وَإِنِ ٱمْرَأَةٌ خَافَتْ مِنۢ بَعْلِهَا نُشُوزًا أَوْ إِعْرَاضًۭا فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يُصْلِحَا بَيْنَهُمَا صُلْحًۭا ۚ وَٱلصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌۭ ۗ وَأُحْضِرَتِ ٱلْأَنفُسُ ٱلشُّحَّ ۚ وَإِن تُحْسِنُوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۭا
Dan jika seorang wanita khawatir akan nusyuz atau sikap tidak acuh dari suaminya, maka tidak mengapa bagi keduanya mengadakan perdamaian yang sebenar-benarnya, dan perdamaian itu lebih baik (bagi mereka) walaupun manusia itu menurut tabiatnya kikir. Dan jika kamu bergaul dengan isterimu secara baik dan memelihara dirimu (dari nusyuz dan sikap tak acuh), maka sesungguhnya Allah adalah Maha Mengetahui apa yang kamu kerjakan.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir
The Ruling Concerning Desertion on the Part of the Husband
Allah states, and thus legislates accordingly, that sometimes, the man inclines away from his wife, sometimes towards her and sometimes he parts with her. In the first case, when the wife fears that her husband is steering away from her or deserting her, she is allowed to forfeit all or part of her rights, such as provisions, clothing, dwelling, and so forth, and the husband is allowed to accept such concessions from her. Hence, there is no harm if she offers such concessions, and if her husband accepts them. This is why Allah said,
فَلاَ جُنَاْحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ أَن يُصْلِحَا بَيْنَهُمَا صُلْحاً
(there is no sin on them both if they make terms of peace between themselves;) He then said,
وَالصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ
(and making peace is better) than divorce. Allah's statement,
وَأُحْضِرَتِ الأنفُسُ الشُّحَّ
(And human souls are swayed by greed.) means, coming to peaceful terms, even when it involves forfeiting some rights, is better than parting. Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "Sawdah feared that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ might divorce her and she said, `O Messenger of Allah! Do not divorce me; give my day to `A'ishah.' And he did, and later on Allah sent down,
وَإِنِ امْرَأَةٌ خَـفَتْ مِن بَعْلِهَا نُشُوزاً أَوْ إِعْرَاضاً فَلاَ جُنَاْحَ عَلَيْهِمَآ
(And if a woman fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part, there is no sin on them both) Ibn `Abbas said, "Whatever (legal agreement) the spouses mutually agree to is allowed.". At-Tirmidhi recorded it and said, "Hasan Gharib". In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that `A'ishah said that when Sawdah bint Zam`ah became old, she forfeited her day to `A'ishah, and the Prophet used to spend Sawdah's night with `A'ishah. There is a similar narration also collected by Al-Bukhari. Al-Bukhari also recorded that `A'ishah commented;
وَإِنِ امْرَأَةٌ خَـفَتْ مِن بَعْلِهَا نُشُوزاً أَوْ إِعْرَاضاً
(And if a woman fears cruelty or desertion on her husband's part), that it refers to, "A man who is married to an old woman, and he does not desire her and wants to divorce her. So she says, `I forfeit my right on you.' So this Ayah was revealed."
Meaning of "Making Peace is Better
Allah said,
وَالصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ
(And making peace is better). `Ali bin Abi Talhah related that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah refers to, "When the husband gives his wife the choice between staying with him or leaving him, as this is better than the husband preferring other wives to her." However, the apparent wording of the Ayah refers to the settlement where the wife forfeits some of the rights she has over her husband, with the husband agreeing to this concession, and that this settlement is better than divorce. For instance, the Prophet kept Sawdah bint Zam`ah as his wife after she offered to forfeit her day for `A'ishah. By keeping her among his wives, his Ummah may follow this kind of settlement. Since settlement and peace are better with Allah than parting, Allah said,
وَالصُّلْحُ خَيْرٌ
(and making peace is better). Divorce is not preferred with Allah. The meaning of Allah's statement,
وَإِن تُحْسِنُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيراً
(But if you do good and have Taqwa, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do) if you are patient with the wife you dislike and treat her as other wives are treated, then Allah knows what you do and will reward you for it perfectly. Allah's statement,
وَلَن تَسْتَطِيعُواْ أَن تَعْدِلُواْ بَيْنَ النِّسَآءِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتُمْ
(You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire,) means, O people! You will never be able to be perfectly just between wives in every respect. Even when one divides the nights justly between wives, there will still be various degrees concerning love, desire and sexual intimacy, as Ibn `Abbas, `Ubaydah As-Salmani, Mujahid, Al-Hasan Al-Basri and Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim stated. Imam Ahmad and the collectors of the Sunan recorded that `A'ishah said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to treat his wives equally and proclaim,
«اللَّهُمَّ هَذَا قَسْمِي فِيمَا أَمْلِكُ، فَلَا تَلُمْنِي فِيمَا تَمْلِكُ وَلَا أَمْلِك»
(O Allah! This is my division in what I own, so do not blame me for what You own and I do not own) referring to his heart. This was the wording that Abu Dawud collected, and its chain of narrators is Sahih. Allah's statement,
فَلاَ تَمِيلُواْ كُلَّ الْمَيْلِ
(so do not incline too much to one of them) means, when you like one of your wives more than others, do not exaggerate in treating her that way,
فَتَذَرُوهَا كَالْمُعَلَّقَةِ
(so as to leave the other hanging. ) referring to the other wives. Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Al-Hasan, Ad-Dahhak, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan said that Mu`allaqah hanging means, "She is neither divorced nor married." Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«مَنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ امْرَأَتَانِ فَمَالَ إِلى إِحْدَاهُمَا، جَاءَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَحَدُ شِقَّيْهِ سَاقِط»
(Whoever has two wives and inclines to one of them (too much), will come on the Day of Resurrection with one of his sides dragging.) Allah's statement,
وَإِن تُصْلِحُواْ وَتَتَّقُواْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُوراً رَّحِيماً
(And if you do justice, and do all that is right and have Taqwa, then Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) The Ayah states: If you do justice and divide equally in what you have power over, while fearing Allah in all conditions, then Allah will forgive you the favoritism that you showed to some of your wives. Allah then said,
وَإِن يَتَفَرَّقَا يُغْنِ اللَّهُ كُلاًّ مِّن سَعَتِهِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ وَسِعاً حَكِيماً
(But if they separate (divorce), Allah will provide abundance for everyone of them from His bounty. And Allah is Ever All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Wise. ) This is the third case between husband and wife, in which divorce occurs. Allah states that if the spouses separate by divorce, then Allah will suffice them by giving him a better wife and her a better husband. The meaning of,
وَكَانَ اللَّهُ وَسِعاً حَكِيماً
(And Allah is Ever All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Wise.) is: His favor is tremendous, His bounty is enormous and He is All-Wise in all His actions, decisions and commandments.
Hadits Terkait
Telah menceritakan kepada kami [Qutaibah bin Sa'id] telah menceritakan kepada kami [Laits]. (dalam jalur lain disebutkan) Dan telah menceritakan kepada kami [Muhammad bin Rumh] telah mengabarkan kepada kami [al-Laits] dari [Ibnu Syihab] dari [Ibnu al-Musayyab] bahwa dia mendengar [Abu Hurairah] mengatakan, "Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda: "Demi Dzat yang jiwaku berada di tangan-Nya! Sungguh, kedatangan Isa bin Mariam kepada kalian untuk menjadi hakim secara adil akan segera tiba. Dia akan mematahkan salib, membunuh babi serta menghapuskan jizyah (dari orang kafir). Harta akan melimpah ruah, sehingga tidak ada seorang pun yang ingin menerimanya." Dan telah menceritakannya kepada kami [Abdul A'la bin Hammad] dan [Abu Bakar bin Abu Syaibah] dan [Zuhair bin Harb] mereka berkata; telah menceritakan kepada kami [Sufyan bin Uyainah]. (dalam riwayat lain disebutkan) Dan telah menceritakannya kepadaku tentangnya [Harmalah bin Yahya] telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Ibnu Wahab] dia berkata, telah menceritakan kepadaku [Yunus]. (dalam riwayat lain disebutkan) Dan telah menceritakan kepada kami [Hasan al-Hulwani] dan ['Abd bin Humaid] dari [Ya'qub bin Ibrahim bin Sa'id] telah menceritakan kepada kami [ayahku] dari [Shalih] seluruhnya dari [Az-Zuhri] dengan isnad ini. Dan dalam riwayat Ibnu Uyainah disebutkan, "Sebagai imam yang adil dan hakim yang adil." Sedangkan dalam riwayat Yunus, "Sebagai hakim yang adil, " dan tidak menyebutkan, "imam yang adil." Sedangkan dalam riwayat Shalih, "Hakim yang adil." Sebagaimana dikatakan al-Laits, dan dalam haditsnya terdapat tambahan, "hingga satu sujud lebih baik daripada dunia dan seisinya." Kemudian Abu Hurairah berkata, "Bacalah jika kalian berkehendak: '(Tidak ada seorang pun dari Ahli Kitab, kecuali akan beriman kepadanya (Isa) sebelum kematiannya) ' (Qs. an-Nisaa':)
Telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Muhammad bin Adam] dari [Hafsh bin ghiyats] dari [Al A'la bin Al Musayyab] dari [Amr bin Murrah] dari [Thalhah bin Yazid] dari [Hudzaifah] dan [Al A'masy] dari [Sa'd bin Ubaidah] dari [Al Mustawrid Al Ahnaf] dari [Shilah bin Zufar] dari [Hudzaifah] bahwa Nabi Shallallallahu'alaihi wasallam pernah membaca surat Al Baqarah, Ali 'Imraan, dan An-Nisaa' dalam satu rakaat. Beliau Shallallallahu'alaihi wasallam tidak melewati (membaca) ayat yang berkenaan dengan rahmat kecuali beliau berdoa, dan tidak melewati (membaca) ayat yang berkenaan dengan adzab kecuali beliau memohon perlindungan kepada-Nya
Telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Ishaq bin Ibrahim] dia berkata; telah memberitakan kepada kami [Jarir] dari [Al A'masy] dari [Sa'ad bin 'Ubaidah] dari [Al Mustaurid bin Al Ahnaf] dari [Shilah bin Zufar] dari [Hudzaifah] dia berkata; "Pada suatu malam aku mengerjakan shalat bersama Rasulullah Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam, beliau mulai dengan membaca surat Al Baqarah. Beliau telah membaca seratus ayat dan belum ruku lalu tetap membacanya." Hudzaifah berkata; "Beliau menyelesaikannya pada dua rakaat, lantas berlalu." Hudzaifah berkata lagi; "Beliau menyelesaikannya kemudian ruku' dan terus berlalu hinggga beliau membaca surat An-Nisaa', kemudian membaca surat Ali 'Imraan, lalu ruku' yang lamanya seperti berdiri. Saat ruku' beliau mengucapkan, 'Subhana rabbiyal 'adzimi, subhana rabbiyal 'adzimi, subhana rabbiyal 'adzimi (Maha suci Tuhan-ku yang Maha Agung) '. Lalu beliau mengangkat kepala sambil mengucapkan, 'Sami'allahu liman hamidah rabbana lakal hamdu (Allah Maha mendengar orang yang memuji-Nya, segala puji untuk-Mu) '. Beliau memperpanjang berdirinya kemudian sujud, dan beliau memperlama sujudnya sambil mengucapkan, 'Subhana rabbiyal a'laa, subhana rabbiyal a'laa, subhana rabbiyal a'laa (Maha Suci Tuhanku yang Maha Tinggi) '. Beliau Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam tidak melalui ayat ancaman atau pengagungan Allah Azza wa Jalla kecuali beliau Shallallahu'alaihiwasallam berdzikir kepada-Nya
Telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Ishaq bin Ibrahim] dia berkata; telah memberitakan kepada kami ['Abdullah bin Idris] dia berkata; telah memberitakan kepada kami [Ibnu Juraij] dari [Ibnu Abu 'Ammar] dari ['Abdullah bin Babaih] dari [Ya'la bin Umayyah] dia berkata;? ku pernah bertanya kepada ['Umar bin Al Khaththab] tentang ayat, 'Tidaklah apa-apa bagi kalian untuk mengqashar/meringkas shalat jika kalian takut (khawatir) diserang orang-orang kafir'. (Qs. An-Nisaa' (4): 101), bukankah sekarang manusia sudah merasa aman?!" Lalu Umar menjawab, "Aku juga heran seperti kamu, dan aku juga pernah bertanya kepada Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam seperti itu? Beliau menjawab: 'Itu sedekah yang Allah sedekahkan kepada kalian, maka terimalah sedekah-Nya
Telah mengabarkan kepada kami [Ibrahim bin Ya'qub] dia berkata; telah menceritakan kepada kami [Abu An Nu'man] dia berkata; telah menceritakan kepada kami [Hammad bin Salamah] dari ['Ashim Al Ahwal] dari [Abu Mijlaz] bahwasanya [Abu Musa] pernah berada di antara Makkah dan Madinah, dia shalat Isya' dua rakaat, kemudian berdiri, lalu shalat satu rakaat sebagai witir dengan membaca seratus ayat dari surah An-Nisaa'. Kemudian dia berkata: "Aku tidak menyia-nyiakan untuk menapakkan telapak kakiku dimana Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam menapakkan telapak kakinya, dan aku membaca sebagaimana Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam membacanya