Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tahrim Verse 4

Mufti Taqi Usmani

(O two wives of the Prophet,) If both of you repent to Allah, then (your conduct calls for it, because) your hearts have departed from the correct way. And if you back each other against him (the Prophet), then Allah is his supporter, and Jibra’īl (Gabriel) and righteous believers, and after all that, angels are his helpers.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

˹It will be better˺ if you ˹wives˺ both turn to Allah in repentance, for your hearts have certainly faltered. But if you ˹continue to˺ collaborate against him, then ˹know that˺ Allah Himself is his Guardian. And Gabriel, the righteous believers, and the angels are ˹all˺ his supporters as well.

Ruwwad Translation Center

You both had better turn to Allah in repentance, for your hearts have faltered. But if you insist on conspiring against him, then indeed Allah is his Protector, as well as Gabriel and the righteous believers, and moreover angels are his supporters.

A. J. Arberry

If you two repent to God, yet your hearts certainly inclined; but if you support one another against him, God is his Protector, and Gabriel, and the righteous among the believers; and, after that, the angels are his supporters.

Abdul Haleem

If both of you [wives] repent to God––for your hearts have deviated––[all will be well]; if you collaborate against him, [be warned that] God will aid him, as will Gabriel and all righteous believers, and the angels too will back him.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

If ye twain turn Unto Allah repentant, it is well, surely your hearts are so inclined, and if ye support each other against him, then verily Allah! his friend is He and Jibril and so are the righteous believers; and furthermore the angels are his aiders.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If ye two turn in repentance to Him, your hearts are indeed so inclined; But if ye back up each other against him, truly Allah is his Protector, and Gabriel, and (every) righteous one among those who believe,- and furthermore, the angels - will back (him) up.

Abul Ala Maududi

If the two of you turn in repentance to Allah (that is better for you), for the hearts of both of you have swerved from the Straight Path. But if you support one another against the Prophet, then surely Allah is his Protector; and after that Gabriel and all righteous believers and the angels are all his supporters.

Ahmed Ali

If both of you two (women) turn to God in penitence (it would be better). Your hearts have been impaired; and if you assist one another against him, then surely his helper is God, and Gabriel and the righteous believers, and, besides them, the angels are his helpers.

Ahmed Raza Khan

If you both, the wives of the Holy Prophet, incline towards Allah, for indeed your hearts have deviated a little; and if you come together against him (the Holy Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him) then indeed Allah is his Supporter, and Jibreel and the virtuous believers are also his aides; and in addition the angels are also his aides. (Allah has created several supporters for the believers.)

Ali Quli Qarai

If the two of you repent to Allah... for your hearts have certainly swerved, and if you back each other against him, then [know that] Allah is indeed his guardian, and his supporters are Gabriel, the righteous among the faithful and, thereafter, the angels.

Ali Ünal

If you two (wives of the Prophet) turn to God in repentance (then that is indeed what you should do); for the hearts of both of you swerved (from what is right). But if you back each other up against him, (be mindful that) God Himself is His Guardian, and that Gabriel, and the righteous ones among the believers, and all the angels besides, are his helpers.

Amatul Rahman Omar

If both of you women (-âishah and Hafsah) turn to Allâh repentant, (He will accept your repentance,) for your hearts are already inclined (to God). But if you abet (each other) against him (- the Prophet), (then bear in mind) Allâh is his helper as also Gabriel and the righteous among the believers and further more all the angels are also his helpers.

English Literal

If you (B) repent to God, so your (B)`s hearts/minds had inclined/listened, and if they (B) cooperated/supported each other on (against) him, so then God, He is his guardian/ally , and Gabriel, and (the) correct/righteous (of) the believers, and the angels after that (are) a supporter/helper.

Faridul Haque

If you both, the wives of the Holy Prophet, incline towards Allah, for indeed your hearts have deviated a little; and if you come together against him (the Holy Prophet - peace and blessings be upon him) then indeed Allah is his Supporter, and Jibreel and the virtuous believers are also his aides; and in addition the angels are also his aides. (Allah has created several supporters for the believers.)

Hamid S. Aziz

If you both turn in repentance to Him, your heart are already inclined to this; and if you back each other up against him, then surely Allah it is Who is his Protector, and Gabriel and every righteous one among the believers, and furthermore, the angels, are his supporters.

Hilali & Khan

If you two (wives of the Prophet SAW, namely 'Aishah and Hafsah) turn in repentance to Allah, (it will be better for you), your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet SAW likes), but if you help one another against him (Muhammad SAW), then verily, Allah is his Maula (Lord, or Master, or Protector, etc.), and Jibrael (Gabriel), and the righteous among the believers, and furthermore, the angels are his helpers.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

O you who believe, save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is men and stones; over it are angels, stern and strong. They do not disobey Allah in that which He commands them, but do as they are commanded.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

If you both turn to Allah, then indeed your hearts are already inclined (to this); and if you back up each other against him, then surely Allah it is Who is his Guardian, and Jibreel and -the believers that do good, and the angels after that are the aiders.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

If ye twain turn unto Allah repentant, (ye have cause to do so) for your hearts desired (the ban); and if ye aid one another against him (Muhammad) then lo! Allah, even He, is his Protecting Friend, and Gabriel and the righteous among the believers; and furthermore the angels are his helpers.

Muhammad Sarwar

Would that you two (wives of the Prophet) had turned to God in repentance. Your hearts have sinned. If you conspire with each other against him, know that God is his Guardian. Gabriel, the righteous (ones) among the believers and the angels will all support him.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If both of you (wives) turn to Allah in repentance, even though your hearts inclined; but if you support one another against him, (know that) Allah is hisGuardian, and Gabriel, and the righteous among the believers; and thereafter the angels are his reinforcers.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

If you two turn in repentance to Allah, your hearts are indeed so inclined; 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.

Wahiduddin Khan

If only both of you would turn to God in repentance -- and your hearts are already so inclined. But if you uphold each other against him, then surely God is his protector, and Gabriel and the righteous among the believers; and the angels too are his helpers.

Talal Itani

If you repent to God, then your hearts have listened. But if you band together against him, then God is his Ally, as is Gabriel, and the righteous believers. In addition, the angels will assist him.

Tafsir jalalayn

If the two of you, namely, Hafsa and `'isha, repent to God ... for your hearts were certainly inclined, towards the prohibition of Mriya, that is to say, your keeping this secret despite [knowing] the Prophet's (s) dislike of it, which is itself a sin (the response to the conditional [`if the two of you repent to God'] has been omitted, to be understood as, `it will be accepted of both of you'; the use of [the plural] qulb, `hearts', instead of [the dual] qalbayn, `both [your] hearts', is on account of the cumbersomeness of putting two duals together in what is effectively the same word); and if you support one another (tazzhar; the original second t' [of tatazhar] has been assimilated with the z'; a variant reading has it without [this assimilation, tazhar]) against him, that is, the Prophet, in what he is averse to, then [know that] God, He (huwa, [a pronoun] for separation) is indeed his Protector, His supporter, and Gabriel, and the righteous among the believers, Ab Bakr and `Umar, may God be pleased with both of them (wa-Jibrlu wa-slihu'l- mu'minna is a supplement to the [syntactical] locus of the subject of inna [sc. `God']), who will [also] be his supporters, and the angels furthermore, further to the support of God and those mentioned, are his supporters, assistants of his, in supporting him [to prevail] over both of you.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

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,

وَإِذَا جَأءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الاٌّمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُواْ بِهِ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَى أُوْلِى الاٌّمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنْبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ

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,
وَصَالِحُ الْمُوْمِنِينَ
(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;
وَصَالِحُ الْمُوْمِنِينَ
(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,
عَسَى رَبُّهُ إِن طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَن يُبْدِلَهُ أَزْوَاجًا خَيْرًا مِّنكُنَّ
(Maybe his Lord, if he divorces you, will give him instead of you, wives better than you). Thereafter, this Ayah was revealed."'

عَسَى رَبُّهُ إِن طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَن يُبْدِلَهُ أَزْوَاجًا خَيْرًا مِّنكُنَّ

مُسْلِمَاتٍ مُّوْمِنَاتٍ قَانِتَاتٍ تَايِبَاتٍ عَابِدَاتٍ سَايِحَاتٍ ثَيِّبَاتٍ وَأَبْكَارًا