English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah reproached His Prophet ﷺ for forbidding himself something Allah had made lawful, seeking the pleasure of some of his wives. Allah declared His forgiveness and mercy toward him, and this incident became a cause for legislating a general ruling concerning oaths.

To forbid what has been made lawful.

Approval or pleasure.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah has prescribed how oaths may be released and expiated. He is your Protector, caring for your religious and worldly affairs; He knows what is outward and inward and is Wise in the rulings He legislates for your welfare.

The prescribed release and expiation of your oaths.

Your Protector and Guardian.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The Prophet ﷺ confided a matter to one of his wives—many commentators say Hafsah—and told her not to disclose it. When she informed ʿĀ’ishah, Allah made that known to him. He mentioned part of it and overlooked part out of nobility and forbearance; when she asked who informed him, he said the All-Knowing, All-Aware had informed him.

He confided something secretly.

He overlooked part of what had been disclosed.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah called the two wives to repent because their hearts had inclined away from what was proper in conduct toward the Messenger ﷺ. If they supported one another against him, then Allah, Jibrīl, the righteous believers, and the angels are his supporters; this is a great honour for the Messenger ﷺ.

Your hearts inclined away from what was proper.

A supporter or helper.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah warned them that, if the Prophet ﷺ divorced them, He could replace them with wives better in religion and character: submissive, believing, constantly obedient, repentant, worshipping, fasting, previously married or virgins. They responded to this warning, and Allah chose that they remain with him, showing their excellence.

Constantly obedient to Allah.

Fasting.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Believers are to fulfil the requirements of faith by protecting themselves through obedience, avoiding disobedience, and repenting, and by protecting their families through teaching and discipline. The Fire is fueled by people and stones and guarded by stern, severe angels who never disobey Allah and carry out every command.

Protect yourselves.

Stern and severe.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

On the Day of Resurrection, the disbelievers will be rebuked: no excuses are to be made that Day, for the time when excuses could benefit has passed. Nothing remains except recompense for what they used to do.

Do not make excuses.

You are recompensed.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah commands sincere repentance and promises it the erasure of sins, entry into Gardens, and success on the Day when the believers’ light will move before them. They ask Allah to perfect their light and forgive them. Sincere repentance is comprehensive, done solely for Allah, and maintained in every condition.

Sincere, comprehensive repentance.

Their light moves ahead of them.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah commands His Prophet ﷺ to strive against the disbelievers and hypocrites and to be firm with them. This includes establishing proof, calling with good counsel, refuting falsehood, and fighting those who refuse Allah’s call and rule; their final abode is Hell, an evil destination.

Strive against; exert effort against.

Be firm with them.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah gives these examples to show that a disbeliever’s closeness to a believer does not benefit him, just as a believer’s closeness to a disbeliever does not harm him when he fulfils his duty. The wives of Nūḥ and Lūṭ betrayed their husbands in religion—not in chastity—so their husbands could not protect them from Allah, and they were told to enter the Fire.

They betrayed them in religion, not in chastity.

They could not avail or protect them.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah sets forth the wife of Pharaoh, Āsiyah bint Muzāḥim, as an example for the believers. She asked her Lord for a house near Him in Paradise and for deliverance from Pharaoh, his evil deeds, and the wrongdoing people. Allah answered her, granting her complete faith, firm steadfastness, and safety from trials.

A house near You in Paradise.

And save or deliver me.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Maryam, the daughter of ʿImrān, guarded her chastity. Jibrīl’s breath reached her and ʿĪsā was born. She affirmed the words and books of her Lord and was among the devoutly obedient, combining knowledge, faith, and righteous action at the highest level.

She guarded her chastity.

The devoutly obedient.

Summary of the Meanings:

Allah teaches not to forbid what He has made lawful, legislates release from oaths, and corrects conduct in the Prophet’s household.

Believers are commanded to repent sincerely and to protect themselves and their families from the Fire through obedience, teaching, and discipline. The angels obey Allah perfectly, while excuses will not benefit the disbelievers on the Day of recompense.

The examples of the wives of Nūḥ and Lūṭ, Pharaoh’s wife, and Maryam show that family connection alone does not save a person; faith, steadfastness, purity, and obedience are what matter.