Tafsir of An-Nisa' 4:19

"O you who have believed..."

They used to treat women with various forms of affliction and oppress them in many ways, so they were rebuked for that. A man, when a relative—a father, brother, or close friend—died leaving a wife, would cast his garment over her and say, "I have more right to her than anyone else."

"It is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion."

Meaning: Do not take them as an inheritance, just as inheritances are seized, while they are unwilling or coerced.

It is also said: He would hold her [in marriage] until she died. Thus, it was said: It is not lawful for you to hold them until you inherit from them while they are not pleased with your holding them.

A man would marry a woman, and if he had no need for her, he would confine her while treating her with poor companionship and coercion, so that she would ransom herself from him with her wealth and obtain a khul' (divorce). Thus, it was said:

"And do not constrain them in order to take [back] part of what you have given them."

‘Adl (constraining) is confinement and restriction. From this comes the expression: "The woman was constrained by her child," meaning her womb became constricted around him, so part of him emerged and part remained.

"Unless they commit a clear immorality."

This refers to nushuz (rebellion), bad character, and harming the husband and his family through obscenity and insolence. Meaning: Unless the poor companionship originates from them, you are excused in seeking khul'.

This is supported by the reading of Ubayy: "Unless they commit immorality against you." According to al-Hasan, "immorality" means adultery; if she does that, it becomes lawful for her husband to ask her for khul'.

It is said: They used to take back what they had given her as a dowry if she committed an immorality, and then cast her out.

According to Abu Qilabah and Muhammad ibn Sirin: Khul' is not lawful until a man is found upon her.

According to Qatadah: It is not lawful for him to confine her out of harm until she ransoms herself from him, meaning even if she commits adultery. It is also said that this was abrogated by the [prescribed] punishments (hudud).

They used to treat women poorly, so it was said to them:

"And live with them in kindness."

This means fairness in overnight stays and maintenance, and beauty in speech.

"And if you dislike them..."

Do not separate from them based on personal dislike alone. For the soul may dislike what is actually more righteous in religion, more praiseworthy, and closer to goodness, and it may love the opposite. Rather, look to the causes of righteousness.