And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allah," while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them. And ever is the command of Allah accomplished.
**And [remember] when you said to the one whom Allah had favored and you had favored, "Keep your wife to yourself and fear Allah,"**
And He is Zayd. Allah favored him with Islam, and you [the Prophet] favored him with manumission (freeing him).
"Keep your wife to yourself": This was said to the Prophet regarding Zayd. He commanded him, "Keep her," meaning, "Do not divorce her."
"And fear Allah": It is said this refers to fearing Allah concerning divorce, or fearing Him regarding the complaint Zayd made about Zaynab. Zayd complained that she was arrogant towards him due to lineage and lack of equality (Kafa'ah).
"And you concealed within yourself what Allah was going to disclose": That is, your desire to marry Zaynab.
"Of the people": Lest people say, "He married the wife of another man," or "the wife of his adopted son."
"And Allah is more worthy that you fear Him." This is not an indication that the Prophet feared people and did not fear Allah. Rather, the meaning is: Allah is more worthy to be feared alone, and you should not fear anyone alongside Him. You fear Him, but you also fear people. Therefore, direct your fear solely to Him, just as the Almighty said: "[Those] who deliver the messages of Allah and fear Him and fear none but Allah." (Al-Ahzab: 39).
**Then when Zayd had accomplished his purpose concerning her, We married her to you**
This means: When Zayd divorced her and her waiting period (iddah) was completed.
This is because as long as the wife is in the husband's marriage, she fulfills his need, and he is in need of her; thus, he has not fully accomplished his purpose (watar) concerning her, nor has he become independent of her. Similarly, if she is in the waiting period, there is still a connection due to the possibility of pregnancy, so he has not yet accomplished his purpose concerning her.
However, if he divorces her and her waiting period ends, he becomes independent of her, and no attachment remains to her, thus he has accomplished his purpose concerning her.
This aligns with the Sharia, as marrying another man's wife or one in her waiting period is not permissible. This is why it is stated: "Then when he accomplished..."
Similarly, the verse: "So that there would be no difficulty for the believers concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they have accomplished their purpose concerning them" (Al-Ahzab: 37), means when they divorce them and their waiting periods end.
This implies that the Prophet's marriage to her was not to fulfill the Prophet's desire, but rather to clarify the Law through his action, as the Law is derived from the Prophet's actions and sayings.
"And the command of Allah was done" (or "was decreed"): Meaning, what Allah decreed was accomplished and destined to happen.
Then the Almighty clarified that His marrying her, while establishing a legal ruling, contained a benefit and was free from corruption, saying:
Verse 37 (Continuation):
**There was not to be upon the Prophet any discomfort concerning that which Allah had ordained for him. [This was] the established way of Allah in those who passed on before. And the command of Allah was a decree determined.**
"There was not to be upon the Prophet any discomfort concerning that which Allah had ordained for him": Regarding what Allah legislated for him.
"The established way of Allah in those who passed on before": This was the precedent set by Allah for previous prophets.
"And the command of Allah was a decree determined."
