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Ayah
Word by Word
نِسَآؤُكُمۡ
Your wives
حَرۡثٞ
(are) a tilth
لَّكُمۡ
for you
فَأۡتُواْ
so come
حَرۡثَكُمۡ
(to) your tilth
أَنَّىٰ
when
شِئۡتُمۡۖ
you wish
وَقَدِّمُواْ
and send forth (good deeds)
لِأَنفُسِكُمۡۚ
for yourselves
وَٱتَّقُواْ
And be conscious
ٱللَّهَ
(of) Allah
وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ
and know
أَنَّكُم
that you
مُّلَٰقُوهُۗ
(will) meet Him
وَبَشِّرِ
And give glad tidings
ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
(to) the believers
نِسَآؤُكُمۡ
Your wives
حَرۡثٞ
(are) a tilth
لَّكُمۡ
for you
فَأۡتُواْ
so come
حَرۡثَكُمۡ
(to) your tilth
أَنَّىٰ
when
شِئۡتُمۡۖ
you wish
وَقَدِّمُواْ
and send forth (good deeds)
لِأَنفُسِكُمۡۚ
for yourselves
وَٱتَّقُواْ
And be conscious
ٱللَّهَ
(of) Allah
وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ
and know
أَنَّكُم
that you
مُّلَٰقُوهُۗ
(will) meet Him
وَبَشِّرِ
And give glad tidings
ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
(to) the believers
Translation
Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will; but do some good act for your souls beforehand; and fear Allah. And know that ye are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give (these) good tidings to those who believe.
Tafsir
Your women are a tillage for you, that is, the place where you sow [the seeds of] your children; so come to your tillage, that is, the specified place, the front part, as, in whichever way, you wish, whether standing up, sitting down, lying down, from the front or the back: this was revealed in response to the Jews saying that if a person had vaginal intercourse with his wife from behind, the child would be born cross-eyed; and offer for your souls, righteous deeds, such as saying, 'In the Name of God' (bismillaah) when you commence intercourse; and fear God, in what He commands and prohibits; and know that you shall meet Him, at the Resurrection, where He will requite you according to your deeds; and give good tidings, of the Paradise, to the believers, who feared Him.
"The Prohibition of marrying Mushrik Men and Women
Allah says;
وَلَا تَنكِحُواۡ الۡمُشۡرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُوۡمِنَّ
And do not marry Al-Mushrikat (idolatresses) till they believe (worship Allah Alone).
Allah prohibited the believers from marrying Mushrik women who worship idols.
Although the meaning is general and includes every Mushrik woman from among the idol worshippers and the People of the Scripture, Allah excluded the People of the Scripture from this ruling.
Allah stated:
مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواۡ الۡكِتَـبَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ إِذَا ءَاتَيۡتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحۡصِنِينَ غَيۡرَ مُسَافِحِينَ
(Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before your time when you have given their due dowry, desiring chastity (i.e., taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse. (5:5)
Ali bin Abu Talhah said that Ibn Abbas said about what Allah said:
وَلَا تَنكِحُواۡ الۡمُشۡرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُوۡمِنَّ
(And do not marry Al-Mushrikat (female idolators) till they believe (worship Allah Alone).
""Allah has excluded the women of the People of the Scripture."" This is also the explanation of Mujahid, `Ikrimah, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Makhul, Al-Hasan, Ad-Dahhak, Zayd bin Aslam and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and others.
Some scholars said that;
the Ayah is exclusively talking about idol worshippers and not the People of the Scripture, and this meaning is similar to the first meaning we mentioned.
Allah knows best.
Abu Jafar bin Jarir (At-Tabari) said, after mentioning that there is Ijma that marrying women from the People of the Scripture is allowed,
""Umar disliked this practice so that the Muslims do not refrain from marrying Muslim women, or for similar reasons.""
An authentic chain of narrators stated that Shaqiq said:
Once Hudhayfah married a Jewish woman and Umar wrote to him, ""Divorce her.""
He wrote back, ""Do you claim that she is not allowed for me so that I divorce her?""
He said, ""No. But, I fear that you might marry the whores from among them.""
Ibn Jarir related that Zayd bin Wahb said that;
Umar bin Khattab said, ""The Muslim man marries the Christian woman, but the Christian man does not marry the Muslim woman.""
This Hadith has a stronger, authentic chain of narrators than the previous Hadith.
Ibn Abu Hatim said that;
Ibn Umar disliked marrying the women from the People of the Scripture. He relied on his own explanation for the Ayah:
وَلَا تَنكِحُواۡ الۡمُشۡرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُوۡمِنَّ
(And do not marry Al-Mushrikat (female idolators) till they believe (worship Allah Alone).
Al-Bukhari also reported that Ibn Umar said,
""I do not know of a bigger Shirk than her saying that Jesus is her Lord!""
Allah said:
وَلَامَةٌ مُّوۡمِنَةٌ خَيۡرٌ مِّن مُّشۡرِكَةٍ وَلَوۡ أَعۡجَبَتۡكُمۡ
And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (female idolators), even though she pleases you.
It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said:
تُنۡـكَحُ الۡمَرۡأَةُ لاَِرۡبَعٍ
لِمَالِهَا
وَلِحَسَبِهَا
وَلِجَمَالِهَا
وَلِدِينِهَا
فَاظۡفَرۡ بِذَاتِ الدِّينِ تَرِبَتۡ يَدَاك
A woman is chosen for marriage for four reasons:
her wealth,
social status,
beauty, and
religion.
So, marry the religious woman, may your hands be filled with sand (a statement of encouragement).
Muslim reported this Hadith from Jabir.
Muslim also reported that Ibn Amr said that Allah's Messenger said:
الدُّنۡيَا مَتَاعٌ وَخَيۡرُ مَتَاعِ الدُّنۡيَا الۡمَرۡأَةُ الصَّالِحَة
The life of this world is but a delight, and the best of the delights of this earthly life is the righteous wife.
Allah then said:
وَلَا تُنكِحُواۡ الۡمُشِرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُوۡمِنُواۡ
And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikin till they believe (in Allah Alone).
meaning, do not marry Mushrik men to believing women.
This statement is similar to Allah's statement:
لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَّهُمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّ
They are not lawful (wives) for them, nor are they lawful (husbands) for them. (60:10)
Next, Allah said:
وَلَعَبۡدٌ مُّوۡمِنٌ خَيۡرٌ مِّن مُّشۡرِكٍ وَلَوۡ أَعۡجَبَكُمۡ
and verily, a believing servant is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolator), even though he pleases you.
This Ayah indicates that a believing man, even an Abyssinian servant, is better than a Mushrik man, even if he was a rich master.
أُوۡلَـيِكَ يَدۡعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ
Those (Al-Mushrikun) invite you to the Fire,
meaning, associating and mingling with the disbelievers makes one love this life and prefer it over the Hereafter, leading to the severest repercussions.
Allah said:
وَاللّهُ يَدۡعُوَ إِلَى الۡجَنَّةِ وَالۡمَغۡفِرَةِ بِإِذۡنِهِ
but Allah invites (you) to Paradise and forgiveness by His leave,
meaning, by His Law, commandments and prohibitions.
Allah said:
and makes His Ayat clear to mankind that they may remember.
Sexual Intercourse with Menstruating Women is prohibited
Allah says;
وَيَسۡأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الۡمَحِيضِ قُلۡ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعۡتَزِلُواۡ النِّسَاء فِي الۡمَحِيضِ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىَ يَطۡهُرۡنَ
They ask you concerning menstruation.
Say:""That is an Adha, therefore, keep away from women during menses and go not in unto them till they are purified.""
Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said that;
the Jews used to avoid their menstruating women, they would not eat, or even mingle with them in the house. The Companions of the Prophet asked about this matter and Allah revealed:
وَيَسۡأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الۡمَحِيضِ قُلۡ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعۡتَزِلُواۡ النِّسَاء فِي الۡمَحِيضِ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىَ يَطۡهُرۡنَ
(They ask you concerning menstruation. Say:""That is an Adha, therefore, keep away from women during menses and go not in unto them till they are purified).
Allah's Messenger said:
اصۡنَعُوا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ إِلاَّ النِّكَاح
`Do everything you wish, except having sexual intercourse.
When the Jews were told about the Prophet's statement, they said, ""What is the matter with this man He would not hear of any of our practices, but would defy it.""
Then, Usayd bin Hudayr and Abbad bin Bishr came and said, ""O Messenger of Allah! The Jews said this and that, should we have sex with our women (meaning, during the menstruation period)""
The face of Allah's Messenger changed color, until the Companions thought that he was angry with them. They left.
Soon after, some milk was brought to Allah's Messenger as a gift, and he sent some of it for them to drink. They knew then that Allah's Messenger was not angry with them.
Muslim also reported this Hadith.
Allah said:
فَاعۡتَزِلُواۡ النِّسَاء فِي الۡمَحِيضِ
therefore, keep away from women during menses,
meaning, avoid the sexual organ.
The Prophet said:
اصۡنَعُوا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ إِلاَّ النِّكَاح
Do anything you wish except having sexual intercourse.)
This is why most of the scholars said that it is allowed to fondle the wife, except for having sexual intercourse (when she is having her menses).
Abu Dawud reported that Ikrimah related to one of the Prophet's wives that she said that;
whenever the Prophet wanted to fondle (one of his wives) during her menses, he would cover her sexual organ with something.
Abu Jafar bin Jarir related that;
Masruq went to Aishah and greeted her, and Aishah greeted him in return. Masruq said, ""I wish to ask you about a matter, but I am shy.""
She replied, ""I am your mother and you are my son.""
He said, ""What can the man enjoy of his wife when she is having her menses?""
She said, ""Everything except her sexual organ.""
This is also the opinion of Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan and Ikrimah.
One is Allowed to Sleep next to his Wife and to Eat with Her (when she is having her menses)
Aishah said,
""Allah's Messenger used to ask me to wash his hair while I was having the menses. He would lay on my lap and read the Qur'an while I was having the period.""
It is also reported in the Sahih that Aishah said,
""While having the menses, I used to eat from a piece of meat and give it to the Prophet who would eat from the same place I ate from. I used to have sips of a drink and would then give the cup to the Prophet who would place his mouth where I placed my mouth.""
It is also reported in the Two Sahihs that Maymunah bint Al-Harith Al-Hilaliyah said,
""Whenever the Prophet wanted to fondle any of his wives during the periods (menses), he used to ask her to wear an Izar (a sheet covering the lower-half of the body).""
These are the wordings collected by Al-Bukhari.
Similar was reported from Aishah.
In addition, Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah reported that;
Abdullah bin Sa`d Al-Ansari asked Allah's Messenger, ""What am I allowed of my wife while she is having her menses?""
He said, ""What is above the Izar (a sheet covering the lower-half of the body).""
Hence, Allah's statement:
وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىَ يَطۡهُرۡنَ
(...and go not in unto them till they are purified) explains His statement:
فَاعۡتَزِلُواۡ النِّسَاء فِي الۡمَحِيضِ
(...therefore, keep away from women during menses).
Allah prohibited having sexual intercourse with the wife during menstruation, indicating that sexual intercourse is allowed otherwise.
Allah's statement:
فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرۡنَ فَأۡتُوهُنَّ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللّهُ
And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah has ordained for you.
indicates that men should have sexual intercourse with their wives after they take a bath.
The scholars agree that the woman is obliged to take a bath, or to perform Tayammum with sand, if she is unable to use water, before she is allowed to have sexual intercourse with her husband, after the monthly period ends.
Ibn Abbas said:
حَتَّىَ يَطۡهُرۡنَ
""(till they are purified) means from blood, and,
فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرۡنَ
(And when they have purified themselves) means with water.""
This is also the Tafsir of Mujahid, Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Muqatil bin Hayyan and Al-Layth bin Sa`d and others.
Anal Sex is prohibited
Allah said:
مِنۡ حَيۡثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللّهُ
as Allah has ordained for you.
Ibn Abbas, Mujahid and other scholars have stated that;
this refers to Al-Farj (the vagina)
Therefore, anal sex is prohibited, as we will further emphasize afterwards, Allah willing.
Abu Razin, Ikrimah and Ad-Dahhak and others said that:
فَأۡتُوهُنَّ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللّهُ
(...then go in unto them as Allah has ordained for you) means,
when they are pure, and not during the menses.
Allah said afterwards:
إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ
Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance,
from the sin even if it was repeated.
وَيُحِبُّ الۡمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
and loves those who purify themselves.
meaning, those who purify themselves from the impurity and the filth that include having sexual intercourse with the wife during the menses and anal sex.
The Reason behind revealing Allah's Statement:""Your Wives are a Tilth for You.
Allah said
نِسَأوُكُمۡ حَرۡثٌ لَّكُمۡ
Your wives are a tilth for you,
Ibn Abbas commented,
""Meaning the place of pregnancy.""
Allah then said:
فَأۡتُواۡ حَرۡثَكُمۡ أَنَّى شِيۡتُمۡ
so go to your tilth, when or how you will,
meaning, wherever you wish from the front or from behind, as long as sex takes place in one valve (the female sexual organ), as the authentic Hadiths have indicated.
For instance, Al-Bukhari recorded that;
Ibn Al-Munkadir said that he heard Jabir say that the Jews used to claim that if one has sex with his wife from behind (in the vagina) the offspring would become cross-eyed.
Then, this Ayah was revealed:
نِسَأوُكُمۡ حَرۡثٌ لَّكُمۡ فَأۡتُواۡ حَرۡثَكُمۡ أَنَّى شِيۡتُمۡ
(Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth, when or how you will).
Muslim and Abu Dawud also reported this Hadith.
Ibn Abu Hatim said that Muhammad bin Al-Munkadir narrated that Jabir bin Abdullah told him that;
the Jews claimed to the Muslims that if one has sex with their wife from behind (in the vagina) their offspring will become cross-eyed.
Allah revealed afterwards:
نِسَأوُكُمۡ حَرۡثٌ لَّكُمۡ فَأۡتُواۡ حَرۡثَكُمۡ أَنَّى شِيۡتُمۡ
(Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth, when or how you will).
Ibn Jurayj (one of the reporters of the Hadith) said that Allah's Messenger said:
مُقۡبِلَةً ومُدۡبِرَةً إِذَا كَان ذلِكَ فِي الۡفَرۡج
From the front or from behind, as long as that occurs in the Farj (vagina).
Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Abbas said,
""The Ayah,
نِسَأوُكُمۡ حَرۡثٌ لَّكُمۡ
(Your wives are a tilth for you) was revealed about some people from the Ansar who came to the Prophet and asked him (about having sex with the wife from behind).
He said to them:
ايۡتِهَا عَلى كُلِّ حَالٍ إِذَا كَانَ فِي الۡفَرۡج
Have sex with her as you like as long as that occurs in the vagina.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abdullah bin Sabit said:
I went to Hafsah bint Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr and said, ""I wish to ask you about something, but I am shy.""
She said, ""Do not be shy, O my nephew.""
He said, ""About having sex from behind with women.""
She said, ""Umm Salamah told me that the Ansar used to refrain from having sex from behind (in the vagina). The Jews claimed that those who have sex with their women from behind would have offspring with crossed-eyes. When the Muhajirun came to Al-Madinah, they married Ansar women and had sex with them from behind. One of these women would not obey her husband and said, `You will not do that until I go to Allah's Messenger (and ask him about this matter).'
She went to Umm Salamah and told her the story.
Umm Salamah said, `Wait until Allah's Messenger comes.' When Allah's Messenger came, the Ansari woman was shy to ask him about this matter, so she left.
Umm Salamah told Allah's Messenger the story and he said:
Summon the Ansari woman.
She was summoned and he recited this Ayah to her:
نِسَأوُكُمۡ حَرۡثٌ لَّكُمۡ فَأۡتُواۡ حَرۡثَكُمۡ أَنَّى شِيۡتُمۡ
Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth, when or how you will.
He added:
صِمَامًا وَاحِدًا
Only in one valve (the vagina).""
This Hadith was also collected by At-Tirmidhi who said, ""Hasan.""
An-Nasa'i reported that Ka`b bin Alqamah said that Abu An-Nadr said that;
he asked Nafi, ""The people are repeating the statement that you relate from Ibn Umar that he allowed sex with women in their rear (anus).""
He said, ""They have said a lie about me. But let me tell you what really happened.
Ibn Umar was once reciting the Qur'an while I was with him and he reached the Ayah:
نِسَأوُكُمۡ حَرۡثٌ لَّكُمۡ فَأۡتُواۡ حَرۡثَكُمۡ أَنَّى شِيۡتُمۡ
(Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth, when or how you will), he then said, `O Nafi`! Do you know the story behind this Ayah?'
I said, `No.'
He said, `We, the people of Quraysh, used to have sexual intercourse with our wives from the back (in the vagina). When we migrated to Al-Madinah and married some Ansari women, we wanted to do the same with them. They disliked it and made a big issue out of it. The Ansari women had followed the practice of the Jews who have sex with their women while they lay on their sides. Then, Allah revealed:
نِسَأوُكُمۡ حَرۡثٌ لَّكُمۡ فَأۡتُواۡ حَرۡثَكُمۡ أَنَّى شِيۡتُمۡ
(Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth, when or how you will).""
This has an authentic chain of narrators.
Imam Ahmad reported that Khuzaymah bin Thabit Al-Khatami narrated that Allah's Messenger said:
لَاا يَسۡتَحۡيِي اللهُ مِنَ الۡحَقِّ ثَلَاثًا لَاا تَأۡتُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي أَعۡجَازِهِن
Allah does not shy from the truth - he said it thrice-, do not have anal sex with women.
This Hadith was collected by An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah.
Abu Isa At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i reported that Ibn Abbas narrated that Allah's Messenger said:
لَاا يَنۡظُرُ اللهُ إِلى رَجُلٍ أَتَى رَجُلًا أَوِ امۡرَأَةً فِي الدُّبُر
Allah does not look at a man who had anal sex with another man or a woman.
At-Tirmidhi said, ""Hasan Gharib.""
This is also the narration that Ibn Hibban collected in his Sahih, while Ibn Hazm stated that this is an authentic Hadith.
In addition, Imam Ahmad reported that Ali bin Talaq said,
""Allah's Messenger forbade anal sex with women, for Allah does not shy away from truth.""
Abu Isa At-Tirmidhi also reported this Hadith and said, ""Hasan"".
Abu Muhammad Abdullah bin Abdur-Rahman Darimi reported in his Musnad that;
Sa`id bin Yasar Abu Hubab said:I said to Ibn Umar, ""What do you say about having sex with women in the rear?""
He said, ""What does it mean?""
I said, ""Anal sex.""
He said, ""Does a Muslim do that?""
This Hadith has an authentic chain of narrators and is an explicit rejection of anal sex from Ibn Umar.
Abu Bakr bin Ziyad Naysaburi reported that Ismail bin Ruh said that;
he asked Malik bin Anas, ""What do you say about having sex with women in the anus?""
He said, ""You are not an Arab. Does sex occur but in the place of pregnancy? Do it only in the Farj (vagina).""
I said, ""O Abu Abdullah! They say that you allow that practice.""
He said, ""They utter a lie about me, they lie about me.""
This is Malik's firm stance on this subject.
It is also the view of Sa`id bin Musayyib, Abu Salamah, Ikrimah, Tawus, Ata, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Urwah bin Az-Zubayr, Mujahid bin Jabr, Al-Hasan and other scholars of the Salaf (the Companions and the following two generations after them).
They all, along with the majority of the scholars, harshly rebuked the practice of anal sex and many of them called this practice a Kufr.
Allah said:
وَقَدِّمُواۡ لَانفُسِكُمۡ
and send for your own selves beforehand.
meaning, by performing the acts of worship while refraining from whatever Allah has prohibited for you.
This is why Allah said afterwards:
وَاتَّقُواۡ اللّهَ وَاعۡلَمُواۡ أَنَّكُم مُّلَقُوهُ
And fear Allah, and know that you are to meet Him (in the Hereafter),
meaning, He will hold you accountable for all of your deeds.
وَبَشِّرِ الۡمُوۡمِنِينَ
and give good tidings to the believers (O Muhammad).
meaning, those who obey what Allah has commanded and refrain from what He has prohibited.
Ibn Jarir reported that Ata said, or related it to Ibn Abbas,
وَقَدِّمُواۡ لَانفُسِكُمۡ
(...and send for your own selves beforehand) means,
mention Allah's Name, by saying, `Bismillah', before having sexual intercourse.""
Al-Bukhari also reported that Ibn Abbas narrated that Allah's Messenger said:
لَوۡ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمۡ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنۡ يَأۡتِيَ أَهۡلَهُ قَالَ بِاسۡمِ اللهِ اللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبۡنَا الشَّيۡطَانَ وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيۡطَانَ مَا رَزَقۡتَنَا فَإنَّهُ إِنۡ يُقَدَّرۡ بَيۡنَهُمَا وَلَدٌ فِي ذلِكَ لَمۡ يَضُرَّهُ الشَّيۡطَانُ أَبَدًا
If anyone of you on having sexual relations with his wife said:`In the Name of Allah. O Allah! Protect us from Satan and also protect what you bestow upon us (i.e., the coming offspring) from Satan,' and if it is destined that they should have a child then, Satan will never be able to harm him."
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
Not yet available. It requires resources to add this interpretation.
