Surah Baqarah Ayat 235 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 235
There is no blame upon you for that to which you [indirectly] allude concerning a proposal to women or for what you conceal within yourselves. Allah knows that you will have them in mind. But do not promise them secretly except for saying a proper saying. And do not determine to undertake a marriage contract until the decreed period reaches its end. And know that Allah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.
“There is no blame on you if ye make an offer of betrothal or hold it in your hearts. Allah knows that ye cherish them in your hearts: But do not make a secret contract with them except in terms Honourable, nor resolve on the tie of marriage till the term prescribed is fulfilled. And know that Allah Knoweth what is in your hearts, and take heed of Him; and know that Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Forbearing.
It is no offence if you make indirect proposal of marriage to widows during their waiting term or keep it concealed in your hearts: for Allah knows that you will naturally think of them. But be careful not to make any secret engagement. If you have to do anything, do it in an honourable way. And you should not settle anything finally about the marriage until the waiting term expires. Understand it well that Allah even knows what is hidden in your hearts; so fear Him. Also know that Allah is Lenient and Forgiving.
And there is no sin on you if you make a hint of betrothal or conceal it in yourself, Allah knows that you will remember them, but do not make a promise of contract with them in secret except that you speak an honourable saying according to the Islamic law (e.g. you can say to her, “If one finds a wife like you, he will be happy”). And do not consummate the marriage until the term prescribed is fulfilled. And know that Allah knows what is in your minds, so fear Him. And know that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.
There is no sin for you in that which ye proclaim or hide in your minds concerning your troth with women. Allah knoweth that ye will remember them. But plight not your troth with women except by uttering a recognised form of words. And do not consummate the marriage until (the term) prescribed is run. Know that Allah knoweth what is in your minds, so beware of Him; and know that Allah is Forgiving, Clement.
And there is no fault in you concerning whatever offer of betrothal you intimate to women, or nestle in yourselves. Allah knows that you will remember them. But do not make any promise with them secretly, excepting that you say some beneficent saying. And do not resolve on the knot (i.e., the bond) of marriage until the term (Literally: book) has been reached; its term; and know that Allah knows whatever is in yourselves, so be wary of Him. And know that Allah is Ever-Forgiving, EverForbearing.
You will not be blamed whether you give a hint that you wish to marry these women, or keep it to yourselves- God knows that you intend to propose to them. Do not make a secret arrangement with them; speak to them honourably and do not confirm the marriage tie until the prescribed period reaches its end. Remember that God knows what is in your souls, so be mindful of Him. Remember that God is most forgiving and forbearing.
تم پر اس میں کوئی گناه نہیں کہ تم اشارةً کنایتہً ان عورتوں سے نکاح کی بابت کہو، یا اپنے دل میں پوشیده اراده کرو، اللہ تعالیٰ کو علم ہے کہ تم ضرور ان کو یاد کرو گے، لیکن تم ان سے پوشیده وعدے نہ کرلو ہاں یہ اور بات ہے کہ تم بھلی بات بوﻻ کرو اور عقد نکاح جب تک کہ عدت ختم نہ ہوجائے پختہ نہ کرو، جان رکھو کہ اللہ تعالیٰ کو تمہارے دلوں کی باتوں کا بھی علم ہے، تم اس سے خوف کھاتے رہا کرو اور یہ بھی جان رکھو کہ اللہ تعالیٰ بخشش اور علم واﻻ ہے
Quran 2 Verse 235 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Baqarah ayat 235, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(2:235) There is no blame upon you whether you hint at a marriage proposal to such women or keep the proposal hidden in your hearts. Allah knows that you will think of them in that connection. But do not make any secret engagement with them and speak openly in an honourable manner. Do not resolve on the marriage tie until the ordained term has come to its end. Know well that Allah knows even what is in your hearts. So, have fear of Him and know well that Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Forbearing.
There is no commentary by Abul Maududi available for this verse.
Ibn-Kathir
234. And those of you who die and leave wives behind them, they (the wives) shall wait (as regards their marriage) for four months and ten days, then when they have fulfilled their term, there is no sin on you if they (the wives) dispose of themselves in a (just and) honorable manner (i.e., they can marry). And Allah is well-acquainted with what you do.
This Ayah contains a command from Allah to the wives whose husbands die, that they should observe a period of `Iddah of four months and ten nights, including the cases where the marriage was consummated or otherwise, according to the consensus (of the scholars).
The proof that this ruling includes the case where the marriage was not consummated is included in the general meaning of the Ayah. In a narration recorded by Imam Ahmad and the compilers of the Sunan, which At-Tirmidhi graded Sahih, Ibn Mas`ud was asked about a man who married a woman, but he died before consummating the marriage. He also did not appoint a Mahr (dowry) for her. They kept asking Ibn Mas`ud about this subject until he said, “I shall give you my own opinion, and if it is correct then it is from Allah, while if it is wrong it is because of my error and because of (the evil efforts of) Satan. In this case, Allah and His Messenger are innocent of my opinion. She has her full Mahr.” In another narration, Ibn Mas`ud said, “She has a similar Mahr to that of the women of her status, without stinginess or extravagance.” He then continued, “She has to spend the `Iddah and has a right to the inheritance.” Ma`qil bin Yasar Ashja`i then stood up and said, “I heard Allah’s Messenger issue a similar judgment for the benefit of Barwa` bint Washiq.” `Abdullah bin Mas`ud became very delighted upon hearing this statement. In another narration, several men from Ashja` (tribe) stood up and said, “We testify that Allah’s Messenger issued a similar ruling for the benefit of Barwa` bint Washiq.”
As for the case of the widow whose husband dies while she is pregnant, her term of `Iddah ends when she gives birth, even if it occurs an instant (after her husband dies). This ruling is taken from Allah’s statement:
(And for those who are pregnant, their `Iddah is until they lay down their burden.) (65:4)
There is also a Hadith from Subay`ah Al-Aslamiyah in the Two Sahihs, through various chains of narration. Her husband, Sa`d bin Khawlah, died while she was pregnant and she gave birth only a few nights after his death. When she finished her Nifas (postnatal period), she beautified herself for those who might seek to engage her (for marriage). Then, Abu Sanabil bin Ba`kak came to her and said, “Why do I see you beautified yourself, do you wish to marry By Allah! You will not marry until the four months and ten nights have passed.” Subay`ah said, “When he said that to me, I collected my garments when night fell and went to Allah’s Messenger and asked him about this matter. He said that my `Iddah had finished when I gave birth and allowed me to get married if I wished.”
Sa`id bin Musayyib and Abu Al-`Aliyah stated that the wisdom behind making the `Iddah of the widow four months and ten nights is that the womb might contain a fetus. When the woman waits for this period, it will become evident if she is pregnant. Similarly, there is a Hadith in the Two Sahihs narrated by Ibn Mas`ud stating:
((The creation of) a human being is put together in the womb of his mother in forty days in the form of a seed, and next he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period, and next a morsel of flesh for a similar period. Then, Allah sends an angel who is ordered to breathe life unto the fetus.)
So, these are four months and ten more days to be sure, as some months are less (than thirty days), and the fetus will then start to show signs of life after the soul has been breathed into it. Allah knows best.
We should state here that the `Iddah of the slave mother is the same in the case of death, as the `Iddah of the free woman. Imam Ahmad reported that `Amr bin Al-`As said, “Do not confuse the Sunnah of our Prophet for us. The `Iddah of the mother, who is also a servant, when her master dies, is four months and ten nights.”
Allah said:
(…then when they have fulfilled their term, there is no sin on you if they (the wives) dispose of themselves in a (just and) honorable manner (i.e., they can marry). And Allah is well-acquainted with what you do.)
This Ayah indicates that mourning for the dead husband is required until the `Iddah is finished. It is also reported in the Two Sahihs that Umm Habibah and Zaynab bint Jahsh narrated that Allah’s Messenger said:
(It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days for any dead person except her husband, for whom she mourns for four months and ten days.)
It is reported in the Two Sahihs that Umm Salamah said that a woman said, “O Messenger of Allah! My daughter’s husband died and she is complaining about her eye, should we administer kohl in her eye” He said, “No,” several times upon repeating this question. He then said:
(It is four months and ten (nights)! During the Jahiliyyah, one of you would mourn for an entire year.)
Zaiynab the daughter of Umm Salamah said (about the pre-Islamic era of ignorance), “When the woman’s husband died, she would go into seclusion and would wear the worst clothes she has. She would refrain from wearing perfume or any adornments until a year passed. She would then come out of seclusion and would be given dung that she would throw. Then an animal would be brought out, a donkey, a sheep, or a bird. Then some blood would be drained from it, usually resulting in its death.”
In short, the mourning required from a wife whose husband dies, includes not using beautification aids, such as wearing perfume and the clothes and jewelry that encourage the men to seek marriage from the woman. All widows must observe this period of mourning whether they are young, old, free, servant, Muslim or disbeliever, as the general meaning of the Ayah indicates.
Allah also said:
(…then when they have fulfilled their term) meaning, when the `Iddah finishes, according to Ad-Dahhak and Ar-Rabi` bin Anas.
(there is no sin on you) Az-Zuhri said, “Meaning her Wali (guardian).”
(if they (the wives) dispose) meaning, the women whose `Iddah has finished. Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said, “If the woman is divorced or if her husband dies and then her `Iddah term ends, there is no sin that she beautifies herself, so that she becomes ready for marriage proposals. This is the way `that is just and honorable’.” It was reported that Muqatil bin Hayyan gave the same explanation. Ibn Jurayj related that Mujahid said:
(…there is no sin on you if they (the wives) dispose of themselves in a just and honorable manner.) “refers to allowed and pure (honorable) marriage.” It was also reported that Al-Hasan, Az-Zuhri and As-Suddi said the same.
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