Al-Qur'an Surah At-Taghabun Verse 14

Mufti Taqi Usmani

O you who believe, among your wives and your children there are some enemies for you, so beware of them. And if you forgive and overlook and pardon, then Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O believers! Indeed, some of your spouses and children are enemies to you,[[ This verse was revealed when some early Muslims were prevented from emigrating to Medina by their own spouses and children, so they could not join the Prophet (ﷺ) and the rest of the believers to practice their faith freely.]] so beware of them. But if you pardon, overlook, and forgive ˹their faults˺, then Allah is truly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Ruwwad Translation Center

O you who believe, indeed, among your wives and your children are some who are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook, and forgive, then Allah is indeed All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

A. J. Arberry

O believers, among your wives and children there is an enemy to you; so beware of them. But if you pardon, and overlook, and if you forgive, surely God is All-forgiving, All-compassionate.

Abdul Haleem

Believers, even among your spouses and your children you have some enemies- beware of them- but if you overlook their offences, forgive them, pardon them, then God is all forgiving, all merciful.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

O ye who believe! verily of your wives and your children there is an enemy Unto you; wherefore beware of them. And if ye pardon and pass over and forgive, then verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

O ye who believe! Truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves; so beware of them! But if ye forgive and overlook, and cover up (their faults), verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Abul Ala Maududi

Believers, there are enemies to you from among your spouses and your off-spring, so beware of them. But if you forgive and overlook their offences and pardon them, then surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Compassionate.

Ahmed Ali

O believers, some of your spouses and children are your enemies, so beware of them! Yet if you forbear, overlook, and forgive, God is indeed forgiving and kind.

Ahmed Raza Khan

O People who Believe! Some of your wives and children are your enemies, therefore be wary of them; and if you pardon and overlook and forgive, then indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Ali Quli Qarai

O you who have faith! Indeed, you have enemies among your spouses and children; so beware of them. Yet if you excuse, forbear, and forgive, then Allah is indeed all-forgiving, all-merciful.

Ali Ünal

O you who believe! Among your spouses and children there may be enemies for you, so beware of them. Yet, if you pardon, forbear, and forgive (their faults toward you and in worldly matters), then (know that) God is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.

Amatul Rahman Omar

O you who believe! some of your spouses and children are enemies to you, so beware of them. And (if you overlook their shortcomings) and forgive and pardon (them), you will find that surely Allâh is Great Protector, Ever Merciful.

English Literal

You, you those who believed, that truly from your spouses and your children (is) an enemy for you, so be warned/cautious of them , and if you forgive/pardon and you forgive/pardon , and you forgive , so then God (is) forgiving, merciful.

Faridul Haque

O People who Believe! Some of your wives and children are your enemies, therefore be wary of them; and if you pardon and overlook and forgive, then indeed Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Hamid S. Aziz

O you who believe! Surely from among your wives and your children there are some who are enemies to you; therefore beware of them; but if you forgive and forbear and efface, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Hilali & Khan

O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you (i.e. may stop you from the obedience of Allah), therefore beware of them! But if you pardon (them) and overlook, and forgive (their faults), then verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So keep your duty to Allah as much as you can, and hear and obey and spend; it is better for your souls. And whoever is saved from the greediness of his soul, these it is that are the successful.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O you who believe! surely from among your wives and your children there is an enemy to you; therefore beware of them; and if you pardon and forbear and forgive, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

O ye who believe! Lo! among your wives and your children there are enemies for you, therefor beware of them. And if ye efface and overlook and forgive, then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

Muhammad Sarwar

Believers, some of your wives and children may prove to be your enemies so beware of them. However, if you would pardon, ignore and forgive, know that God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Believers, some of your wives and children are enemies; so beware of them. But if you pardon, overlook and forgive them, then Allah is the Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you; therefore beware of them! But if you pardon (them) and overlook, and forgive, then verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Wahiduddin Khan

Believers! [Even] among your wives and your children you have enemies: so beware of them. But if you overlook their offences and forgive and pardon them, then surely, God is most forgiving and merciful.

Talal Itani

O you who believe! Among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon, and overlook, and forgive—God is Forgiver and Merciful.

Tafsir jalalayn

O you who believe! Indeed among your wives and children there are enemies for you, so beware of them, of obeying them in neglecting [the performance of] good [deeds], such as struggling or emigrating -- because the reason why this verse was revealed was [precisely their] obedience [of them] in such [matters]. And if you pardon, them, for their impeding you from such good [deeds], justifying it on account of the distress that parting with you causes them, and overlook [such enmity] and forgive, then assuredly God is Forgiving, Merciful.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Warning against the Fitnah of Spouses and Offspring

Allah warns,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَاادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ

O you who believe!

Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you; therefore beware of them!

Allah states that some wives and children are enemies to their husbands and fathers, in that they might be busied with them rather than with performing the good deeds.

Allah said in another Ayah,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاأَ تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَلُكُمْ وَلاأَ أَوْلَـدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَـيِكَ هُمُ الْخَـسِرُونَ

O you who believe!

Let not your properties or you children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that then they are the losers. (63;9)

Allah the Exalted said here,

فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ

therefore, beware of them! (for your religion, according to Ibn Zayd).

Mujahid explained the Ayah,
إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ
(Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you); by saying,

"They might direct the man to sever his relation or disobey his Lord. The man, who loves his wives and children, might obey them in this case."

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn Abbas said to a man who asked him about this Ayah,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَاادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ
(O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you; therefore beware of them!)

"There were men who embraced Islam in Makkah and wanted to migrate to Allah's Messenger. However, their wives and children refused to allow them. Later when they joined Allah's Messenger, they found that those who were with him (the Companions) have gained knowledge in the religion, so they were about to punish their wives and children. Allah the Exalted sent down this Ayah,

وَإِن تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ



But if you pardon (them) and overlook, and forgive, then verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

At-Tirmidhi collected this Hadith and said that it is Hasan Sahih.

Allah's statement,

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ