سُوْرَةُ النِّسَآءِ
Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 128
وَإِنِ ٱمْرَأَةٌ خَافَتْ مِنۢ بَعْلِهَا نُشُوزًا أَوْ إِعْرَاضًا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يُصْلِحَا بَيْنَهُمَا صُلْحًا ۚ وَٱلصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ ۗ وَأُحْضِرَتِ ٱلْأَنفُسُ ٱلشُّحَّ ۚ وَإِن تُحْسِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًا ﴿128﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And if a woman fears cruelty or desertion on her husband’s part, there is no sin on them both if they make terms of peace between themselves; and making peace is better. And human inner-selves are swayed by greed. But if you do good and keep away from evil, verily, Allâh is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِنِ
wa-ini
And if
ٱمْرَأَةٌ
im'ra-atun
a woman
خَافَتْ
khāfat
fears
مِنۢ
min
from
بَعْلِهَا
baʿlihā
her husband
نُشُوزًا
nushūzan
ill-conduct
أَوْ
aw
or
إِعْرَاضًۭا
iʿ'rāḍan
desertion
فَلَا
falā
then (there is) no
جُنَاحَ
junāḥa
sin
عَلَيْهِمَآ
ʿalayhimā
on both of them
أَن
an
that
يُصْلِحَا
yuṣ'liḥā
they make terms of peace
بَيْنَهُمَا
baynahumā
between themselves
صُلْحًۭا ۚ
ṣul'ḥan
a reconciliation
وَٱلصُّلْحُ
wal-ṣul'ḥu
and [the] reconciliation
خَيْرٌۭ ۗ
khayrun
(is) best
وَأُحْضِرَتِ
wa-uḥ'ḍirati
And are swayed
ٱلْأَنفُسُ
l-anfusu
the souls
ٱلشُّحَّ ۚ
l-shuḥa
(by) greed
وَإِن
wa-in
But if
تُحْسِنُوا۟
tuḥ'sinū
you do good
وَتَتَّقُوا۟
watattaqū
and fear (Allah)
فَإِنَّ
fa-inna
then indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
كَانَ
kāna
is
بِمَا
bimā
of what
تَعْمَلُونَ
taʿmalūna
you do
خَبِيرًۭا
khabīran
All-Aware
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
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.
[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.
