of women) (because Allah has made one of them to excel the other) [He] made the testimony of two women equivalent to the testimony of one man, and they were favored in inheritance. (And because they spend of their wealth) meaning: the dowries. (So righteous women) meaning: those who are virtuous toward their husbands, (are obedient) meaning: obedient to their husbands, (guarding in the unseen) meaning: guarding the modesty of their husbands in their absence (that which Allah has guarded) meaning: by Allah's protection of them. (As to those women on whose part you fear ill-conduct) meaning: their disobedience; that is, she behaves defiantly toward her husband and does not allow him to have intercourse with her. (Then admonish them, avoid them in their beds, and beat them.) Qatadah said: Begin by admonishing her with words. If she disobeys, then avoid her. If she still disobeys, then strike her with a blow that is not injurious. (Then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them.) The tafsir of al-Kalbi states: It means if they obey you in [the matter of] intercourse, then do not seek a way against them. It means: do not force them to love you, for the admonition and the striking in the bed were only ordained not for the sake of love, but for his need for her.
عَلَى النِّسَاءِ) ﴿﴾ (بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ بَعضهم على بعض﴾ جعل شَهَادَة امْرَأتَيْنِ شَهَادَة رجل وَاحِد، وفضلوا فِي الْمِيرَاث ﴿وَبِمَا أَنْفقُوا من أَمْوَالهم﴾ يَعْنِي: الصَّدقَات ﴿فالصالحات﴾ يَعْنِي: المحسنات إِلَى أَزوَاجهنَّ ﴿قَانِتَاتٌ﴾ أَي: مطيعات لِأَزْوَاجِهِنَّ ﴿حَافِظَاتٌ لِلْغَيْبِ﴾ لغيب أَزوَاجهنَّ فِي فروجهن ﴿بِمَا حفظ الله﴾ أَي: بِحِفْظ الله إياهن. ﴿وَاللَّاتِي تخافون نشوزهن﴾ عصيانهن؛ يَعْنِي: تنشز على زَوجهَا؛ فَلَا تَدعه أَن يَغْشَاهَا ﴿فَعِظُوهُنَّ واهجروهن فِي الْمضَاجِع واضربوهن﴾ قَالَ قَتَادَة: ابدأ فعظها بالْقَوْل، فَإِن عَصَتْ فاهجرها؛ فَإِن عَصَتْ فاضربها ضربا غير شائن. ﴿فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلا تَبْغُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلا﴾ تَفْسِير الْكَلْبِيّ: يَقُولُ: فَإِن أطعنكم فِي الْجِمَاع، فَلَا تَبْغُوا عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلا؛ يَقُولُ: لَا تكلفوهن الْحبّ، فَإِنَّمَا جعلت الموعظة لَهُن وَالضَّرْب فِي المضجع لَيْسَ على الْحبّ، وَلَكِن على حَاجته إِلَيْهَا.
