Page 35 Notes

02 Surah Al-Baqarah (continued)

Page 35 Grammar 

Page 35 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

2:220

2:221

2:222

2:223

2:224

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 35 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 35 of the Quran contains Surah Al-Baqarah, Verses 220 through 224. These verses establish essential social and legal framework guidelines for the early Muslim community in Medina. They address the financial and ethical management of orphans, interfaith marriage boundaries, conjugal etiquette during menstruation, and the proper use and rectifying of solemn oaths.

The Asbab al-Nuzul (reasons for revelation) and Sunnah textually frame how these verses changed day-to-day life for the Companions.

Verse 220: “And they ask you concerning orphans. Say, 'Improvement for them is best. And if you mix your affairs with theirs - they are your brothers...'”

• The Sabab al-Nuzul: Prior to this, severe verses had been revealed warning against mismanaging an orphan's wealth (such as Surah An-Nisa 4:10, which states that those who consume the wealth of orphans swallow fire into their bellies). This terrified the Companions. They began completely separating their food, drink, and belongings from the orphans in their care. If an orphan left over any food, the caretakers would let it spoil rather than eat it, leading to immense waste and logistical hardship.

• The Sunnah Context: They brought this distress to the Prophet ﷺ, and Verse 220 was revealed to ease their burden, permitting them to integrate households as long as the intent was sincere co-management (Jamilah, 2009).

• Related Hadith: In Sunan Abi Dawud, Abdullah ibn Abbas narrated:
  "When Allah revealed: 'And come not near to the orphan's property except to improve it,' and 'Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans...', every guardian of an orphan separated his food from the orphan's food and his drink from his drink... That was difficult for them, so they mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and Allah revealed: 'And they ask you concerning orphans. Say: Improvement for them is best...'" (Sunan Abi Dawud 2871).

Verse 221: “And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe...”

This verse established clear marital boundaries, prioritizing shared monotheistic faith over physical attraction or social prestige.

• The Sabab al-Nuzul: This verse was revealed regarding the Companion Marthad ibn Abi Marthad al-Ghanawi. He was sent by the Prophet ﷺ to sneak vulnerable Muslims out of Mecca. While there, a wealthy and beautiful polytheist woman named Anaq—whom he had been close to before Islam—proposed marriage to him. Marthad replied that he could not marry her without the Prophet's permission.

• The Sunnah Context: Upon returning to Medina, Marthad asked, "O Messenger of Allah, should I marry Anaq?" The Prophet ﷺ remained silent until this verse was sent down, explicitly prohibiting marriage to idol-worshipping polytheists (Mushrikat).

• Related Citation: Recorded by Al-Wahidi in Asbab al-Nuzul and heavily detailed in Tafsir Ibn Kathir, tracing back to Ibn Abbas.

Verse 222 & 223: “And they ask you about menstruation. Say, 'It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation...'” & “Your wives are a place of cultivation for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish...”

These verses established a uniquely balanced code of marital intimacy, correcting extreme cultural and religious practices of the time.

• The Sabab al-Nuzul: In pre-Islamic Arabia, local Jewish and Zoroastrian customs mandated total social exile for menstruating women—they could not eat, sleep in the same room, or touch their husbands (Millati, 2021). Conversely, local polytheists placed no boundaries on intimacy at all. The Companions asked the Prophet ﷺ how Muslims should act (Zakka, 2024).

• The Sunnah Context: Verse 222 was revealed, specifying that while sexual intercourse itself is prohibited during menstruation to avoid discomfort and maintain reproductive health, physical affection, cohabitation, and normal life remain entirely pure (Millati, 2021).

• Related Hadith: Anas ibn Malik reported that when the Jews heard about these restrictions, they said, "This man does not want to leave anything we do without opposing us!" The Prophet ﷺ explicitly clarified the verse's boundaries by stating:
  "Do everything except sexual intercourse." (Sahih Muslim 302).

• Verse 223 Context: Following this, the Jewish community in Medina claimed that if a man approached his wife from behind (but still through the natural passage), the child would be born with a squint. Verse 223 was revealed to dispel this myth, allowing any physical posture as long as intimacy takes place strictly through the natural channel of procreation (Khan, 2009; Zakka, 2024). This is confirmed in Sahih al-Bukhari (4528).

Verse 224: “And do not make [your oath by] Allah an excuse against being righteous and fearing Allah and making peace among people...”

This verse corrects a loophole where individuals would swear a solemn oath by Allah's name to avoid doing a good deed, using the sanctity of the oath as a shield against accountability.

• The Sabab al-Nuzul: This was revealed concerning the prominent Companion (and father-in-law of the Prophet) Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. After his cousin Mistah ibn Uthathah participated in spreading malicious slanders against Abu Bakr’s daughter, Aisha, Abu Bakr swore a fierce oath by Allah that he would never financially support Mistah again.

• The Sunnah Context: Allah revealed this verse (alongside Surah An-Nur 24:22) instructing believers that it is an error to stick to an oath if it prevents charity, righteousness, or reconciling family ties.

• Related Hadith: The Prophet ﷺ formalized this legal principle for all time. In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
  "Whoever takes an oath, then sees something else that is better than it, let him do that which is better and expiate (pay the Kaffarah for) his oath." (Sahih Muslim 1650; Sahih al-Bukhari 6718).

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. Sahih al-Bukhari.

• Al-Wahidi, A. (d. 1075). Asbab al-Nuzul (Reasons for Revelation). Commentary on Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:220-224.

• Ibn Kathir, I. (d. 1373). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim.

• Jamilah. (2009). Interrelatedness of legal verses in Surah Al-Baqarah. De Jure: Jurnal Hukum dan Syar'iah, 1(2), 102-115.

• Khan, M. A. (2009). Quranic approach about sexuality education. CABI Digital Library, 1-12. Cited by: 7

• Millati, H. (2021). The reciprocal paradigm of Tafsīr al-Miṣbah and Tafsīr al-Taḥrīr wa al-Tanwīr on Surah al-Baqarah verse 222 about menstruation blood. Sawwa: Jurnal Studi Gender, 16(1), 1-18.

• Muslim, I. Sahih Muslim.

• Zakka, U. (2024). Asbab Al Nuzul Sebagai Pendekatan Terhadap Istinbat Hukum Pada Tafsir Surah Al Baqarah Ayat 223 dan 229. Iklil: Jurnal lImu Al-Qur'an dan Tafsir, 2(2).