Surah al-Ahzab (The Confederates) 33 : 38

Explanatory Note

To be expected, the matter did not pass easily. Rather, it came as a big surprise to the whole Muslim community, while the hypocrites were quick to circulate their allegations that the Prophet had ‘married his son’s wife’. The question, however, was that of establishing a new principle. Therefore, the Qur’ān emphasized this and removed its strange aspects: “No blame whatsoever attaches to the Prophet for doing what God has ordained for him.” It was God who ordained that the Prophet should marry Zaynab and abolish the Arabian tradition that prohibited marriage to a former wife of an adopted son. Since God ordained this, no blame attaches to the Prophet. He was not the first prophet to find himself in such a position: “Such was God’s way with those who went before him.” This, then, comes to pass in accordance with God’s consistent law which is not subject to people’s ideas which in any case lack sound basis. “God’s will is always destiny absolute.” It will always be done, unhindered by anything or anyone. It runs according to God’s wisdom to achieve the goal He sets out.