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The surah beginning “Allah has indeed heard the words of the woman who argues with you concerning her husband,” through to the end of the passage on zihār, was revealed concerning a woman of the Ansār whose name is disputed: some say Khawlah, while others say Khuwaylah. Her parentage is also disputed: she is said to have been the daughter of Thaʿlabah, al-Sāmit, or al-Dulayh, [or, according to another account, Khuwaylid].
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This woman’s dispute with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) concerning her husband, Aws ibn al-Sāmit, consisted of her repeatedly appealing to him about her husband’s words to her, “You are to me like my mother’s back,” and discussing the matter with him. She “came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while ʿĀ’ishah was washing one side of his head, and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have been with my husband for many years. He has consumed my youth, and I have borne him many children. Now that I have grown old and can no longer bear children, he has pronounced zihār against me.’
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘You have become forbidden to him.’
She said, ‘I complain to Allah of my need for him.’ Then she said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have been with my husband for many years, have borne him many children, and he has pronounced zihār against me.’
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘You have become forbidden to him.’ Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told her this, she cried out, saying, ‘To Allah I complain of my need!’
Revelation then came, while ʿĀ’ishah had begun washing the other side of his head. ʿĀ’ishah motioned to her to be silent. When the revelation ended, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her, ‘Call your husband to me.’ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) then recited to him:
‘Allah has indeed heard the words of the woman who argues with you concerning her husband and complains to Allah.’ [Al-Mujādilah: 1]
… through to His words:
‘Those who pronounce zihār against their wives and then go back on what they have said must free a slave before the couple touch one another.’ [Al-Mujādilah: 3]
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked him, ‘Can you free a slave?’
He replied, ‘No.’
He said, ‘But whoever cannot find the means must fast for two consecutive months. Can you fast for two consecutive months?’
He replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I do not eat three times a day, I fear that my eyesight will grow dim.’
He said, ‘Whoever is unable to do so must feed sixty needy people. Can you feed sixty needy people?’
He replied, ‘No, O Messenger of Allah, unless you help me.’ So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) helped him, and he fed sixty needy people