(10–12) “Allah sets forth, as an example for those who disbelieve, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were married to two righteous servants among Our servants, but they betrayed them. Their husbands could not protect them from Allah in the least, and it was said, ‘Enter the Fire along with those who enter it.’

And Allah sets forth, as an example for those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, ‘My Lord, build for me, near You, a house in Paradise; save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people.’

And Mary, daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, whereupon We breathed into it of Our Spirit. She affirmed the words of her Lord and His Books and was one of the devoutly obedient.”

These are the two examples Allah sets forth for the believers and the disbelievers, demonstrating that a disbeliever’s close relationship with a believer benefits him nothing, while a believer’s relationship with a disbeliever does him no harm, provided that he fulfills his duty.

This also appears to contain an allusion and a warning to the wives of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, against disobedience: their relationship with him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would avail them nothing if they did wrong. He therefore says:

“Allah sets forth, as an example for those who disbelieve, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were”—that is, the two women—“married to two righteous servants among Our servants,” namely Noah and Lot, peace be upon them both.

“But they betrayed them” in matters of religion, for they did not follow the religion of their husbands. This is the betrayal intended here, not betrayal regarding lineage or the marital bed. No prophet’s wife ever committed adultery, and Allah would never make the wife of any of His prophets ⦗875⦘ an adulteress. “Their husbands could not protect them”—that is, Noah and Lot could not protect “them,” meaning their wives—“from Allah in the least, and it was said” to the two women, “Enter the Fire along with those who enter it.”

“And Allah sets forth, as an example for those who believe, the wife of Pharaoh”—she was Āsiyah daughter of Muzāhim, may Allah be pleased with her—“when she said, ‘My Lord, build for me, near You, a house in Paradise; save me from Pharaoh and his deeds, and save me from the wrongdoing people.’” Allah thus described her as possessing faith, humbly beseeching her Lord, and asking Him for the loftiest of all aims: admission into Paradise and nearness to the Most Generous Lord. She also asked Allah to save her from the trial of Pharaoh and his wicked deeds, and from the trial posed by every wrongdoer. Allah answered her prayer, and she lived with perfect faith, complete steadfastness, and deliverance from trials. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, therefore said: “Many men attained perfection, but among women none attained perfection except Mary daughter of Imran, Āsiyah daughter of Muzāhim, and Khadījah daughter of Khuwaylid. The superiority of Aisha over other women is like the superiority of tharīd (a bread-and-meat dish) over all other foods.”

Regarding His words, “And Mary, daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity,” this means that she protected herself and preserved her chastity from sexual immorality because of the perfection of her religious devotion, virtue, and purity.

“Whereupon We breathed into it of Our Spirit”: Gabriel [peace be upon him] breathed into the opening of her garment, and his breath reached Mary. From her came Jesus son of Mary [peace be upon him], the noble Messenger and great master.

“She affirmed the words of her Lord and His Books.” This describes her knowledge and understanding, for affirming Allah’s words includes both His words concerning religion and His words of divine decree. Belief in His Books requires knowledge of what enables such belief to be realized, and that can be attained only through knowledge and action. [Hence He says], “and she was one of the devoutly obedient”—that is, among those obedient to Allah and constant in obeying Him (1), with reverent fear and humility. This describes her perfection in action. She, may Allah be pleased with her, was a woman of consummate faith and truthfulness; and that rank consists in the perfection of knowledge and action.

Completed, and all praise is due to Allah.