ﱿ ﲀ ﲁ ﲂ ﲃ ﲄ ﲅ ﲆ ﲇ ﲈ ﲉ ﲊ ﲋ ﲌ ﲍ ﲎ ﲏ ﲐ ﲑ ﲒ ﲓ ﲔ ﲕ ﲖ ﲗ ﲘ ﲙ ﲚ
Allah presents an example of those who disbelieved: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous servants but betrayed them, so those prophets did not avail them from Allah at all, and it was said, "Enter the Fire with those who enter."
Tafsir
Verse range: 66:10-11
[10] Allah sets forth a parable for those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous servants, but they betrayed them, so they availed them nothing against Allah, and it was said, "Enter the Fire with those who enter."
[11] And Allah sets forth a parable for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me a house near You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people."
His saying: {Allah sets forth a parable} (ضرب الله مثلا)
This means Allah clarified their situation through an example (parable) to show that they (the disbelievers) will be punished for their disbelief and enmity towards the believers, just like their counterparts, without any avoidance or favoritism.
Their kinship ties and their previous status will not benefit them against Allah due to their enmity toward the Messengers, their denial of the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding what came from Allah, their persistence in disbelief, and their severing of bonds. They treated their relatives as strangers, or even worse.
This applies even when the relative of the disbeliever is a Prophet, such as the wives of Noah and Lot. Since they betrayed their husbands, those two Prophets could not help them on the Day of Judgment, and they were told: "Enter the Fire with those who enter."
Conversely, Allah clarified the situation of the believers: the connection to disbelievers does not harm them, as exemplified by the wife of Pharaoh and her high status with Allah, despite being the wife of one of God's enemies. Similarly, there is Mary, the daughter of Imran, who was granted honor in this world and the Hereafter, chosen above the women of the worlds, even though her people were disbelievers.
Within these two parables, there is an allusion and a severe warning to the Mothers of the Believers (the Prophet's wives), specifically regarding Hafsa and 'A'ishah, due to a lapse on their part. The mention of disbelief within the parable serves as the strongest form of admonition.
Allah then sets forth another parable: the wife of Pharaoh, Asia bint Muzahim. It is said she was the aunt of Moses (peace be upon him). She believed when she heard the story of Moses casting down his staff and it swallowing the ropes. Pharaoh subjected her to severe torture because of her faith. It is narrated from Abu Hurayrah that he pinned her down with four stakes, exposed her to the sun, and placed a massive rock upon her. She prayed: "My Lord, build for me a house near You in Paradise." Her spirit was then taken up to Paradise, where she eats and drinks. It is also said that when she prayed, she saw her house being built for her in Paradise, made of a single pearl. And Allah knows best how it is.
There are several discussions regarding these verses:
This has two aspects:
Their betrayal was hypocrisy (Nifaq)—concealing disbelief while outwardly professing faith—and conspiring against the Messengers. The wife of Noah told her people that he was mad, and the wife of Lot would inform [the people] about the arrival of Lot's guests. It is not permissible to suggest their betrayal involved sexual immorality. Ibn Abbas narrated that no wife of a Prophet ever committed adultery. Their betrayal was in matters of religion.
She requested closeness to Allah's Mercy, and then clarified the location of that closeness by saying, {in Paradise}. Alternatively, she intended to ask for the highest rank in the Garden of Refuge (Jannat al-Ma'wa), which is closest to the Throne.
[11] And Allah sets forth a parable for those who believe: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me a house near You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people."
(The text continues to the next verse, which is the beginning of verse 12 in some counts, but here it is presented as the continuation of the example of Mary.)
And Mary, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her spirit from Us, and she believed in the words of her Lord and His Books and was among the devoutly obedient.
