Surah At-Tahrim

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · At-Tahrim

﴾١﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَآ أَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ لَكَ ۖ تَبْتَغِى مَرْضَاتَ أَزْوَٰجِكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

Ya ayyuha an-nabiyyu lima tuharrimu ma ahalla Allahu laka tabtaghi mardata azwajik, wallahu ghafurun rahim

Prophet, why do you prohibit what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

﴾٢﴿ قَدْ فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ تَحِلَّةَ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

Qad farada Allahu lakum tahillata aymanikum, wallahu mawlakum, wa huwa al-'alimu al-hakim

Allah has ordained for you the dissolution of your oaths. Allah is your Protector, and He is the Knowing, the Wise.

﴾٣﴿ وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِلَىٰ بَعْضِ أَزْوَٰجِهِۦ حَدِيثًۭا فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَتْ بِهِۦ وَأَظْهَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَرَّفَ بَعْضَهُۥ وَأَعْرَضَ عَنۢ بَعْضٍۢ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَهَا بِهِۦ قَالَتْ مَنْ أَنۢبَأَكَ هَٰذَا ۖ قَالَ نَبَّأَنِىَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

Wa idh asarra an-nabiyyu ila ba'di azwajihi hadithan falamma nabba'at bihi wa azharahu Allahu 'alayhi 'arrafa ba'dahu wa a'rada 'an ba'd, falamma nabba'aha bihi qalat man anba'aka hadha, qala nabba'aniya al-'alimu al-khabir

The Prophet confided a matter to one of his wives, and when she disclosed it and Allah made it known to him, he made known part of it and turned away from part. When he informed her of it she said: who told you this? He said: the Knowing, the Aware informed me.

﴾٤﴿ إِن تَتُوبَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا ۖ وَإِن تَظَٰهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَىٰهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَٰلِحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ

In tatuba ila Allahi faqad saghat qulubukuma, wa in tazahara 'alayhi fa-inna Allaha huwa mawlahu wa Jibrilu wa salihu al-mu'minin, wal-mala'ikatu ba'da dhalika zahir

If you two turn to Allah in repentance, then your hearts have inclined. If you support each other against him, then Allah is his Protector, and Gabriel, and the righteous of the believers, and after that the angels are his support.

﴾٥﴿ عَسَىٰ رَبُّهُۥٓ إِن طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَن يُبْدِلَهُۥٓ أَزْوَٰجًا خَيْرًۭا مِّنكُنَّ مُسْلِمَٰتٍۢ مُّؤْمِنَٰتٍۢ قَٰنِتَٰتٍۢ تَٰٓئِبَٰتٍ عَٰبِدَٰتٍۢ سَٰٓئِحَٰتٍۢ ثَيِّبَٰتٍۢ وَأَبْكَارًۭا

'Asa Rabbuhu in tallaqakunna an yubdilahu azwajan khayran minkunna muslimatin mu'minatin qanitatin ta'ibatin 'abidatin sa'ihatin thayyibatin wa abkara

If he divorced you, perhaps his Lord would give him in exchange wives better than you, submitting, believing, obedient, repentant, worshipping, and given to fasting, previously married and virgins.

﴾٦﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًۭا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌۭ شِدَادٌۭ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ

Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu qu anfusakum wa ahlikum naran waquduha an-nasu wal-hijaratu 'alayha mala'ikatun ghilazun shidadun la ya'suna Allaha ma amarahum wa yaf'aluna ma yu'marun

You who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are angels harsh and severe, who do not disobey Allah in what He commands them and who do what they are commanded.

﴾٧﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Ya ayyuha alladhina kafaru la ta'tadhiru al-yawm, innama tujzawna ma kuntum ta'malun

You who disbelieved, make no excuses today. You are only being repaid for what you used to do.

﴾٨﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوْبَةًۭ نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَٰنِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ

Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu tubu ila Allahi tawbatan nasuha, 'asa Rabbukum an yukaffira 'ankum sayyi'atikum wa yudkhilakum jannatin tajri min tahtiha al-anharu yawma la yukhzi Allahu an-nabiyya walladhina amanu ma'ah, nuruhum yas'a bayna aydihim wa bi-aymanihim yaquluna Rabbana atmim lana nurana waghfir lana, innaka 'ala kulli shay'in qadir

You who believe, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove your bad deeds from you and admit you into gardens with rivers running beneath them, on a Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light runs ahead of them and on their right. They say: our Lord, complete for us our light and forgive us. You are capable of all things.

﴾٩﴿ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ جَٰهِدِ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ وَٱغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ

Ya ayyuha an-nabiyyu jahidi al-kuffara wal-munafiqina waghluz 'alayhim, wa ma'wahum jahannam, wa bi'sa al-masir

Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be firm with them. Their refuge is Hell, and wretched is that destination.

﴾١٠﴿ ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ نُوحٍۢ وَٱمْرَأَتَ لُوطٍۢ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَٰلِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًۭٔا وَقِيلَ ٱدْخُلَا ٱلنَّارَ مَعَ ٱلدَّٰخِلِينَ

Daraba Allahu mathalan lilladhina kafaru imra'ata Nuhin wamra'ata Lut, kanata tahta 'abdayni min 'ibadina salihayni fakhanatahuma falam yughniya 'anhuma mina Allahi shay'a, wa qila udkhula an-nara ma'a ad-dakhilin

Allah presents an example for those who disbelieved: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut. They were under two of Our righteous servants, and they betrayed them, so the two availed them nothing against Allah, and it was said: enter the Fire with those who enter.

﴾١١﴿ وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ٱبْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتًۭا فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

Wa daraba Allahu mathalan lilladhina amanu imra'ata Fir'awn, idh qalat Rabbi ibni li 'indaka baytan fi al-jannati wa najjini min Fir'awna wa 'amalihi wa najjini mina al-qawmi az-zalimin

And Allah presents an example for those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said: my Lord, build for me a house near You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his work, and save me from the wrongdoing people.

﴾١٢﴿ وَمَرْيَمَ ٱبْنَتَ عِمْرَٰنَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْقَٰنِتِينَ

Wa Maryama ibnata 'Imrana allati ahsanat farjaha fanafakhna fihi min ruhina wa saddaqat bikalimati Rabbiha wa kutubihi wa kanat mina al-qanitin

And Maryam the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into it from Our spirit. She affirmed the words of her Lord and His books, and she was of the devoutly obedient.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

Surah At-Tahrim is twelve verses, chapter 66, Madani, and it closes Juz 28. It opens inside the Prophet's own household with a matter he had forbidden himself in order to please those around him, and the correction is issued publicly in the Book.

It then turns outward and gives the clearest instruction in the Quran about a man's responsibility for the people under his roof, and closes with four women, two who were married to prophets and were lost, one who was married to the worst tyrant in the Quran and was saved, and one who is named directly.

Two women married to prophets, one married to Pharaoh. Proximity decided nothing. It never has.

Verses 1–5 · The Correction Inside the House

O Prophet, why do you prohibit what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives?

Lima tuharrimu ma ahalla Allahu lak: the question is asked of him directly, in the Book, in public. Al-Bukhari and Muslim record the accounts behind it, and the mufassirun differ on the specific matter. The correction, not the incident, is the subject.

Tabtaghi mardata azwajik: seeking their approval. The motive is named without contempt. Wanting peace in the house is treated as a real motive and is still corrected.

Qad farada Allahu lakum tahillata aymanikum: Allah has ordained for you the dissolution of your oaths. The remedy is given immediately. A binding word said in a domestic moment has a lawful exit rather than a permanent cost.

Verse 3 describes something told in confidence, disclosed, and then partially confronted. 'Arrafa ba'dahu wa a'rada 'an ba'd: he made known part of it and turned away from part. Ibn Kathir notes the restraint in that phrase. He did not use everything he knew. That is a model for handling a breach with someone close.

Then verse 4 turns to the two involved and offers repentance before it warns, and verse 5 states plainly that he could be given better, which is the seriousness of the matter stated without cruelty.

He knew all of it and used part of it. The restraint is recorded as deliberately as the disclosure.

Verse 6 · Guard Your Household

You who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.

Qu anfusakum wa ahlikum nara: guard yourselves and your families. Yourself first, then your household. The order is not decorative. A man cannot install in his family what he has not installed in himself.

Waquduha an-nasu wal-hijarah: whose fuel is people and stones. The image is deliberately physical.

'Alayha mala'ikatun ghilazun shidadun la ya'suna Allaha ma amarahum wa yaf'aluna ma yu'marun: over it are angels harsh and severe, who do not disobey Allah in what He commands them and who do what they are commanded. Perfect compliance is described immediately after a verse about a household where compliance failed.

Ali ibn Abi Talib is reported by al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir to have glossed this verse as teaching them and disciplining them. The obligation is instruction, not supervision.

Yourself first, then your house. The instrument named is teaching, not watching.

Verses 7–9 · Sincere Repentance

You who believe, repent to Allah with sincere repentance.

Tubu ila Allahi tawbatan nasuha: nasuh is from the root of sincerity and of purity, the same root as advice given for someone's good. Repentance that intends the person's actual repair rather than the relief of the feeling.

'Asa Rabbukum an yukaffira 'ankum sayyi'atikum wa yudkhilakum jannat: perhaps your Lord will remove your bad deeds from you and admit you into gardens.

Yawma la yukhzi Allahu an-nabiyya walladhina amanu ma'ah, nuruhum yas'a bayna aydihim wa bi-aymanihim: on a Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him, their light running ahead of them and on their right. Yaquluna Rabbana atmim lana nurana. They say: our Lord, complete for us our light.

The prayer is not for light. It is for the completion of light they already have, said while they are moving with it. That is the prayer of someone already on the road.

The light is already running ahead of them, and what they ask for is that it be finished.

Verses 10–12 · Four Women

Allah presents an example for those who disbelieved: the wife of Nuh and the wife of Lut.

Kanata tahta 'abdayni min 'ibadina salihayni fakhanatahuma: they were under two of Our righteous servants, and they betrayed them. The betrayal named by the mufassirun is in religion, not in the marriage bed. Falam yughniya 'anhuma mina Allahi shay'a. The two prophets availed them nothing.

Wa daraba Allahu mathalan lilladhina amanu imra'ata Fir'awn: and the wife of Pharaoh. Married to the man the Quran uses as its standard for tyranny, inside his house, and she is presented as the example for the believers.

Rabbi ibni li 'indaka baytan fi al-jannah wa najjini min Fir'awna wa 'amalih wa najjini mina al-qawmi az-zalimin: my Lord, build for me a house near You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his work, and save me from the wrongdoing people. She asks for the neighbor before the house. 'Indaka comes before baytan in the sentence.

Wa Maryam ibnata 'Imran allati ahsanat farjaha: and Maryam, who guarded her chastity, and who was of the devoutly obedient. She is named, which the other three are not.

The four are placed together to make one argument. Proximity to a righteous man does not transfer anything, and proximity to a tyrant does not prevent anything. Each was accounted for alone.

Two in prophets' houses and lost. One in Pharaoh's house and saved. Nobody inherits this.

Structural Summary

Twelve Verses. Guard Your House.

Verses 1–2The CorrectionWhy prohibit what was made lawful, seeking approval. The dissolution of oaths is ordained.

Verses 3–5The ConfidenceA matter disclosed, part of it confronted and part left alone, with repentance offered first.

Verse 6The DutyGuard yourself and your family from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.

Verses 7–9The RepentanceSincere repentance, and a Day when the light runs ahead and they ask for it to be completed.

Verse 10The Two WivesMarried to two righteous servants, they betrayed, and the marriages availed them nothing.

Verse 11The HousePharaoh's wife asking for a house near Him, and to be saved from Pharaoh and his work.

Verse 12The Named OneMaryam, who guarded her chastity and was of the devoutly obedient.

Why This Surah Is For You

Verse 6 is the sentence to build a household on. Yourself first, then your family, and the classical gloss on it from Ali ibn Abi Talib is teaching and discipline rather than surveillance. A man who monitors his family and does not instruct them has not done what this verse asks.

Verse 3 is a model for handling a breach by someone close. He made part of it known and turned away from part. He did not deploy everything he had. Most men in that position use all of it, and the restraint is recorded here as deliberately as the confrontation.

The opening is a public correction of the best of men for a motive most men would call admirable, which was keeping peace at home. Wanting approval from the people you love is named as a real motive and corrected anyway.

The four women at the end settle a question that comes up constantly around men who become known for faith. Nothing transfers. Two women in prophets' households were lost, and one woman in Pharaoh's household asked for a house near Him and got it. Your family's proximity to your practice saves no one, which is exactly why verse 6 makes teaching them your job.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Twelve Verses. Teach Them.

Take verse 6 in its order. Fix your own practice first, then teach it. Instruction, not monitoring.

When someone close breaches a confidence, use part of what you know and leave the rest. Verse 3 records the restraint on purpose.

Say the prayer in verse 11 as she said it. The nearness first, then the house.

Check what motive is bending your rulings at home. Verse 1 corrects the desire for approval from the people you love the most.

Two in prophets' houses and one in Pharaoh's. Guard yourself first, then teach your house, because nothing here is inherited.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verse 11 / 24

The Verse

لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَآ أَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ لَكَ

Lima tuharrimu ma ahalla Allahu lak

What is the Prophet asked in verse 1?