Surah Taghabun Tafseer

Warning against the Fitnah of Spouses and Offspring

Allah warns,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَاادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ

O you who believe!

Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you; therefore beware of them!

Allah states that some wives and children are enemies to their husbands and fathers, in that they might be busied with them rather than with performing the good deeds.

Allah said in another Ayah,

يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاأَ تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَلُكُمْ وَلاأَ أَوْلَـدُكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَـيِكَ هُمُ الْخَـسِرُونَ

O you who believe!

Let not your properties or you children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that then they are the losers. (63:9)

Allah the Exalted said here,

فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ

therefore, beware of them! (for your religion, according to Ibn Zayd).

Mujahid explained the Ayah,

إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ

(Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you); by saying,

"They might direct the man to sever his relation or disobey his Lord. The man, who loves his wives and children, might obey them in this case."

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn Abbas said to a man who asked him about this Ayah,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ امَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَاادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ

(O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you; therefore beware of them!)

"There were men who embraced Islam in Makkah and wanted to migrate to Allah's Messenger. However, their wives and children refused to allow them. Later when they joined Allah's Messenger, they found that those who were with him (the Companions) have gained knowledge in the religion, so they were about to punish their wives and children. Allah the Exalted sent down this Ayah,

وَإِن تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

But if you pardon (them) and overlook, and forgive, then verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

At-Tirmidhi collected this Hadith and said that it is Hasan Sahih.

Allah's statement,

إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ وَاللَّهُ عِندَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ