Al-Baqarah · Madani · ayah 240 of 286

Al-Baqarah 2:240

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا وَصِيَّةً لِّأَزْوَٰجِهِم مَّتَـٰعًا إِلَى ٱلْحَوْلِ غَيْرَ إِخْرَاجٍ ۚ فَإِنْ خَرَجْنَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى مَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ مِن مَّعْرُوفٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

“And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - for their wives is a bequest: maintenance for one year without turning [them] out. But if they leave [of their own accord], then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable way.[96] And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.”

Saheeh International

Essence

A widow is not to be turned out of her home in her grief; she is provided for, and free to stay or to go.

A reflection

'I will not move anything from its place'

Sahih al-Bukhari records a conversation between two Companions about this very ayah. ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Zubayr said to the caliph ʿUthmān: this ayah has been superseded by the other one, about four months and ten days. So why did you write it in the copy, or why leave it there? ʿUthmān replied: 'My nephew, I will not change anything of it from its place'.

Ibn al-Zubayr's question was intelligent. A clever editor might have reasoned the same way: if a ruling has been lightened, why keep the old wording? ʿUthmān's answer was not an argument. It was submission. The order of the Book was not his to arrange.

The ayah ends: 'And Allah is Mighty, Wise'. Mighty, so that no one, not even a caliph, rearranges His words. The root of ʿazīz pictures an eagle's nest on the highest crag, beyond every hand's reach. Wise, so that whatever He placed somewhere has a reason, whether we see it or not. Scholars still discuss this ayah. Most say its year of provision was replaced by the four months and ten and by inheritance. One early scholar held that it was not replaced, but adds an optional year of housing the widow may choose. The detailed rulings belong to the scholars of law.

This is majesty that humbles the clever. The ego loves to improve things, to tidy, to edit what seems redundant. Before His Book, the most powerful man in the Muslim world said: not one word moves.

Does Allah need us to call Him Mighty and Wise? He is free of all need (35:15). We need the reminder, especially when we think we know better.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.