“O you who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will.” (1)
Hamzah and al-Kisa'i read kurhan, with the kaf pronounced with an u vowel, here and in Surah al-Tawbah; the rest read it with an a vowel. Al-Kisa'i said: “They are two linguistic variants.” Al-Farra' said: karh, with an a vowel, refers to what a person is compelled to do, whereas with an u vowel it refers to hardship arising from within oneself.
“And do not prevent them from marrying in order to take back part of what you have given them”: that is, do not prevent them from marrying so that they become distressed and ransom themselves with some of their wealth. It was said that this addresses the heirs of the deceased, but the sound view is that it addresses husbands.
Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: This concerns a man who has a wife whose companionship he dislikes, while she is entitled to a dower from him. He then mistreats her so that she will ransom herself and return to him the dower he gave her. Allah Most High forbade this. He then said: “Unless they commit a clear act of indecency.” In that case, it is lawful for you to mistreat them so that they ransom themselves from you.
They differed concerning the act of indecency. Ibn Mas'ud and Qatadah said: It is marital defiance. Others—including al-Hasan—said: It is adultery. That is, if a woman is defiant toward her husband or commits adultery, the husband may ask her for khul' (divorce in exchange for compensation). 'Ata' said: When a man's wife committed an act of indecency, he would take back what he had given her and send her away; then Allah Most High abrogated this through the prescribed legal punishments.
Ibn Kathir and Abu Bakr read mubayyanah and mubayyanat with the ya' pronounced with an a vowel. The reciters of Madinah and Basrah agreed with them regarding mubayyanat, while the rest read it with an i vowel.
“Live with them honorably.” Al-Hasan said: This returns to the beginning of the passage, namely: “Give women their bridal gifts graciously,” and, “Live with them honorably.” Living with them honorably means treating them well in speech, lodging, and maintenance. It was also said that it means that a man should adorn himself for her just as she adorns herself for him.
“If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike something in which Allah has placed much good.” It was said that this refers to a righteous child, or that Allah causes the husband to feel affection for her.