Sens
What is the context of revelation for this āyah?
Réponse
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:
- It was revealed concerning Tumaymah bint Wahb ibn ʿAtīk al-Naḍīrī and her husband Rifāʿah ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Quraẓī. [Muqātil]
- Others said it was about ʿĀʾishah bint ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAtīk. She was married to Rifāʿah ibn Wahb ibn ʿAtīk, who was her cousin. He divorced her three times, after which she married ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Zubayr, who then also divorced her. She came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “I was with Rifāʿah, and he divorced me irrevocably. After that, I married ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Zubayr, and he divorced me before consummating the marriage. Can I return to my cousin?” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ smiled and said: “Do you want to return to Rifāʿah? Not until you have tasted his sweetness and he has tasted yours.”

