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[Surah al-Tahrīm (66): Verse 11]
“And Allah presents an example for those who believe: Pharaoh’s wife, when she said, ‘My Lord, build me a house near You in Paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people.’” (11)

As for the two examples concerning the believers, the first is Pharaoh’s wife.

The point of this example is that a believer’s connection to a disbeliever does not harm him at all, provided he dissociates himself from the disbeliever’s disbelief and deeds. Another person’s disobedience does not harm an obedient believer at all in the Hereafter, although it may harm him in this world when punishment overtakes the people of the earth for neglecting Allah’s command, encompassing them all. Thus, Pharaoh’s wife was not harmed by her connection to him, although he was among the most disbelieving of disbelievers. Nor did the wives of Noah and Lot benefit from their connection to them, although both were messengers of the Lord of all worlds.

The second example for the believers is Mary, who had no husband, whether a believer or a disbeliever.

Thus, He mentions three categories of women: a disbelieving woman connected to a righteous man; a righteous woman connected to a disbelieving man; and an unmarried woman who has no such connection to any man.

The first gains no benefit from her ties and connections.

The second suffers no harm from her ties and connections.

The third suffers no harm at all from having no such connection.

These examples also contain subtle and remarkable lessons that suit the context of the surah. It discusses the Prophet’s wives—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and warns them against joining forces against him. If they do not obey Allah and His Messenger and seek the abode of the Hereafter, their connection to Allah’s Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—will not benefit them, just as the wives of Noah and Lot did not benefit from their connection to them.

Yahyā ibn Sallām said: “Allah presented the first example to warn ‘Ā’ishah and Hafsah, then presented the second example to encourage them to remain steadfast in obedience.”

[Surah al-Tahrīm (66): Verse 12]
“And Mary, the daughter of ‘Imrān, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into it of Our spirit. She believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures, and was among the devoutly obedient.” (12)

Presenting Mary as an example for the believers also offers another lesson: she suffered no harm before Allah from the slander of Allah’s enemies, the Jews, or from their accusing her and her son of that which