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,
وإذا جاءهم أمر من اﻻمن أو الخوف أذاعوا به ولو ردوه إلى الرسول وإلى أولى اﻻمر منهم لعلمه الذين يستنبطونه منهم
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,
وصالح المومنين
(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:
وصالح المومنين
(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,
عسى ربه إن طلقكن أن يبدله أزواجا خيرا منكن
(Maybe his Lord, if he divorces you, will give him instead of you, wives better than you). Thereafter, this Ayah was revealed.'''
عسى ربه إن طلقكن أن يبدله أزواجا خيرا منكن
مسلمات مومنات قانتات تايبات عابدات سايحات ثيبات وأبكارا