Surah At Tahrim Notes (5-7)

Source: Ibn Kathir

(5) It may be if he divorced you (all) that his Lord will give him instead of you, wives better than you, Muslims (who submit to Allah), believers, obedient to Allah, turning to Allah in repentance, worshipping Allah sincerely, fasting or emigrants (for Allah's sake), previously married and virgins.

(Maybe his Lord, if he divorces you, will give him in your place wives better than you,) and,

(but if you help one another against him, then verily, Allah is his Protector, and Jibril, and the righteous among the believers; and after that, the angels are his helpers.)

I said, `Messenger of Allah, have you divorced them' He said, `No.' I stood at the door of the Masjid and called out at the top of my voice, `The Messenger of Allah has not divorced his wives.' It was on this occasion that this Ayah was revealed,

(When any matter pertaining to peace or alarm comes to them, they broadcast it; whereas, if they would refer it to the Messenger and those who have been entrusted with authority among them, those of them who are engaged in obtaining intelligence would indeed know (what to do with) it.)(4:83) 

It was I who understood (and properly investigated) this matter.'' Similar was said by Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, Muqatil bin Hayyan, Ad-Dahhak, and others. The Ayah,

(and the righteous among the believers;) refers to Abu Bakr and `Umar. 

Al-Hasan Al-Basri added `Uthman to them. 

Layth bin Abi Sulaym said from Mujahid:

(and the righteous among the believers;) includes `Ali bin Abi Talib also. 

Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas said, "`Umar said, `The wives of the Prophet were all jealous for his affection, and I said to them, (Maybe his Lord, if he divorces you, will give him instead of you, wives better than you.) 

Thereafter, this Ayah was revealed.''' We mentioned before that `Umar said statements that were confirmed by the Qur'an, such as about the revelation about Hijab ﴿see 33:53﴾ and the captive idolators after the battle of Badr ﴿see 8:67﴾. 

`Umar's suggestion to take the Station of Ibrahim as a place for prayer and Allah revealed this Ayah; (And take you the Maqam (station) of Ibrahim as a place of prayer.) (2:125) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Anas said that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "I heard news that the Mothers of the faithful had a dispute with the Prophet . So I advised them, saying, `Either stop bothering Allah's Messenger or Allah might provide him better wives than you.

Teaching One's Family the Religion and Good Behavior

(6) O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded.

`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas;

(Protect yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell)) He said, "Work in the obedience of Allah, avoid disobedience of Allah and order your families to remember Allah, then Allah will save you from the Fire.'' 

Mujahid also commented on:

(Protect yourselves and your families against a Fire (Hell)) saying, "Have Taqwa of Allah and order your family to have Taqwa of Him.'' Qatadah said, "He commands obedience to Allah, to not disobey Allah, he orders his family to obey His orders and helps them to act upon His orders. When one sees disobedience, he stops them and forbids them from doing it.'' Similar was said by Ad-Dahhak and Muqatil; "It is an obligation for the Muslim to teach his near family members and his male and female slaves what Allah has made obligatory for them and what Allah has forbidden for them.'' There is a Hadith that confirms the meaning of this Ayah. 

Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and At-Tirmidhi recorded that Ar-Rabi` bin Sabrah said that his father said that the Messenger of Allah said, (Order the children to pray when they reach the age of seven and when they reach the age of ten, discipline them for (not performing) it.) This is the narration that Abu Dawud collected; At-Tirmidhi said, "This Hadith is Hasan.''

Allah said,

(whose fuel is men and stones,) indicating that the Children of Adam will be fuel for the Fire that will feed it,

(and stones) in reference to the idols that were worshipped, just as Allah said in another Ayah,

(Certainly, you and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell!) (21:98) 

`Abdullah bin Mas`ud, Mujahid, Abu Ja`far Al-Baqir and As-Suddi said that these are sulfur stones that are more putrid than rotten corpses, according to Mujahid. 

Allah's statement,

(over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe,) means, their nature of behavior is stern because the mercy has been taken out of their hearts for those who disbelieve in Allah,

(severe) meaning, their structure is powerful, strong and frightening,

(who disobey not the commands they receive from Allah, but do that which they are commanded.) meaning, whatever Allah commands them, they rush to obey Him, without delay for even a twinkling of an eye. They are able to fulfill the command; they are called Az-Zabaniyah, meaning, the keepers and guards of Hell, may Allah give us shelter from them.

(7) (It will be said in the Hereafter) O you who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism)! Make no excuses this Day! You are being requited only for what you used to do.

Allah said,

(O you who disbelieve! Make no excuses this Day! You are being requited only for what you used to do.) meaning, on the Day of Resurrection, the disbeliever will be told, "Do not offer any excuse this Day, because it will not be accepted from you; you will only be recompensed for what you used to do. Today, you will receive the punishment for your actions.''