SECTION ON MARRIAGE · 23 – The Verse Prohibiting Forcibly Imposing Inheritance on Women
It is narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him:
Regarding the verse, “It is not lawful for you to inherit by force women,” and “Nor is it lawful for you to prevent them from marrying whom they please,” Ibn ‘Abbas said: When a man dies, his relatives have more right over his wife than her original guardian. One of them may marry her, or marry her off to someone else among themselves, or leave her unwed. This verse was revealed concerning that.
It is narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The cause of the revelation of the verse, “It is not lawful for you to inherit women by force. Do not prevent them from taking their mahr,” except if they commit an act openly in immorality, is as follows: A man would inherit a woman among his relatives, and then forbid her from marrying until she dies or gives her mahr to the male who inherited her. Allah, may He be exalted, forbade this situation and prohibited men from it.
Dahhak (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: It was related on the meaning of the preceding narration, that he said: Allah has given you this counsel.