What is the meaning of the statement of Allah the Exalted: {And you conceal in your soul that which Allah will make manifest}?

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Question:
Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says in Surat al-Ahzab:

And [remember, O Muhammad], when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, "Keep your wife and fear Allah," while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose

وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِي أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَتُخْفِي فِي نَفْسِكَ مَا اللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ

[al-Ahzab: 37] What is the meaning of His saying:

while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose

وَتُخْفِي فِي نَفْسِكَ مَا اللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ

[Al-Ahzab 33:37]

What is the story of this verse, and what is its interpretation?

Answer:
This was revealed regarding Zayd ibn Harithah. Zaynab was with him, and she was a freed slave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). He advised her to stay with her husband and to be good to him; however, Zayd desired to divorce her. Then, regarding his story, it was revealed:

So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you

فَلَمَّا قَضَى زَيْدٌ مِنْهَا وَطَرًا زَوَّجْنَاكَهَا

[Al-Ahzab: 37]. When Zayd divorced her and she completed her waiting period, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) proposed to her and married her. It appears from the verse that there was something in his soul (peace and blessings be upon him) that if Zayd divorced her, he would take her; but he (peace and blessings be upon him) advised him to keep her and to be patient with her. However, Zayd’s soul found no comfort with her, so when he divorced her and she completed her waiting period, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married her.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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