be completed in several installments. Fath al-Qadir. However, it is necessary that until this number is completed, intercourse with the wife is not permissible.
