(28–29) “O Prophet, say to your wives, ‘If you desire the life of this world and its adornment, then come: I will provide for you and release you graciously. * But if you desire Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter, then surely Allah has prepared a great reward for those of you who do good.’”
When the wives of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) joined together out of jealousy and asked him for maintenance and clothing, they demanded something he could not provide at all times. They remained united in their demands and persistently exacting in what they wanted. This weighed heavily upon the Messenger, until matters reached the point that he swore to abstain from them for a month.
Allah therefore willed to ease matters for His Messenger, elevate the rank of his wives, and remove from them everything that might diminish their reward. He commanded His Messenger to give them a choice (1), saying: “O Prophet, say to your wives, ‘If you desire the life of this world’”—that is, if you seek nothing beyond it and are content when it is present but angry when it is lacking, then I have no desire or need for you while you remain in such a state. ⦗663⦘
“Then come: I will provide for you” with some worldly provision from what I possess “and release you”—that is, part from you—“graciously,” without anger or recrimination, but rather with patience and goodwill, before matters reach an improper point.
“But if you desire Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter”—that is, if these are what you desire and your ultimate aim, then, when Allah, His Messenger, and Paradise are yours, you will not care whether worldly circumstances are abundant or constrained, easy or difficult. You will be content with whatever the Messenger of Allah can readily provide and will not demand from him what causes him hardship. “Then surely Allah has prepared a great reward for those of you who do good.” He made the reward contingent upon their being characterized by excellence, for that is what necessitates it—not merely their being the Messenger’s wives. That alone is insufficient and, in the absence of excellence, avails nothing. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) therefore gave them this choice, and every one of them chose Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter; not one of them held back—may Allah be pleased with them.
This choice contained numerous benefits:
Among them was Allah’s solicitous care for His Messenger and His protectiveness toward him, so that he would not remain in a situation where his wives’ many worldly demands caused him hardship.
Another was that, through this choice, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was relieved of liability concerning his wives’ rights and remained free to act: he could give if he wished and withhold if he wished. “There is no blame upon the Prophet regarding what Allah has ordained for him.”
Another was keeping him above having among his wives anyone who preferred worldly life to Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter, and above remaining married to such a woman.
Another was that his wives—may Allah be pleased with them—were kept safe from sin and from exposing themselves to the displeasure of Allah and His Messenger.
By means of this choice, Allah decisively put an end to any resentment they might feel toward the Messenger—a resentment that would incur his displeasure, thereby displeasing his Lord and bringing about His punishment.
Another was to manifest their lofty standing and elevated rank, and to demonstrate their noble aspirations: Allah, His Messenger, and the Hereafter were what they desired and sought, rather than this world and its fleeting goods.
Another was that this choice prepared them for the choicest distinction: attaining the choicest ranks of Paradise and being his wives in this world and the Hereafter.
Another was to reveal the perfect compatibility between him and them. He was the most perfect of creation, and Allah willed that his wives (2) should be complete in themselves and perfecting to others, pure and purifying: “Pure women are for pure men, and pure men are for pure women.”
Another was that this choice prompted and necessitated contentment, through which the heart finds tranquility and the breast expands with ease. It removed from them rapacious greed and dissatisfaction, which cause the heart anxiety and turmoil, worry and grief.
Another was that their choice would become a cause for their reward to be increased and multiplied, and for them to attain a rank occupied by no other women. That is why He said: