[The second interpretation:]

5246 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashaj narrated to us, Khalaf ibn Ayyub al-'Amiri narrated to us, from Ash'ath ibn 'Abd al-Malik, from al-Hasan, who said: A woman came to the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) seeking redress against her husband because he had slapped her. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "There is retaliation (qisas)." Then Allah the Exalted revealed: "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women by what Allah has given one over the other," and she returned without (having obtained) retaliation.

His saying the Exalted: "By what Allah has given one over the other"

5247 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih narrated to us, Mu'awiyah ibn Salih narrated to me, from 'Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding his saying: "By what Allah has given one over the other," he said: He preferred him over her through his provision and his exertion.

His saying the Exalted: "And for what they spend from their wealth"

5248 - Abu Sa'id al-Ashajj narrated to us, Ibn Idris narrated to us, he said: I heard 'Ubaydah, from al-Sha'bi, regarding "And for what they spend from their wealth," he said: The dowry (sadaq) which he gave her; do you not see that if he were to accuse her (of adultery), he would invoke imprecation (li'an) against her, and if she were to accuse him, she would be flogged.

5249 - 'Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated to us, al-Musayyab ibn Wadih narrated to us, Ibn al-Mubarak narrated to us, he said: I heard Sufyan regarding "And for what they spend from their wealth": By what they have given of the dowry (mahr).

His saying the Exalted: "So the righteous women"

5250 - I read to Muhammad ibn al-Fadl ibn Musa, Muhammad ibn 'Ali narrated to us, Muhammad ibn Muzahim informed us, from Bukayr ibn Ma'ruf, from Muqatil ibn Hayyan regarding his saying: "So the righteous women"—(meaning) those who are righteous between them and their Lord, and who reform what they have been entrusted with.

5251 - 'Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated to us, Yahya ibn Khalaf narrated to us, 'Abd al-A'la narrated to us, from Sa'id, from Qatadah regarding "So the righteous women," he said: The righteous (women) among the women.

5252 - 'Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated to us, al-Musayyab ibn Wadih narrated to us, Ibn al-Mubarak said: I heard Sufyan saying: "So the righteous women"—(meaning) they do good deeds.

His saying the Exalted: "Are devoutly obedient"

5253 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih narrated to us, Mu'awiyah ibn Salih narrated to me, from 'Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding his saying: "Are devoutly obedient," meaning: obedient. And it was narrated from Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, Abu Malik, Qatadah, 'Ata', and al-Suddi similar to that.