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Verse which Prophet would have concealed were he to do so

Question

What is the verse regarding which ‘Aa’ishah, may allah be pleased with her, said, "If Prophet Mohammed, sallallhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would have hidden something from the Quran, he would have hidden that verse"? And what was the reason for the revelation of that verse?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It was authentically narrated on the authority of Masrooq that ‘Aa'ishah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her said, “Were the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) to conceal anything of the Quran, he would have concealed this verse: {And (remember, O Muhammad) when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and you bestowed favor, ‘Keep your wife and fear Allah,’ while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose...} [Quran 33:37] [At-Tirmithi 3/353; Hasan-Saheeh (good or sound)]

As for the reason for the revelation of this verse, Ibn Al-‘Arabi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him chose the following as the preponderant reason:

When Zayd married Zaynab, Jibreel (Gabriel) came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said, ‘Zaynab has been made your wife!’ Soon after, Zayd came (to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asking to end his marriage with Zaynab. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him, ‘Fear Allah and keep your wife!’ However, Zayd insisted on divorcing her. He divorced her, and when her waiting period was over, the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu 'alayi wa sallam, proposed to her through his freed slave, Zayd (her ex-husband), and Allah revealed the verse that mentioned this incident. The verse means: And remember, O Muhammad, when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favor and on whom you bestowed favor: Keep your wife and fear Allah in divorcing her, and you concealed in your heart what Allah would disclose; i.e. your decreed marriage to her. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, knew with certainty that since it was revealed to him that she was his wife, then this would inevitably happen and become known, because what Allah reveals must happen exactly as He revealed it.” [Ahkaam Al-Quran, 3/578]

For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 177139 and 139996.

Allah knows best.

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