Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:30

Al-Ahzab (The Confederates): 30

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave them the choice [between remaining with him or leaving him], and they chose Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter, Allah admonished them and warned them against anything that would displease the Prophet (peace be upon him) or bring shame upon them—namely, indecency (fahisha).

This indecency is more severe for the husband than anything else a wife might do. He threatened them with a doubled punishment.

There are two wisdoms in this:

1. The wife of another man is punished for adultery due to the general corruption inherent in it. However, the wife of the Prophet is punished for it and for hurting his heart and degrading his high station. The same applies to the Prophet's daughters. If a woman under the Prophet (PBUH) committed indecency, it would mean she preferred someone other than the Prophet (PBUH), deeming that other person better or more worthy than him. Since the Prophet (PBUH) is prioritized over the self (which is prioritized over others), her status is lowered by two degrees, thus warranting a double punishment.
2. This serves as an indication of their honor. Indeed, the punishment for a free woman is double that of a slave woman, as an expression of her nobility. The Prophet's status relative to other men is like that of masters relative to slaves, as he is more deserving of obedience than their own selves. Similarly, his wives, who are the Mothers of the Believers, hold a special status. A person's mother is a ruling figure whom one must obey, while a wife is commanded and subject to her husband's authority. Therefore, the status of another man's wife relative to the Prophet's wife is like that of a slave woman relative to a free woman.

Know that the statement, "Whoever among you commits this," carries the same force as His saying: {If you should commit shirk, your deeds will surely become worthless} (Az-Zumar: 65). This is because, at first glance, such an act is possible to occur. In some scenarios, it is definitively not going to happen, in others it is definitively going to happen (e.g., "Whoever dies has found rest"), and in others, the listener remains in doubt.

We hold that His statement, {Whoever among you commits indecency}, belongs to the first category, as Allah has protected the wives of the Prophets from indecency.

His statement, {And that was easy for Allah}, means that your being under the Prophet (PBUH) and your noble status does not prevent the punishment from reaching you. Allah's decree is not like the decree of creation, where punishing the honored becomes difficult due to the abundance of their supporters, helpers, intercessors, or brethren.

{And whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Messenger and does righteous deeds, We will give her reward twice, and We have prepared for her a noble provision.}