Wala junaha AAalaykum feema AAarradtum bihi min khitbati alnnisai aw aknantum fee anfusikum AAalima Allahu annakum satathkuroonahunna walakin la tuwaAAidoohunna sirran illa an taqooloo qawlan maAAroofan wala taAAzimoo AAuqdata alnnikahi hatta yablugha alkitabu ajalahu waiAAlamoo anna Allaha yaAAlamu ma fee anfusikum faihtharoohu waiAAlamoo anna Allaha ghafoorun haleemun
English
Ahmed Ali
There is no harm in proposing in secret to (any of) these women, or keeping the intention to yourself: God is aware that you will keep them in mind. Yet do not make a promise in secret, unless you speak in a manner that is proper; and do not resolve upon marriage till the fixed term of waiting is over. Remember that God knows what is in your hearts; so be fearful of Him, and remember that God is forgiving and forbearing.
235
Tafseer
'Abdullāh Ibn 'Abbās / Muḥammad al-Fīrūzabādī
تفسير : (there is no sin on you) there is no harm in talking (in that which ye proclaim or hide in your mind concerning your troth with women) concerning your offer to the woman whose husband is dead, before the waiting period ends, that you desire to marry her after the waiting period, such as saying to her: “if allah unites us lawfully, i would like that”. (allah knoweth that you will remember them) remember marrying them. (but plight not your troth with them) to have sexual intercourse with them (except by uttering a recognised form of words) properly and unequivocally by saying for example: “if allah unites us lawfully, i would like that”, and no more. (and do not consummate the marriage until (the term) prescribed is run) until the waiting period comes to an end. (and know that allah knoweth what is in your minds) in your hearts whether you are going to honour your pledge or not, (so beware of him) beware of contravening him; (and know that allah is forgiving) of those who repent of transgressing against him, (clement) since he does not hasten his punishment upon those who transgress against him.
Jalāl al-Dīn al-Maḥallī
تفسير : you would not be at fault regarding the proposal, with the intention of marriage, you present, offer, or hide in your hearts, during the waiting period, to women, whose spouses have died: such as men saying, ‘how beautiful you are!’, or, ‘who could find one like you?’, or ‘how many a man must desire you!’. god knows that you will be mindful of them, in proposing to them impatiently, and so he has permitted you to make such offers; but do not make arrangements, of marriage, with them secretly, unless you speak honourable words, such as are acknowledged by the law, in other words, such as proposals, that which is permitted to you. and do not resolve on the knot, the consummation, of marriage until that which is written, the period prescribed, has reached its term, and has been completed; and know that god knows what is in your souls, of resolve or otherwise; so be fearful of him, that he should chastise you if you have made such resolve; and know that god is forgiving, toward him who is fearful of him, forbearing, in delaying the chastisement of the one deserving it.
Sahl al-Tustari
تفسير : …but do not make arrangements with them secretly…that is, arrangements of marriage, …and know that god knows what is within yourselves, so be wary of him…, by which is meant that he knew what was hidden within yourselves before he created you, namely, every single act done in the way of goodness, that he was to commandand the performance of which he would aid, and [likewise] every act [you would do], which he had forbidden, and from which he would not protect [you]. he abandoned whom he willed to his desire, so that the act which he had forbidden would become manifest from that person, and he did not grant his protection, out of his justice and decree. the meaning of his words, what is within yourselves refers to that which you have not yet done, and within yourselves refers to that which you will do. so be wary of him, that is to say, humbly implore him concerning it, that he should be the one who takes care of your affairs by extending his aid and guaranteeing your success in the [realisation] of obedience, and by granting his protection from forbidden [acts] through [his] help and support. do you not take heed of the words of ʿumar and ibn masʿūd? y:‘o god! if in the mother of the book that is with you, we are among those who are wretched and deprived, then erase that from [our destiny] and appoint us to be among those of felicity who are encompassed by your mercy. truly you erase what you will and establish [what you will] and the mother of the book is with you.’his words:
