سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 234
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ۖ فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ ﴿234﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and ten days, then when they have fulfilled their term, there is no sin on you if they (the wives) dispose of themselves in a just and honourable manner (i.e. they can marry). And Allâh is Well-Acquainted with what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
And those who
يُتَوَفَّوْنَ
yutawaffawna
pass away
مِنكُمْ
minkum
among you
وَيَذَرُونَ
wayadharūna
and leave behind
أَزْوَٰجًۭا
azwājan
wives
يَتَرَبَّصْنَ
yatarabbaṣna
(the widows) should wait
بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ
bi-anfusihinna
for themselves
أَرْبَعَةَ
arbaʿata
(for) four
أَشْهُرٍۢ
ashhurin
months
وَعَشْرًۭا ۖ
waʿashran
and ten (days)
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
Then when
بَلَغْنَ
balaghna
they reach
أَجَلَهُنَّ
ajalahunna
their (specified) term
فَلَا
falā
then (there is) no
جُنَاحَ
junāḥa
blame
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
upon you
فِيمَا
fīmā
for what
فَعَلْنَ
faʿalna
they do
فِىٓ
fī
concerning
أَنفُسِهِنَّ
anfusihinna
themselves
بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ
bil-maʿrūfi
in a fair manner
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرٌۭ
khabīrun
(is) All-Aware
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 234) ➊ The waiting period (‘iddah) for the death of a husband is the same for all women. Whether the husband had consummated the marriage with her or had died before that, and whether she is young or old, as the wording of the verse includes all wives. The husband of Barwa‘ bint Washiq (may Allah be pleased with her) died before consummation, so the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ruled regarding her that she would receive the full dowry, she must observe the waiting period, and she would also receive a share of the inheritance. [ ترمذی، النکاح، باب ما جاء فی الرجل … : ۱۱۴۵۔ أبو داوٗد : ۲۱۱۴ ]
One wisdom in this waiting period is to ascertain whether the woman is pregnant; if she is pregnant, then her waiting period is until she delivers, whether that is after a short time or after eight or nine months, because the command is: «وَ اُولَاتُ الْاَحْمَالِ اَجَلُهُنَّ اَنْ يَّضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ» [ الطلاق : ۴ ] “And those who are pregnant, their waiting period (whether due to divorce or the death of the husband) is that they deliver their burden.” During this waiting period, not only is it forbidden for the woman to marry, but mourning is also obligatory, meaning she must refrain from all kinds of adornment, such as wearing bright clothes, applying perfume, to the extent that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not permit such a woman to apply kohl in her eyes even if she had an eye ailment. [ بخاری الطلاق، باب الکحل للحادّۃ : ۵۳۳۸ ] During the waiting period, she is also not permitted to move from her husband’s house to another place. [ أبو داوٗد، الطلاق، باب فی المتوفٰی عنہا تنتقل : ۲۳۰۰۔ ترمذی : ۱۲۰۴، و صححہ الألبانی ]
➋ { فَاِذَا بَلَغْنَ اَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ:} That is, after the waiting period has passed, if they adorn themselves or marry another with the permission of their guardians, there is no blame in this. The negative view of a widow’s remarriage and the obstacles placed in its way due to Hindu influences are completely contrary to the Shari‘ah of Islam.
One wisdom in this waiting period is to ascertain whether the woman is pregnant; if she is pregnant, then her waiting period is until she delivers, whether that is after a short time or after eight or nine months, because the command is: «وَ اُولَاتُ الْاَحْمَالِ اَجَلُهُنَّ اَنْ يَّضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ» [ الطلاق : ۴ ] “And those who are pregnant, their waiting period (whether due to divorce or the death of the husband) is that they deliver their burden.” During this waiting period, not only is it forbidden for the woman to marry, but mourning is also obligatory, meaning she must refrain from all kinds of adornment, such as wearing bright clothes, applying perfume, to the extent that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not permit such a woman to apply kohl in her eyes even if she had an eye ailment. [ بخاری الطلاق، باب الکحل للحادّۃ : ۵۳۳۸ ] During the waiting period, she is also not permitted to move from her husband’s house to another place. [ أبو داوٗد، الطلاق، باب فی المتوفٰی عنہا تنتقل : ۲۳۰۰۔ ترمذی : ۱۲۰۴، و صححہ الألبانی ]
➋ { فَاِذَا بَلَغْنَ اَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ:} That is, after the waiting period has passed, if they adorn themselves or marry another with the permission of their guardians, there is no blame in this. The negative view of a widow’s remarriage and the obstacles placed in its way due to Hindu influences are completely contrary to the Shari‘ah of Islam.
