Al-Fahisha: the severe evil in ugliness, and it is the major sin. Al-Mubina: its foulness is evident, and what is meant is everything they have committed from the major sins. It is said that it is their disobedience to the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, and their rebellion against him, and their demanding from him what is difficult for him or what he finds burdensome and is distressed about. It is also said: adultery, and Allah protects His Messenger from that, as mentioned in the story of Ifk. The punishment for them is multiplied because what is ugly among other women is uglier than them, and more so, because the increase in the ugliness of the sin follows the increase in virtue and rank and the increase in the blessing upon the sinner from the sin. No woman has the virtue of the women of the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, nor does anyone among them have what Allah has upon them of blessings. The recompense follows the action, and the fact that the recompense is punishment follows the fact that the action is ugly. Whenever it increases in ugliness, its punishment increases in severity. Therefore, the reproach of the wise for the sinful knowledgeable person is greater than that for the sinful ignorant person, because the sin of the knowledgeable person is uglier. This is why the punishment for the free person is preferred over that for the slave, to the extent that Abu Hanifa and his companions do not see stoning for the disbeliever. And that is easy for Allah, indicating that being the wives of the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, does not avail them anything. How could it avail them when it is a reason for the multiplication of punishment, making it a cause for making the matter more severe upon them rather than diverting from it? It has been recited: 'Ya'ti' with a taa and a yaa. Al-Mubina: with an opened yaa and a broken yaa, from bayana meaning to clarify. Yudaa'if, and yud'afu: in the passive form. Wa yudaa'if, and nu'da'if: with a yaa and a noon. And it has been recited: 'Taqnut' and 'ta'mal' with a taa and a yaa. Wa nu'tiha: with a yaa and a noon. Al-Qunut: is obedience. The reward for them is multiplied for seeking the pleasure of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, through good character, pleasant companionship, and contentment, and their dedication to the worship of Allah and piety.