Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:128

"خَافَتْ مِن بَعْلِهَا" She anticipated this from him when his signs and indications became apparent to her.

"النُّشُوز" (Nushuz) It is for him to distance himself from her by withholding his person, his financial support, and the affection and mercy that exist between a man and a woman, or by harming her through verbal abuse or physical striking.

"الإِعْرَاض" (I'rad) It is for him to turn away from her by reducing his conversation and companionship with her. This may be due to certain reasons: advanced age, ugliness, a flaw in character or physical appearance, boredom, his eyes wandering toward another, or other such reasons. In such cases, there is no harm in them reaching a settlement between themselves.

• It is read as yusaliha (they reconcile) and yusaliha (they make peace), meaning yatasalaha (they reconcile with one another) and yastaliha (they reach a settlement).
• This is similar to aslaha (he reconciled) and istabara (he was patient).

"صُلْحًا" (Sulhan) This acts as the verbal noun (masdar) for each of the three verbs. The meaning of sulh (reconciliation) is that they agree that she willingly gives up her right to a turn (in marital relations) or a portion of it.

• As Sawda bint Zam'a did when she disliked the idea of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) divorcing her, and she knew the place 'Aisha held in his heart, so she gifted her day to her.
• It is also narrated that a woman’s husband wanted to divorce her because he no longer desired her, but she had a child by him. She said, "Do not divorce me; leave me to care for my child, and you may divide your time for me once every two months." He said, "If this is acceptable to you, then it is more beloved to me," and he kept her.
• Or she may gift him some or all of her dowry or financial support. If she does not do this, he has no choice but to either retain her with kindness or release her.

"وَالصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ" (And reconciliation is best) Better than separation, or better than nushuz, i'rad, and poor companionship. Or, it means reconciliation is the best of all good things, just as dispute is the worst of all evils. This sentence is a parenthetical clause, as is his saying:

"وَأُحْضِرَتِ الأَنفُسُ الشُّحَّ" (And souls are brought to greed) The meaning of "souls being brought to greed" is that greed has been made present for them, never departing from them, and they are never free from it. It means they are naturally inclined toward it. The intent is that a woman can hardly bring herself to give up her turn or anything beyond her turn, and a man can hardly bring himself to give her a turn or keep her if he has lost desire for her and loves another.

"وَإِن تُحْسِنُوا" (And if you do good) By remaining with your wives even if you dislike them and love others, and by being patient in that, observing the rights of companionship.

"وَتَتَّقُوا" (And fear Allah) By avoiding nushuz, i'rad, and whatever leads to harm and dispute.

"فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ" (Indeed, Allah is ever, with what you do) Of goodness and piety.

"خَبِيرًا" (Acquainted) And He will reward you for it.

• 'Imran ibn Hattan al-Khariji was among the ugliest of people, and his wife was among the most beautiful. One day, she looked at his face and then praised Allah. He asked, "What is the matter?" She said, "I praised Allah that you and I are among the people of Paradise." He asked, "How so?" She replied, "Because you were blessed with someone like me and you were grateful, and I was blessed with someone like you and I was patient. Allah has promised Paradise to His grateful and patient servants."