10. The opinion of most of the Salaf was that “tawbatu al-nasuh” is that sin which is never repeated after repentance (Ibn Jarir, Ibn Kathir).

Other scholars explain that “tawbatu al-nasuh” is one which has four elements. One should: (i) give up the sin in which one has fallen, (ii) regret over what had been in the past, (iii) resolve that he will not repeat it and (iv) if someone’s right is involved, clear it.

One question, is it necessary for a tawbatu al-nasuh’s validity that one should remain in the state (of abjuration)? The answer may be sought in the hadith which can be generally applied to many situations. Ibn Mas`ud reported, as in Bukhari,

Someone asked the Prophet, “Messenger of Allah. Shall we be questioned for what we did in pre-Islamic times?” He answered, “Whoever did well in Islam, will not be held responsible for what he did in pre-Islamic times. On the other hand, whoever did badly in Islam, will be held for the earlier and the later (deeds) - Ibn Kathir.

11. We have a hadith pertinent to this ayah:

A man from the Kinanah tribe reported, “I prayed behind the Prophet the year of the fall of Makkah. I heard him say, ‘O Allah, do not disgrace me on the Day of Judgment’” (Ibn Kathir).

Imam Razi asks: We know that a Prophet will not be disgraced on that day. What does this mean? He answers (as also Thanwi in slightly different words) that the primary objective is to mention that the believers will be in the company of their Prophet.

12. One may refer to ayah 12 of Surah al-Hadid for a fuller explanation. We might add at this point a hadith from Imam Ahmad (which is close to being trustworthy: Sami). The Prophet said,

“I will be the first to be allowed to prostrate myself on the Day of Judgment, and the first to be allowed to raise his head. I will look around and see in front of me my followers between other nations, and similarly behind me, on my right side and on my left side.” Someone asked, “Messenger of Allah, how will you recognize your followers from among the nations of Nuh until your times?” He answered, “They will bear the mark of ablution that none else will bear, and I will know them because they will be given their Records by their right hands, and I will know them by the Light running before them” (Ibn Kathir).

13. That is, struggle against one with the sword while gainst the other with the tongue (Ibn Jarir).

14. Because he treated them mildly and kindly (Shabbir).

15. They betrayed them in faith and not by indulging in immoral deeds. Wives of Prophets are saved from committing obscenities. Ibn `Abbas specifically stated that their wives did not indulge in sexual indecency. The opinion of `Ikrimah, Sa`eed b. Jubayr and Dahhak was that the betrayal of Nuh’s wife consisted in passing information to the unbelievers about those who embraced Islam at Nuh’s hand and in calling him “insane,” while the betrayal of Lut’s wife consisted in passing information to the unbelievers, concerning visitors to her husband’s house (Ibn Jarir, Zamakhshari, Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir).

16. The suggestion by some people that the example of the two unbelieving women was cited for the wives of the Prophet to take lesson from, is incorrect. The example is in reference to verse 6 above where the believers have been urged to save themselves and their families from Hellfire (Thawni).

17. She chose the Company before the house. They say in Arabic:

“The neighbor, before the lodge” (Au.).

18. That is, deliver me from him and deliver me from the kind of deed he commits, foremost among them is his disbelief in Allah (Ibn Jarir, Qurtubi).

19. Lit., “faraj” is an opening. The term here is “farj” which is for private parts, but allows for translation as “opening” (Au.).

20. That is, in the opening of her shirt since every opening is called “farj” (Ibn Jarir, Razi, Qurtubi).

21. “Min ruhinaa”: that is, a spirit from among Our other spirits (Qurtubi).

22. “The fact that “qanitin” (devout) is not in the feminine form implies that the highest spiritual dignity is independent of sex” (Yusuf Ali).

We have ahadith that speak of the virtues of these two women. The following is in the Sahihayn and other works. The Prophet said: “Among men those who attained perfection, there have been many. But among women few attained perfection except Aasiyah the wife of Fir`awn and Maryam the daughter of `Imran. And, `A’isha’s superiority over rest of the women is like that of tharid over other dishes.” (Tharid was a tasty meat and butter dish (Au.).

Once the Prophet drew four lines on the earth and asked, “Do you know what these are?” They answered, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said, “The best among the women of Paradise: Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Asiyah bint Muzahim, the wife of Fir`awn and Maryam the daughter of `Imran” (Zamakhsahir in brief, Ibn Kathir).

(Haythami declared the above report of Ahmad as trustworthy: Sami).