"[Verse 235] 'And there is no blame upon you for that to which you allude concerning a proposal to women, or for what you conceal within yourselves'—meaning: what you keep secret within yourselves. 'Ikrimah said: Allusion (ta'rid) is for a man to say, 'You are [precious] to me,' and for her to say, 'What is decreed will happen,' without making a promise to her that she will not marry anyone else. 'Allah knows that you will have thoughts of them, but do not make a promise to them in secret.' Qatadah's interpretation says: Do not take a pledge from her during her waiting period ('iddah) that she will not marry a husband other than you. 'Except for saying a word of honor'—this refers to the allusion. 'And do not determine the marriage contract until the book reaches its end'—meaning: the expiration of the waiting period. 'And know that Allah knows what is in your souls, so beware of Him'—meaning: regarding marrying them during the waiting period and regarding all other things thereafter.
Muhammad said: Regarding His saying, 'And do not determine the marriage contract,' the meaning is: 'do not determine [upon] the marriage contract,' the word 'upon' (ala) having been omitted. [Verse 236]"
﴿وَلا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ النِّسَاءِ أَوْ أكننتم فِي أَنفسكُم﴾ يَعْنِي: أسررتم فِي أَنفسكُم، قَالَ عِكْرِمَة: التَّعْرِيض أَن يَقُولُ: أَنْت فِي [نَفسِي] (ل ٣٤) وَتقول هِيَ: مَا يقدر من أَمر يكن؛ من غير أَن يواعدها أَلا تنْكح غَيره، ﴿عَلِمَ اللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَكِنْ لَا تواعدوهن سرا﴾ تَفْسِير قَتَادَة: يَقُولُ: لَا تَأْخُذُوا ميثاقها فِي عدتهَا أَلا تنْكح زوجا غَيره ﴿إِلَّا أَن يَقُولُوا قولا مَعْرُوفا﴾ هُوَ التَّعْرِيض ﴿وَلا تَعْزِمُوا عُقْدَةَ النِّكَاحِ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ الْكِتَابُ أَجَلَهُ﴾ يَعْنِي: انْقِضَاء الْعدة ﴿وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُ﴾ يَعْنِي: فِي أَن تزوجوهن فِي الْعدة وَفِي جَمِيع الْأَشْيَاء بعد.
قَالَ مُحَمَّد: قَوْله: ﴿وَلا تَعْزِمُوا عقدَة النِّكَاح﴾ الْمَعْنى: عَلَى عقدَة النِّكَاح، فاختصر على. [آيَة ٢٣٦]