سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 52
لَّا يَحِلُّ لَكَ ٱلنِّسَآءُ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَلَآ أَن تَبَدَّلَ بِهِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَٰجٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ رَّقِيبًا ﴿52﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is not lawful for you (to marry other) women after this, nor to change them for other wives even though their beauty attracts you, except those (slaves) whom your right hand possesses. And Allâh is Ever a Watcher over all things.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَّا
lā
(It is) not
يَحِلُّ
yaḥillu
lawful
لَكَ
laka
for you
ٱلنِّسَآءُ
l-nisāu
(to marry) women
مِنۢ
min
after (this)
بَعْدُ
baʿdu
after (this)
وَلَآ
walā
and not
أَن
an
to
تَبَدَّلَ
tabaddala
exchange
بِهِنَّ
bihinna
them
مِنْ
min
for
أَزْوَٰجٍۢ
azwājin
(other) wives
وَلَوْ
walaw
even if
أَعْجَبَكَ
aʿjabaka
pleases you
حُسْنُهُنَّ
ḥus'nuhunna
their beauty
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَا
mā
whom
مَلَكَتْ
malakat
you rightfully possess
يَمِينُكَ ۗ
yamīnuka
you rightfully possess
وَكَانَ
wakāna
And Allah is
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
And Allah is
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
كُلِّ
kulli
all
شَىْءٍۢ
shayin
things
رَّقِيبًۭا
raqīban
an Observer
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 52) ➊ { لَا يَحِلُّ لَكَ النِّسَآءُ مِنْۢ بَعْدُ …:} It has been mentioned in the previous verses that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) gave his noble wives the choice that if they wished, they could remain in his marriage, and if they wished, they could separate from him. But when they did not prefer to leave the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and chose the Hereafter over the world, they received this worldly reward from Allah: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was commanded that now, apart from them, he could not marry any other woman, nor could he divorce any of them and bring another in her place, even if her beauty pleased him greatly. This was clarified so that you would not think that it is not permissible to have more than nine wives, and that if you divorce one of them and bring another to complete the number nine, then it is allowed. It was said that it is not permitted to divorce them and bring other wives in their place, even if they are not more than nine. However, the matter of slave women is different; there is no restriction on them.
➋ Ibn Jarir Tabari has adopted another interpretation of this verse: that in the previous verse (50): « اِنَّاۤ اَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ اَزْوَاجَكَ …», the four types of women who were made lawful for you, after them, that is, apart from them, it is not permissible to marry any other woman. Nor is it permissible to divorce the existing wives and bring other wives in their place. This verse expresses the high status of the Mothers of the Believers with Allah Almighty.
➌ {’’ وَّ لَوْ اَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ ‘‘} From this, it is understood that a man may look at the woman he intends to marry.
➍ { وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رَّقِيْبًا :} That is, Allah Almighty has always been fully watchful over everything, so keep in mind while doing any deed that He is watching you. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللّٰهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَّمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ] [ بخاري، الإیمان، باب سؤال جبریل النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم … : ۵۰ ] "Worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you."
➋ Ibn Jarir Tabari has adopted another interpretation of this verse: that in the previous verse (50): « اِنَّاۤ اَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ اَزْوَاجَكَ …», the four types of women who were made lawful for you, after them, that is, apart from them, it is not permissible to marry any other woman. Nor is it permissible to divorce the existing wives and bring other wives in their place. This verse expresses the high status of the Mothers of the Believers with Allah Almighty.
➌ {’’ وَّ لَوْ اَعْجَبَكَ حُسْنُهُنَّ ‘‘} From this, it is understood that a man may look at the woman he intends to marry.
➍ { وَ كَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رَّقِيْبًا :} That is, Allah Almighty has always been fully watchful over everything, so keep in mind while doing any deed that He is watching you. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: [ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللّٰهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَّمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ ] [ بخاري، الإیمان، باب سؤال جبریل النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم … : ۵۰ ] "Worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you."
