Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:240

"And those who are taken in death among you..."

Regarding the one who reads waṣiyyatun (a bequest) in the nominative case: its estimation is "a bequest of those who are taken in death," or "the ruling for those who are taken in death is a bequest for their wives," or "those who are taken in death are [people of] a bequest for their wives."

Regarding the one who reads it in the accusative case (waṣiyyatan): "And those who are taken in death [should] bequeath a bequest," similar to your saying, "You are only [like] the courier's travel," with the implied verb "you travel." Or, "Let those who are taken in death [make] a bequest." This is supported by the reading of Abdullah [ibn Mas'ud]: "It is prescribed for you: a bequest for your wives, a provision for a year," in place of His saying:

"And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind, [there is] a bequest for their wives: a provision for a year..."

Ubayy [ibn Ka'b] read: "A provision for their wives, a provision," and it is narrated from him: "So a provision for their wives."

Mata'an (a provision) is in the accusative case due to the [implied] waṣiyya (bequest). However, if you imply the verb yuṣūna (they bequeath), then it is in the accusative case due to the verb. According to the reading of Ubayy, matā'an is in the accusative case due to matā', because it carries the meaning of tamti' (providing), like your saying: "Praise be to God, the praise of the grateful," and "Your striking Zayd pleased me, a severe striking."

"Without [their] being turned out"

This is an emphatic verbal noun (maṣdar), like your saying: "This speech is other than what you say." Or, it is a substitute for matā'an, or a state (ḥāl) of the wives, meaning: "without being turned out."

The meaning is: It is the right of those who die and leave wives behind that they should bequeath, before they are in the throes of death, that their wives be provided for after them for a full year—meaning they are to be spent upon from his estate and not turned out of their homes. This was at the beginning of Islam, then the duration was abrogated by His saying:

"Four months and ten [days]"

It is said that what exceeded this amount was abrogated, and the maintenance was abrogated by the inheritance, which is the quarter or the eighth. There is disagreement regarding the residence; according to Abu Hanifa and his companions, there is no residence for them.

"In what they do with themselves"

[Meaning] regarding adornment and exposing themselves to suitors.

"In an honorable manner"

[Meaning] that which is not forbidden by the Law (Shar').

If you ask: How can the preceding verse abrogate the subsequent one? I say: It is possible for a verse to be preceding in recitation while being subsequent in revelation, such as His saying: "The foolish among the people will say..." (142), along with His saying: "We have certainly seen the turning of your face toward the heaven..." (144).

"And for divorced women is a provision according to what is acceptable—a duty upon the righteous. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you might use reason." (241-242)