(50) “O Prophet, We have made lawful for you your wives to whom you have given their dowers; those whom your right hand possesses from what Allah has granted you as spoils; the daughters of your paternal uncles and paternal aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles and maternal aunts who emigrated with you; and any believing woman who offers herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet wishes to marry her—exclusively for you and not for the believers. We know what We have prescribed for them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess, so that there may be no hardship upon you. And Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Allah Most High says, graciously reminding His Messenger of His favor in making lawful for him both what he shares with the believers and what is exclusively his: “O Prophet, We have made lawful for you your wives to whom you have given their dowers.” That is, the wives whose dowers he had paid. This is among the rulings he shares with the believers, for [the believers] (1) are likewise permitted to marry those (2) women to whom they have given their dowers.
“And” We have likewise made lawful for you “those whom your right hand possesses,” meaning the female slaves whom you came to own “from what Allah has granted you as spoils”: women taken among the spoils of the disbelievers, whether they had been their slaves or free women, and whether or not they had husbands among them. This too is a ruling he shares with the believers.
His words, “the daughters of your paternal uncles and paternal aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles and maternal aunts,” are likewise among the shared rulings. This includes paternal and maternal uncles and aunts, whether closely or remotely related, and exhaustively identifies the female relatives who are lawful for marriage.
The implication is that no female relatives outside these categories are lawful, as explained previously in Sūrat al-Nisā’. Of one’s female relatives, only these four categories are lawful. All other descendants, without exception, and all ascendants, without exception, are unlawful, as are the descendants of one’s father and mother, however far down, and the direct children of ancestors above one’s parents. None of these are lawful.
His words, “who emigrated with you,” are a condition governing the permissibility of these women for the Messenger. This is the correct one of the two views concerning the interpretation of this verse. As for anyone other than him—peace and blessings be upon him—it is known that this restriction does not concern validity.
“And” We have made lawful for you “a believing woman who offers herself to the Prophet,” merely by her offering herself.
“If the Prophet wishes to marry her” means that the matter is subject to his will and desire. “Exclusively for you and not for the believers” refers to the permissibility of marriage through such an offer (3). As for the believers, it is not lawful for them to marry a woman merely because she offers herself to them.
“We know what We have prescribed for them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess.” That is, We know what obligations apply to the believers and what is and is not lawful for them regarding wives and those whom their right hands possess. We have taught them this and clarified its prescribed rulings.
Thus, anything in this verse that differs from those rulings is exclusive to you, for Allah addressed the Messenger alone when He said, “O Prophet, We have made lawful for you,” through to the end of the verse.
His words, “exclusively for you and not for the believers,” mean: We have permitted you, O Prophet, what We have not permitted them, and granted you latitude that We have not granted anyone else, “so that there may be no hardship upon you.” This is a further manifestation of Allah Most High’s special care for His Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him.
“And Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” That is, He has always been characterized by forgiveness and mercy, and He bestows upon His servants such forgiveness, mercy, generosity, and kindness as His wisdom requires and whenever they fulfill their causes.