Occasion of Revelation (Sahih — Agreed Upon):
Two authentic agreed-upon narrations, both possibly combined:
Narration 1 (Bukhari & Muslim): The Prophet ﷺ would stay with a wife and drink honey there. Aisha and Hafsa agreed to each tell him: "I smell mughafer on you" (a foul-smelling plant). The Prophet ﷺ swore off honey to please them. So was revealed:
"O Prophet, why do you prohibit what Allah has made lawful for you?"
Narration 2 (Muslim): The Prophet ﷺ made Maria Al-Qibtiyyah unlawful to himself in Hafsa's house to please her, then confided in Hafsa who disclosed the secret — the verses addressed this.
Significance:
- Allah directly corrects the Prophet for something done to please his wives
- No one may forbid upon himself what Allah made lawful — without an oath expiation
- "Allah has ordained for you the dissolution of your oaths" — expiation is the lawful exit from oaths
Question: What legal ruling does "Why do you forbid what Allah made lawful" establish?
Answer: Prohibiting a lawful thing upon oneself is not binding; one must pay an oath expiation (feeding or clothing 10 poor or freeing a slave).