Surah 66 · Medinan · 12 Verses
التحريم
SURAH AT-TAHRIM
The Prohibition
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ مَآ أَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ لَكَ ۖ تَبْتَغِى مَرْضَاتَ أَزْوَٰجِكَ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allāh has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
قَدْ فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ تَحِلَّةَ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
Allāh has already ordained for you [Muslims] the dissolution of your oaths.1707 And Allāh is your protector, and He is the Knowing, the Wise.
وَإِذْ أَسَرَّ ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِلَىٰ بَعْضِ أَزْوَٰجِهِۦ حَدِيثًۭا فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَتْ بِهِۦ وَأَظْهَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ عَرَّفَ بَعْضَهُۥ وَأَعْرَضَ عَنۢ بَعْضٍۢ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَبَّأَهَا بِهِۦ قَالَتْ مَنْ أَنۢبَأَكَ هَٰذَا ۖ قَالَ نَبَّأَنِىَ ٱلْعَلِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ
And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allāh showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said, "Who told you this?" He said, "I was informed by the Knowing, the Aware."
إِن تَتُوبَآ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ فَقَدْ صَغَتْ قُلُوبُكُمَا ۖ وَإِن تَظَٰهَرَا عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ مَوْلَىٰهُ وَجِبْرِيلُ وَصَٰلِحُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ ظَهِيرٌ
If you two [wives] repent to Allāh, [it is best], for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him - then indeed Allāh is his protector, and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers and the angels, moreover, are [his] assistants.
عَسَىٰ رَبُّهُۥٓ إِن طَلَّقَكُنَّ أَن يُبْدِلَهُۥٓ أَزْوَٰجًا خَيْرًۭا مِّنكُنَّ مُسْلِمَٰتٍۢ مُّؤْمِنَٰتٍۢ قَٰنِتَٰتٍۢ تَٰٓئِبَٰتٍ عَٰبِدَٰتٍۢ سَٰٓئِحَٰتٍۢ ثَيِّبَٰتٍۢ وَأَبْكَارًۭا
Perhaps his Lord, if he divorced you [all], would substitute for him wives better than you - submitting [to Allāh], believing, devoutly obedient, repentant, worshipping, and traveling1708 - [ones] previously married and virgins.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًۭا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ عَلَيْهَا مَلَٰٓئِكَةٌ غِلَاظٌۭ شِدَادٌۭ لَّا يَعْصُونَ ٱللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allāh in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَعْتَذِرُوا۟ ٱلْيَوْمَ ۖ إِنَّمَا تُجْزَوْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
O you who have disbelieved, make no excuses that Day. You will only be recompensed for what you used to do.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوْبَةًۭ نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَٰنِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ
O you who have believed, repent to Allāh with sincere repentance. Perhaps1709 your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allāh will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent."
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ جَٰهِدِ ٱلْكُفَّارَ وَٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ وَٱغْلُظْ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination.
ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ نُوحٍۢ وَٱمْرَأَتَ لُوطٍۢ ۖ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَٰلِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًۭٔا وَقِيلَ ٱدْخُلَا ٱلنَّارَ مَعَ ٱلدَّٰخِلِينَ
Allāh presents an example of those who disbelieved: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous servants but betrayed them,1710 so they [i.e., those prophets] did not avail them from Allāh at all, and it was said, "Enter the Fire with those who enter."
وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًۭا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱمْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ٱبْنِ لِى عِندَكَ بَيْتًۭا فِى ٱلْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِى مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِۦ وَنَجِّنِى مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ
And Allāh presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people."
وَمَرْيَمَ ٱبْنَتَ عِمْرَٰنَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَٰتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِۦ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ ٱلْقَٰنِتِينَ
And [the example of] Mary, the daughter of ʿImrān, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into [her garment] through Our angel [i.e., Gabriel], and she believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.
About This Surah
Surah At-Tahrim begins with a private incident in the Prophet’s household involving something he made forbidden for himself, an oath and confidential information. The chapter calls for repentance, warns believers to protect themselves and their families and ends with examples showing that marriage to a righteous or unrighteous person does not replace individual responsibility.
The opening asks why the Prophet prohibits for himself something God made lawful while seeking to please his wives. Detailed reports discuss the incident, and this page distinguishes the Quranic wording from variant narrative reports.
The chapter states that a secret was disclosed and that God informed the Prophet of part of it. This should not become voyeuristic household content. The moral issues include trust, disclosure and correction.
Two wives are called to repent, and the household is warned against coordinated pressure. These verses have often been used in gendered polemics. This page avoids presenting the Prophet’s wives as a target for contempt or generalizing one household dispute to all women.
Believers are told to protect themselves and families from the Fire. This responsibility includes teaching and care, not coercion, abuse or control.
Sincere repentance is described, followed by judgment imagery. The chapter then gives four women as examples: the wives of Noah and Lot, who were married to righteous messengers but did not share their faith; Pharaoh’s wife, who prayed for a home near God and rescue from oppression; and Mary, who guarded her chastity and affirmed divine words.
The examples establish individual accountability across marriage and social circumstance.
The opening concerns a private event in the Prophet’s household and should not be embellished through gossip or used to humiliate his wives. The command to protect oneself and one’s family from the Fire concerns moral responsibility, not coercive control or violence. The wives of Noah and Lot and the wives of Pharaoh and Mary demonstrate individual responsibility; marriage to a righteous or unrighteous person does not determine final standing.
Core Themes
- Private household trust matters.
- Lawful things should not be casually declared forbidden.
- Oaths have consequences and remedies.
- Family responsibility does not authorize abuse.
- Marriage does not determine individual faith.
- People can remain faithful under oppressive households.
Structure
Verses 1-5: Prohibition, oath and household confidentiality — 1-5
Verses 1-5 focus on prohibition, oath and household confidentiality. Its sequence and relationship to the rest of Surah At-Tahrim should govern interpretation rather than an isolated phrase or slogan.
Verses 6-9: Family responsibility, repentance and judgment — 6-9
Verses 6-9 focus on family responsibility, repentance and judgment. Its sequence and relationship to the rest of Surah At-Tahrim should govern interpretation rather than an isolated phrase or slogan.
Verses 10-12: Four women as moral examples — 10-12
Verses 10-12 focus on four women as moral examples. Its sequence and relationship to the rest of Surah At-Tahrim should govern interpretation rather than an isolated phrase or slogan.
Reading Guide
Reading step 1
Separate Quranic text from varying incident reports. Keep the immediate verse sequence, the surah’s full argument, and the visible safety limits together during application.
Reading step 2
Avoid gossip-driven treatment of the household. Keep the immediate verse sequence, the surah’s full argument, and the visible safety limits together during application.
Reading step 3
Do not generalize the correction to all women. Keep the immediate verse sequence, the surah’s full argument, and the visible safety limits together during application.
Reading step 4
Read family protection as care and teaching. Keep the immediate verse sequence, the surah’s full argument, and the visible safety limits together during application.
Key Passages
Self-prohibition and oaths — 1-2
A personal restriction undertaken to please the Prophet's wives receives correction, followed by reference to the dissolution of oaths. The sequence distinguishes personal restraint from declaring something religiously forbidden; the legal consequences of a particular oath require more than treating this brief passage as a complete ruling.
Confidential disclosure and repentance — 3-5
A disclosed confidence leads to confrontation, a call to repentance and a warning about cooperation against the Prophet. The narrative emphasizes God's knowledge and the qualities of faithful conduct; filling its deliberately limited account with imagined private details would turn its moral focus into speculation.
Family responsibility — 6
The command to protect a family begins with protecting oneself, placing personal accountability alongside care for others. The description of the Fire gives that responsibility seriousness; it does not transfer the angels' role to a householder or authorize violence against relatives in the name of religious instruction.
Sincere repentance — 8
Sincere repentance is joined to hope for forgiveness and admission to the Garden. Even the believers pictured with light before them ask for that light to be completed and for forgiveness, so the scene presents continuing dependence on mercy rather than confidence in one's own spiritual sufficiency.
Wives of Noah and Lot — 10
The wives of Noah and Lot illustrate that proximity to a prophet does not replace one's own faithfulness. Their betrayal is named without a sexual accusation in the verse; the point is that even an honored marriage cannot secure another person's standing before God.
Pharaoh’s wife — 11
Pharaoh's wife asks for nearness to God and rescue from Pharaoh, his deeds and the wrongdoing people. Her faith stands independently of her powerful husband's conduct; her prayer for deliverance offers no basis for requiring someone to remain exposed to an abusive household.
Mary — 12
Mary's chastity, the miraculous conception and her belief in God's words and scriptures close the chapter with an example of devotion. Beside the preceding women, she completes a contrast in which faithfulness is a person's own responsibility, rather than something conferred by a spouse's status.
Recitation Note
No exclusive time, fixed repetition count, or guaranteed worldly outcome is asserted here for reciting Surah At-Tahrim. Reading it is worship and study; any claim about protection, healing, provision, family outcomes, or a prescribed number requires separate exact evidence and narrow wording.
Interpretation Limits
- Household reports require authenticated sources and variant awareness.
- The chapter must not justify controlling or abusive family behavior.
- Prophetic household disputes should not be sensationalized.
- Marriage is not proof of another person’s spiritual status.
- The legal handling of oaths requires qualified guidance.
- Prophetic household details must not be embellished through gossip or weakly sourced storytelling.
- Protecting family from the Fire does not authorize coercion, surveillance, or domestic violence.
- A spouse’s faith or status does not determine another adult’s final responsibility.