Surah Al-Baqara 2:235 — translation and meaning

البقرة · Verse 235 / 286 · Page 38

ۚ ۚ ۚ ۚ وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ النِّسَاءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّا أَن تَقُولُوا قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا عُقْدَةَ النِّكَاحِ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ الْكِتَابُ أَجَلَهُ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ

Word by Word

ۚ
ۚ
ۚ
ۚ
وَلَا
wala
And (there is) no
جُنَاحَ
junaha
blame
عَلَيْكُمْ
alaykum
upon you
فِيمَا
fima
in what
عَرَّضْتُم
arradtum
you hint
بِهِ
bihi
[with it]
مِنْ
min
of
خِطْبَةِ
khit'bati
marriage proposal
النِّسَاءِ
al-nisai
[to] the women
أَوْ
aw
or
أَكْنَنتُمْ
aknantum
you concealed it
فِي
fi
in
أَنفُسِكُمْ
anfusikum
yourselves
عَلِمَ
alima
Knows
اللَّهُ
al-lahu
Allah
أَنَّكُمْ
annakum
that you
سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ
satadhkurunahunna
will mention them
وَلَكِن
walakin
[and] but
لَّا
la
(do) not
تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ
tuwa'iduhunna
promise them (widows)
سِرًّا
sirran
secretly
إِلَّا
illa
except
أَن
an
that
تَقُولُوا
taqulu
you say
قَوْلًا
qawlan
a saying
مَّعْرُوفًا
ma'rufan
honorable
وَلَا
wala
And (do) not
تَعْزِمُوا
ta'zimu
resolve (on)
عُقْدَةَ
uq'data
the knot
النِّكَاحِ
al-nikahi
(of) marriage
حَتَّى
hatta
until
يَبْلُغَ
yablugha
reaches
الْكِتَابُ
al-kitabu
the prescribed term
أَجَلَهُ
ajalahu
its end
وَاعْلَمُوا
wa-i'lamu
And know
أَنَّ
anna
that
اللَّهَ
al-laha
Allah
يَعْلَمُ
ya'lamu
knows
مَا
ma
what
فِي
fi
(is) within
أَنفُسِكُمْ
anfusikum
yourselves
فَاحْذَرُوهُ
fa-ih'dharuhu
so beware of Him
وَاعْلَمُوا
wa-i'lamu
And know
أَنَّ
anna
that
اللَّهَ
al-laha
Allah
غَفُورٌ
ghafurun
(is) Oft-Forgiving
حَلِيمٌ
halimun
Most Forbearing

Transliteration

Wa laa junaaha 'alaikum feema 'arradtum bihee min khitbatin nisaaa'i aw aknantum feee anfusikum; 'alimal laahu annakum satazkuroonahunna wa laakil laa tuwaa'idoohunna sirran illaaa an taqooloo qawlamma'roofaa; wa laa ta'zimoo 'uqdatan nikaahi hattaa yablughal kitaabu ajalah; wa'lamooo annal laaha ya'lamumaa feee anfusikum fahzarooh; wa'lamooo annallaaha Ghafoorun Haleem

Translation

There is no blame upon you for that to which you [indirectly] allude concerning a proposal to women or for what you conceal within yourselves. Allah knows that you will have them in mind. But do not promise them secretly except for saying a proper saying. And do not determine to undertake a marriage contract until the decreed period reaches its end. And know that Allah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.

Verse interpretation (Tafsir)

There is no sin on you if you hint to your desire to propose to a woman who is still in her waiting period after a divorce or after the death of her husband. For example, a person may say, ‘When your waiting period is over, let me know’. There is also no sin on you if you keep this desire to yourselves. Allah knows that you will mention them because of your strong desire to marry, so He has allowed you to give a hint without being open. Beware of secretly making any promise to marry them whilst they are still in their waiting period. However, you may give a hint to them in the manner that is acceptable; but do not confirm the marriage contract in the period of waiting. Know that Allah is aware of what is in your hearts, so be mindful of Him and do not go against His instruction. Know that Allah Forgiving to the person who repents to Him; and that He is tolerant and does not often quickly punish.

Source: Al-Mukhtasar Tafsir — Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.

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