سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 235
وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِۦ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّآ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا۟ عُقْدَةَ ٱلنِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ أَجَلَهُۥ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ فَٱحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ ﴿235﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And there is no sin on you if you make a hint of betrothal or conceal it in yourself, Allâh knows that you will remember them, but do not make a promise of contract with them in secret except that you speak an honourable saying according to the Islâmic law. And do not consummate the marriage until the term prescribed is fulfilled. And know that Allâh knows what is in your minds, so fear Him. And know that Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَا
walā
And (there is) no
جُنَاحَ
junāḥa
blame
عَلَيْكُمْ
ʿalaykum
upon you
فِيمَا
fīmā
in what
عَرَّضْتُم
ʿarraḍtum
you hint
بِهِۦ
bihi
[with it]
مِنْ
min
of
خِطْبَةِ
khiṭ'bati
marriage proposal
ٱلنِّسَآءِ
l-nisāi
[to] the women
أَوْ
aw
or
أَكْنَنتُمْ
aknantum
you conceal it
فِىٓ
fī
in
أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ
anfusikum
yourselves
عَلِمَ
ʿalima
Knows
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
أَنَّكُمْ
annakum
that you
سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ
satadhkurūnahunna
will mention them
وَلَـٰكِن
walākin
[and] but
لَّا
lā
(do) not
تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ
tuwāʿidūhunna
promise them (widows)
سِرًّا
sirran
secretly
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَن
an
that
تَقُولُوا۟
taqūlū
you say
قَوْلًۭا
qawlan
a saying
مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ
maʿrūfan
honorable
وَلَا
walā
And (do) not
تَعْزِمُوا۟
taʿzimū
resolve (on)
عُقْدَةَ
ʿuq'data
the knot
ٱلنِّكَاحِ
l-nikāḥi
(of) marriage
حَتَّىٰ
ḥattā
until
يَبْلُغَ
yablugha
reaches
ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ
l-kitābu
the prescribed term
أَجَلَهُۥ ۚ
ajalahu
its end
وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟
wa-iʿ'lamū
And know
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
يَعْلَمُ
yaʿlamu
knows
مَا
mā
what
فِىٓ
fī
(is) within
أَنفُسِكُمْ
anfusikum
yourselves
فَٱحْذَرُوهُ ۚ
fa-iḥ'dharūhu
so beware of Him
وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟
wa-iʿ'lamū
And know
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
غَفُورٌ
ghafūrun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
حَلِيمٌۭ
ḥalīmun
Most Forbearing
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.
(Ayah235) ➊ {فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ …:} That is, during the waiting period (‘iddah), it is not permissible to give a woman a marriage proposal in clear words, but there is no harm in saying something in an appropriate manner, that is, by allusion or indirect reference. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: « فِيْمَا عَرَّضْتُمْ بِهٖ......» “By this is meant that a person says, ‘I have a plan to get married, and I wish that Allah grants me a righteous wife.’” [ بخاری، النکاح، باب قول اللہ عزوجل : « ولا جناح علیکم فیما … » : ۵۱۲۴ ] But this ruling is for the woman whose husband has died or who has been given three divorces, as when Fatimah bint Qays (may Allah be pleased with her) was given three divorces, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her: “When your waiting period is over, inform me.” When she informed him that her waiting period was over, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Marry Usamah bin Zayd.” [ مسلم، الطلاق، باب المطلقۃ البائن لا نفقۃ لہا : ۱۴۸۰ ] However, for the woman who has been given a revocable divorce, it is not permissible for anyone to speak to her about marriage, even by allusion or indirect reference, during her waiting period, because her husband still has rights over her.
➋ That is, do not tie the knot of marriage until the waiting period is completed. There is consensus among all the imams that marriage during the waiting period is not valid. (Ibn Kathir, Shawkani)
➌ {وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِيْۤ اَنْفُسِكُمْ:} In this, there is a warning against devising tricks to bypass the legal rulings regarding marriage, and encouragement to repent.
➋ That is, do not tie the knot of marriage until the waiting period is completed. There is consensus among all the imams that marriage during the waiting period is not valid. (Ibn Kathir, Shawkani)
➌ {وَ اعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِيْۤ اَنْفُسِكُمْ:} In this, there is a warning against devising tricks to bypass the legal rulings regarding marriage, and encouragement to repent.
