Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:30

"O wives of the Prophet..."

"Al-fāḥishah" (The indecency): That which is extreme in ugliness, meaning a major sin (kabīrah).

"Al-mubayyinah" (Manifest): That whose ugliness is apparent. It is intended to mean every major sin they might commit.

• It is said: It refers to their disobedience to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), their recalcitrance (nushūz), and their demanding from him that which burdens him or causes him distress and grief.
• It is said: It refers to adultery (zinā), though Allah protected His Messenger from that, as mentioned in the Hadith of the Slander (Ifk).

The reason for the doubling of their punishment: What is considered ugly from other women is uglier and even more ugly from them. This is because the increase in the ugliness of a sin follows the increase in virtue, status, and the blessings bestowed upon the sinner by the One being disobeyed. No other women possess the virtue of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ), nor does anyone else have the same level of blessings from Allah as they do.

Reward follows the action, and the fact that the recompense is a punishment follows the fact that the action is ugly. Thus, whenever the ugliness increases, the severity of the punishment increases. This is why the censure of the learned for a sinner is more severe than the censure of the ignorant; for the sin of the learned is uglier. This is also why the prescribed punishment (ḥadd) for free people is greater than that for slaves.

"And that is easy for Allah": This is an indication that their status as wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) will not avail them anything. How could it avail them when it is the very cause for the doubling of the punishment? It serves as a factor for intensifying the matter for them, not as a deterrent against it.

Recitations and Variants:

• "Ya'ti" (She brings): Read with both tā' and yā'.
• "Mubayyinah": Read with both the fatḥah and kasrah on the yā', derived from bāna (to become clear).
• "Yuḍāʿaf" and "Yuḍʿaf": Read in the passive voice.
• "Yuḍāʿaf" and "Nuḍʿif": Read with yā' and nūn.
• "Taqnut" and "Taʿmal": Read with both tā' and yā'.
• "Nu'tiha": Read with yā' and nūn.

"Al-qunūt" (Devotion): Obedience. Their reward is doubled because of their seeking the pleasure of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) through good character, pleasant companionship, contentment, and their dedication to the worship of Allah and piety.

"O wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, and speak a word that is honorable."