RevelationReadings differThe stronger opinion ties Surah al-Tahrim to this incident involving Maria; an alternative account (see the honey incident at a wife's house) attributes it instead to an oath over honey: Episode 97 names the wife in that version as Sawda, differing from the Zaynab bint Jahsh account recorded elsewhere.
Jealousy of Hafsa RA over Maria & the Revelation of Surah al-Tahrim
The stronger opinion ties Surah al-Tahrim to this incident involving Maria; an alternative account (see the honey incident at a wife's house) attributes it instead to an oath over honey: Episode 97 names the wife in that version as Sawda, differing from the Zaynab bint Jahsh account recorded elsewhere.
What happened
According to a report in al-Tabari, Hafsa bint Umar RA was once away from home, and the Prophet ﷺ called Maria al-Qibtiyya RA to Hafsa's house. Maria was a Coptic woman who had been sent to the Prophet ﷺ as a gift from Egypt. Hafsa came back earlier than expected and saw Maria leaving. She was angry, and asked the Prophet ﷺ whether that was how much respect he had for her, in her own house and on her own day. He kept trying to calm her, until she made him promise never to see Maria again. He said, "I have made Maria haram for myself," and told Hafsa to keep this between the two of them. He said, "Do not tell Aisha."
But Hafsa did tell Aisha RA, boasting that she had made the Prophet ﷺ give up Maria. Hafsa and Aisha were sometimes the best of friends and at other times rivals, and both were jealous of Maria's beauty. It is said that this jealousy was also why the Prophet ﷺ moved Maria to al-Awali, an area far from the Masjid.
When the Prophet ﷺ asked Hafsa, "Why did you tell Aisha?", she asked who had told him, thinking it was Aisha. In fact, Allah had informed him. Allah then revealed the opening verses of Surah al-Tahrim (66:1-5). They told the Prophet ﷺ to free himself from his oath, warned Hafsa and Aisha against plotting against him, and warned the Prophet ﷺ's wives in general. The Prophet ﷺ paid the kaffarah (the expiation for breaking an oath), and Maria returned to him.
Significance
This is held to be the stronger of two opinions about why Surah al-Tahrim was revealed. The other opinion links it to honey the Prophet ﷺ had at one of his wives' houses. Years later, Ibn Abbas RA asked Umar ibn al-Khattab RA who the two wives mentioned in the surah were. Umar RA answered that they were Aisha and Hafsa, even though Hafsa was his own daughter. This shows that the early Companions did not think the matter too private to discuss.
Hafsa bint Umar RADramatizedThe exact wording of Hafsa's boast to Aisha is not preserved in the source; only that she told her, seeking to make her jealous, that she had caused the Prophet ﷺ to give up Maria.To Aisha RA
Saying · c. 8 AH
I caused the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to give up Maria.
“If you two [wives] repent to Allah, [it is best], for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him -- then indeed, Allah is his Protector, and Jibril and the righteous of the believers and the angels, moreover, are [his] assistants.”
This ayah -- addressed to "the two wives" whose hearts had deviated -- is part of Surat al-Tahrim's rebuke of Hafsa RA and Aisha RA over this incident.
“Perhaps his Lord, if he divorced you [all], would substitute for him wives better than you -- submitting [to Allah], believing, devoutly obedient, repentant, worshiping, and traveling -- [ones] previously married and virgins.”
This ayah, warning that Allah could give the Prophet ﷺ better wives, is part of Surat al-Tahrim's rebuke over this incident.
“Allah has already ordained for you [Muslims] the dissolution of your oaths. And Allah is your Protector, and He is the Knowing, the Wise.”
This ayah, on the dissolution of oaths, is part of Surat al-Tahrim's response to the Prophet ﷺ swearing off Maria RA to placate Hafsa RA, described at this event.
“And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allah showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said, "Who told you this?" He said, "I was informed by the Knowing, the Acquainted."”
This is the specific asbab al-nuzul: Surat at-Tahrim's opening verses were revealed about this Hafsa/Maria incident, and the post directly quotes this ayah's closing line.