Why did Allah use the phrase "exchanging one wife for another" instead of "divorcing your wives" in verse 20 of Surat An-Nisa, knowing that exegetes like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpreted "exchange" here as divorce?
The Holy Quran is characterized by eloquent style and diverse expression. The meaning of "replacement" in the noble verse is divorcing the previous wife and marrying another, simply due to the desire to marry another woman, without any other reason for divorce. Allah has forbidden husbands from forcing their wives to relinquish their dowry or anything they were given, in order for the husband to marry another woman.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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