[33].Surah Al-Ahzab [The Confederates]: Ayat 51

৫১. আপনি তাদের মধ্যে যাকে ইচ্ছা দূরে রাখতে পারেন এবং যাকে ইচ্ছা কাছে রাখতে পারেন। আপনি যাকে দূরে রেখেছেন, তাকে কামনা করলে তাতে আপনার কোন দোষ নেই। এতে অধিক সম্ভাবনা আছে যে, তাদের চক্ষু শীতল থাকবে; তারা দুঃখ পাবে না এবং আপনি যা দেন,তাতে তারা সকলেই সন্তুষ্ট থাকবে। তোমাদের অন্তরে যা আছে, আল্লাহ জানেন। আল্লাহ সর্বজ্ঞ, সহনশীল।

Ayat 51. You (O Muhammad  [SAWW](PBUH) can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of them (your wives), and you may receive whom you will. And whomsoever you desire of those whom you have set aside (her turn temporarily), it is no sin on you (to receive her again), that is better; that they may be comforted and not grieved, and may all be pleased with what you give them. Allah knows what is in your hearts. And Allah is Ever All Knowing, Most Forbearing.

Tafseer of Surah Al Ahzab (The Confederates) Ayat 51. Thou mayest defer (the turn of) any of them that thou pleasest, and thou mayest receive any thou pleasest: and there is no blame on thee if thou invite one whose (turn) thou hadst set aside. This were nigher to the cooling of the eyes, the prevention of their grief, and their satisfaction – that of all of them - with that which thou hast to give them: and Allah knows (all) that is in your hearts: and Allah is All- Knowing, Most Forbearing. In 4:3 it is laid down that more than one wife is not permissible "If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with them". In a Muslim household there is no room for a "favorite wife" in the sense that such a wife is recipient of favors denied to other wives. In the special circumstances of the Prophet there were more than one, and he usually observed the rule of equality with them, in other things as well as in the rotation of conjugal rights. But considering that his marriages, after he was invested with the Prophetic office, were mainly dictated by other than conjugal or personal considerations, the rotation could not always be observed, though he observed it as much as possible. This verse absolved him from absolute adherence to a fixed rotation. There are other interpretations, but I agree with most of the Commentators in the view I have explained. (R). Where the rotation was, for some reason, interfered with, it was permissible, by another interference with the usual rotation, to bring satisfaction to one who had been previously set aside. This was not only permitted, but commended, as tending to remove dissatisfaction and cheer and comfort the eyes and hearts of those who were disappointed in their turn. Cooling the eyes: an Arabic idiom for cheering and comforting eyes which yearn to see those they love. A verse of Zeb al Nisa', daughter of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, may be rendered thus: "My heart is glad whenever lover-wise I dwell upon thy beauties and thy grace! But how can I content my hungry eyes that ask continually to see thy face?" There was not much in the way of worldly goods or satisfaction that the Prophet could give them: see 33:28 above. But he was kind, just, and true—the best of men to his family, and they all clung to him. Our human hearts, however good on the whole, may yet, in their motives, have possibly some baser admixture. The feminine hearts are not more immune in this respect than the masculine. But everything is known and understood by Allah, Who will in His Mercy make allowances for our human weaknesses. His title of "Most Forgiving" (Halim} also gives His devoted worshippers the cue: why should we not also forbear with the faults and weaknesses of our neighbors and fellow creatures?

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: When it was revealed to The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH), "To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth, and whether you disclose what is in your own selves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it,'' the Companions of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) felt it hard and severe and they came to Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) and sat down on their knees and said: "O Messenger of Allah, we were assigned some duties which were within our power to perform, such as Salat (prayer), Saum (fasting), Jihad (striving in the Cause of Allah), Sadaqah (charity). Then this (the above mentioned) Verse was revealed to you and it is beyond our power to live up to it.'' Messenger of Allah  [SAWW](PBUH) said, "Do you want to say what the people of two Books (Jews and Christians) said before you: 'We hear and disobey?' You should rather say: 'We hear and we obey, we seek forgiveness, our Rubb and unto You is the return.''' And they said: "We hear and we obey, (we seek) Your forgiveness, our Rubb! And unto You is the return.'' When the people recited it and it smoothly flowed on their tongues. [Muslim].

Lesson: as mentioned above in Surah Al-Ahzab Ayat 51. “Allah knows what is in your hearts. And Allah is Ever All Knowing, Most Forbearing” We learn from this Hadith that initially every person was answerable for thoughts and doubts even those which crossed his mind; something on which nobody had any control. The Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) were naturally disturbed on this situation. But when they heard and obeyed the orders of the Prophet [SAWW](PBUH).