Exegesis of the term *khabith* (wicked) in the verse concerning the wicked women for the wicked men
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Fatwa number ( 11324 ):
Q: A debate took place between me and a Christian, and he surprised me by saying to me: There is a verse in the Qur'an containing the words of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He:[An-Nur 24:26] and so on of the verse, and another verse contains His saying, the Exalted: [Hud 11:45] , and [Hud 11:46] , and there is another verse, which is His saying, the Exalted:
[At-Tahrim 66:10-11] and so on of the verse, and that there is, according to his claim, a contradiction. How can Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, say: and so on of the verse, while the wives of the prophets of Allah, Noah and Lot, were wicked, and Pharaoh as it came in the Qur'an, and his wife was good, and since I do not have a convincing answer, I hope you will be kind enough to issue a fatwa on this matter. May Allah reward you with good?
A: First: Allah, the Exalted, said:[An-Nur 24:26] This verse was mentioned after the verses revealed regarding the story of the *Ifk* (false accusation) to affirm the innocence of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) from what Abdullah ibn Abi ibn Salul , the head of the hypocrites, falsely and slanderously accused her of, and to clarify her purity and chastity in herself and in her connection to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The verse has two meanings: The first: That the wicked words and evil deeds are more fitting for the wicked people, and the wicked people are more deserving of the wicked words and shameful deeds, and the good words
and pure deeds are more fitting and deserving for the good people, those with noble souls and high, noble morals, and the good people are more deserving of the good words and righteous deeds. The second meaning: That the wicked women are for the wicked men, and the wicked men are more deserving of the wicked women, and the good, pure, chaste women are more deserving of the pure, chaste men, and the good, chaste men are more deserving of the pure, chaste women. The verse, in both meanings, indicates its intended purpose, which is: the purity of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) from the shameful accusation made by Abdullah ibn Abi ibn Salul and by those who followed him who were deceived by his slander and deluded by the ornament of his speech. Second: Allah, the Exalted, said:[Hud 11:45-46] , and the meaning of the two verses is: That Allah, the Exalted, informed about His messenger Noah (peace be upon him) that he asked Him to fulfill His promise to him regarding the salvation of his son from drowning and destruction, based on his understanding of His saying to him: [Hud 11:40]
, so he said:[Hud 11:45] , and You promised me the salvation of my family, and Your promise is the truth that is not broken [Hud 11:45-46] , meaning those whom You promised to save; for I only promised You the salvation of those among your family who believed, as indicated by the exception in His saying, the Exalted: [Hud 11:40] ; and therefore, Allah, the Exalted, rebuked him for that questioning and that understanding by saying: [Hud 11:46] , and clarified that by saying: [Hud 11:46] ; because of his disbelief in his father Noah (peace be upon him) and his opposition to him, he is not of his family in terms of religion, even if he was his son by lineage. Ibn Abbas and more than one of the Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them) said: (No wife of a prophet has ever committed adultery). This is the truth, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted, is more jealous than to allow the wife of a prophet to commit a shameful act; and therefore, He was angry with those who accused Aisha , the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), of a shameful act, and He denied that against them and cleared her of what they said about her, and He revealed a Qur'an regarding that which will be recited until the Day of Resurrection. Third: Allah, the Exalted, said: [At-Tahrim 66:10] the two verses from Surat al-Tahrim. After Allah, the Exalted, rebuked the wives of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), especially Aisha and Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with them all), for what came from them that was not befitting the good treatment of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), until he swore to separate from them for a month, and He, the Exalted, denied some of the mistakes they committed regarding his rights (peace and blessings be upon him)
and warned them of divorce and that He would replace them with wives better than them - He concluded Surat al-Tahrim with two examples: an example He struck for those who disbelieved with two disbelieving women: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, and an example He struck for those who believed with two righteous women: Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh , and Maryam, the daughter of Imran ; indicating that Allah is a just Judge with no favoritism, but every soul is held responsible for what it has earned, and He urged the servants to be mindful of Allah, and to fear a day when they will return to Allah, a day when a father will not be compensated for his son, nor a son for his father, a day when a man will flee from his brother, his mother, his father, his wife, and his children, for every person among them on that day will be occupied with a matter that will suffice him, a day when no bearer of a burden will carry the burden of another, and if you call one heavily laden to carry it, nothing of it will be carried, even if he is a close relative, a day when intercession will not benefit except for one whom the Most Merciful has permitted and for whom He has approved a word. Thus, He, Glorified and Exalted, clarified that the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot were disbelievers and were under two noble messengers from the messengers of Allah, and that the wife of Noah betrayed him by guiding the disbelievers to those who believed in her husband, and that the wife of Lot guided the disbelievers to his guests, as a harm and betrayal to them, and a turning away of people from following them, so the righteousness of their husbands, Noah and Lot, did not benefit them, nor did they defend them from anything of the wrath of Allah, and it was said to these two women: Enter the Fire with those who enter, as a just recompense for their disbelief and their betrayal by the guidance of the wife of Noah to those who believed in him, and the guidance of the wife of Lot to his guests, not by adultery, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted, does not accept for any of
His prophets a wife who commits adultery. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said in the interpretation of His saying, the Exalted: He said: (They did not commit adultery). And he said: (No wife of a prophet has ever committed adultery; their betrayal was only in religion). And so said Ikrimah and Sa'id ibn Jubayr and al-Dahhak and others. And Allah, Glorified and Exalted, clarified by the example He struck for those who believed with Asiya , the wife of Pharaoh , who was the most tyrannical of tyrants in his time - that the association of believers with disbelievers does not harm them if necessity calls for it, as long as they hold fast to the rope of Allah, the Exalted, and cling to His religion, just as the righteousness of the two messengers, Noah and Lot, did not benefit their disbelieving wives. Allah, the Exalted, said: [Ali 'Imran 3:28] , and therefore, the disbelief and tyranny of the husband of Pharaoh did not harm his wife, for Allah is a just Judge who does not hold anyone accountable for the sin of another, but He protected her and encompassed her with His care and good guardianship, and He answered her supplication and built for her a house in Paradise and saved her from Pharaoh and his plot and the rest of the oppressive people. From what has preceded in the interpretation of the verses, that the son of Noah is not a son of adultery, and that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was cleared by Allah in the Qur'an from what the head of hypocrisy and those among the believers, men and women, who were deceived by his speech accused her of, and that each of the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot did not commit adultery but were disbelievers, and each of them guided the disbelievers
to what would grieve them and turn people away from following them, and that the marriage of a believer to a disbelieving woman was permissible in the previous legislations, as was the marriage of a disbeliever to a believing woman, and that Allah protected the wife of Pharaoh from his plot and preserved her religion and saved her from the oppressors - it becomes clear that the mentioned verses are in agreement and not contradictory, and that some of them support others. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and his family and his companions.
Q: A debate took place between me and a Christian, and he surprised me by saying to me: There is a verse in the Qur'an containing the words of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He:
Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are [subjected] to evil words. And good words are for good men, and good men are [an object] of good words
الْخَبِيثَاتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَالْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَاتِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَالطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَاتِMy Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true
رَبِّ إِنَّ ابْنِي مِنْ أَهْلِي وَإِنَّ وَعْدَكَ الْحَقُّO Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous
يَا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَالِحٍ(10) Allah 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, so those prophets did not avail them from Allah at all, and it was said, "Enter the Fire with those who enter." (11) And Allah presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in
ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلاً لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا اِمْرَأَةَ نُوحٍ وَامْرَأَةَ لُوطٍ كَانَتَا تَحْتَ عَبْدَيْنِ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا صَالِحَيْنِ فَخَانَتَاهُمَا فَلَمْ يُغْنِيَا عَنْهُمَا مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا وَقِيلَ ادْخُلا النَّارَ مَعَ الدَّاخِلِينَ (10) وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلا لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اِمْرَأَةَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِنْدَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِAnd the good things are for the good people
وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَA: First: Allah, the Exalted, said:
Evil words are for evil men, and evil men are [subjected] to evil words. And good words are for good men, and good men are [an object] of good words. Those [good people] are declared innocent of what the slanderers say. For them is forgiveness and noble provision.
الْخَبِيثَاتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَالْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَاتِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ وَالطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَاتِ أُولَئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌand pure deeds are more fitting and deserving for the good people, those with noble souls and high, noble morals, and the good people are more deserving of the good words and righteous deeds. The second meaning: That the wicked women are for the wicked men, and the wicked men are more deserving of the wicked women, and the good, pure, chaste women are more deserving of the pure, chaste men, and the good, chaste men are more deserving of the pure, chaste women. The verse, in both meanings, indicates its intended purpose, which is: the purity of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) from the shameful accusation made by Abdullah ibn Abi ibn Salul and by those who followed him who were deceived by his slander and deluded by the ornament of his speech. Second: Allah, the Exalted, said:
(45) And Noah called to his Lord and said, "My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true; and You are the most just of judges!" (46) He said, "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant."
وَنَادَى نُوحٌ رَبَّهُ فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ابْنِي مِنْ أَهْلِي وَإِنَّ وَعْدَكَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنْتَ أَحْكَمُ الْحَاكِمِينَ (45) قَالَ يَا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَالِحٍ فَلا تَسْأَلْنِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنِّي أَعِظُكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ"Load upon the ship of each [creature] two mates and your family, except those about whom the word has preceded, and [include] whoever has believed."
احْمِلْ فِيهَا مِنْ كُلٍّ زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ وَأَهْلَكَ إِلا مَنْ سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُ وَمَنْ آمَنَ, so he said:
and said, "My Lord, indeed my son is of my family
فَقَالَ رَبِّ إِنَّ ابْنِي مِنْ أَهْلِيand You are the most just of judges!" (46) He said, "O Noah, indeed he is not of your family
وَأَنْتَ أَحْكَمُ الْحَاكِمِينَ (45) قَالَ يَا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَexcept those about whom the word has preceded
إِلا مَنْ سَبَقَ عَلَيْهِ الْقَوْلُO Noah, indeed he is not of your family
يَا نُوحُ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَindeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous
إِنَّهُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَالِحٍAllah presents an example of those who disbelieved
ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلاً لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواand warned them of divorce and that He would replace them with wives better than them - He concluded Surat al-Tahrim with two examples: an example He struck for those who disbelieved with two disbelieving women: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, and an example He struck for those who believed with two righteous women: Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh , and Maryam, the daughter of Imran ; indicating that Allah is a just Judge with no favoritism, but every soul is held responsible for what it has earned, and He urged the servants to be mindful of Allah, and to fear a day when they will return to Allah, a day when a father will not be compensated for his son, nor a son for his father, a day when a man will flee from his brother, his mother, his father, his wife, and his children, for every person among them on that day will be occupied with a matter that will suffice him, a day when no bearer of a burden will carry the burden of another, and if you call one heavily laden to carry it, nothing of it will be carried, even if he is a close relative, a day when intercession will not benefit except for one whom the Most Merciful has permitted and for whom He has approved a word. Thus, He, Glorified and Exalted, clarified that the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot were disbelievers and were under two noble messengers from the messengers of Allah, and that the wife of Noah betrayed him by guiding the disbelievers to those who believed in her husband, and that the wife of Lot guided the disbelievers to his guests, as a harm and betrayal to them, and a turning away of people from following them, so the righteousness of their husbands, Noah and Lot, did not benefit them, nor did they defend them from anything of the wrath of Allah, and it was said to these two women: Enter the Fire with those who enter, as a just recompense for their disbelief and their betrayal by the guidance of the wife of Noah to those who believed in him, and the guidance of the wife of Lot to his guests, not by adultery, for Allah, Glorified and Exalted, does not accept for any of
His prophets a wife who commits adultery. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said in the interpretation of His saying, the Exalted:
But they betrayed them.
فَخَانَتَاهُمَاLet not believers take disbelievers as allies rather than believers. And whoever [of you] does that has nothing with Allah, except when taking precaution against them in prudence
لاَ يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلا أَنْ تَتَّقُوا مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةًto what would grieve them and turn people away from following them, and that the marriage of a believer to a disbelieving woman was permissible in the previous legislations, as was the marriage of a disbeliever to a believing woman, and that Allah protected the wife of Pharaoh from his plot and preserved her religion and saved her from the oppressors - it becomes clear that the mentioned verses are in agreement and not contradictory, and that some of them support others. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and his family and his companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.