Al-Ahzab
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
O Prophet (Muhammad SAW)! Keep your duty to Allâh, and obey not
the disbelievers and the hypocrites (i.e., do not follow their advice). Verily,
Allâh is Ever All¬Knower, All¬Wise. (1) And follow that which
is revealed to you from your Lord. Verily, Allâh is Well¬Acquainted with what
you do. (2) And put your trust in Allâh, and Sufficient is Allâh as a Wakîl
(Trustee, or Disposer of affairs). (3) Allâh has not made for any man two hearts
inside his body. Neither has He made your wives whom you declare to be like
your mothers' backs, your real mothers. [Az¬Zihâr is the saying of a husband to
his wife, "You are to me like the back of my
mother" i.e. You are unlawful for me to approach.][], nor has He made your
adopted sons your real sons. That is but your saying with your mouths. But
Allâh says the truth, and He guides to the (Right) Way. (4) Call them (adopted
sons) by (the names of) their fathers, that is more just with Allâh. But if you know not their father's (names, call them) your brothers
in faith and Mawâlîkum (your freed slaves). And there is no sin on you
concerning that in which you made a mistake, except in regard to what your
hearts deliberately intend. And Allâh is Ever
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (5) The Prophet is closer to the believers than
their ownselves[], and his wives are their
(believers') mothers (as regards respect and marriage). And blood relations
among each other have closer personal ties in the Decree of Allâh (regarding
inheritance) than (the brotherhood of) the believers and the Muhajirûn
(emigrants from Makkah), except that you do kindness to those brothers (when
the Prophet SAW joined them in brotherhood ties). This has been written in the
(Allâh's Book of Divine) Decrees (Al¬Lauh Al¬Mahfûz)." (6) And (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you (O
Muhammad SAW), and from Nûh (Noah), Ibrâhim (Abraham), Mûsa (Moses), and
'Īsā (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary). We took from them a strong
covenant.[] (7) That He may ask the truthful (Allâh's
Messengers and His Prophets) about their truth (i.e. the conveyance of Allâh's
Message that which they were charged with). And He has prepared for the
disbelievers a painful torment (Hell-fire). (8) O you who believe!
Remember Allâh's Favour to you, when there came against you hosts, and We sent
against them a wind and forces that you saw not [i.e. troops of angels during
the battle of Al¬Ahzâb (the Confederates)]. And Allâh is Ever
All¬Seer of what you do. (9) When they came upon you from above you and
from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the
throats, and you were harbouring doubts about Allâh. (10) There, the believers
were tried and shaken with a mighty shaking. (11) And when the
hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts) said: "Allâh
and His Messenger (SAW) promised us nothing but delusion!" (12) And when a party of
them said: "O people of Yathrib (Al¬Madinah)! There is no stand (possible)
for you (against the enemy attack!) Therefore go back!" And a band of them
ask for permission of the Prophet ( SAW) saying:
"Truly, our homes lie open (to the enemy)." And they lay not open.
They but wished to flee. (13) And if the enemy had entered from all sides
(of the city), and they had been exhorted to Al¬Fitnah (i.e. to renegade from
Islâm to polytheism) they would surely have committed it and would have
hesitated thereupon but little. (14) And indeed they had already made a covenant
with Allâh not to turn their backs, and a covenant with Allâh must be answered
for. (15)Say (O Muhammad SAW to these hypocrites who ask your permission
to run away from you): "Flight will not avail you if you flee from death
or killing, and then you will enjoy no more than a little while!" (16) Say: "Who is he
who can protect you from Allâh if He intends to harm you, or intends mercy on
you?" And they will not find, besides Allâh, for themselves any Walî
(protector, supporter) or any helper. (17) Allâh already knows those among you
who keep back (men) from fighting in Allâh's Cause, and those who say to their
brethren "Come here towards us," while they (themselves) come not to
the battle except a little. (18) Being miserly towards
you (as regards help and aid in Allâh's Cause). Then when fear comes, you will
see them looking to you, their eyes revolving like (those of) one over whom
hovers death, but when the fear departs, they will smite you with sharp
tongues, miserly towards (spending anything in any) good (and only covetous of
booty and wealth). Such have not believed. Therefore Allâh makes their deeds
fruitless, and that is ever easy for Allâh. (19) They think that
Al¬Ahzâb (the Confederates) have not yet withdrawn, and if Al¬Ahzâb (the
Confederates) should come (again), they would wish they were in the deserts
(wandering) among the bedouins, seeking news about you (from a far place); and
if they (happen) to be among you, they would not fight but little. (20) Indeed in the
Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who
hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day and remembers Allâh much. (21) And when the
believers saw Al¬Ahzâb (the Confederates), they said: "This is what Allâh
and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW) had promised us, and Allâh and His Messenger
(Muhammad SAW) had spoken the truth, And it only added
to their faith and to their submissiveness (to Allâh). (22)Among the believers
are men who have been true to their covenant with Allâh [i.e. they have gone
out for Jihâd (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers],
of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred), and
some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e.they never
proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allâh] in the
least[] (23) That Allâh may reward the men of truth for their truth (i.e. for
their patience at the accomplishment of that which they covenanted with Allâh),
and punish the hypocrites if He wills or accept their repentance by turning to
them (in Mercy). Verily, Allâh is Oft¬Forgiving, Most Merciful. (24) And Allâh drove back
those who disbelieved in their rage, they gained no
advantage (booty). Allâh sufficed for the believers in the fighting (by sending
against the disbelievers a severe wind and troops of angels). And Allâh is Ever All¬Strong, All¬Mighty. (25) And those of the
people of the Scripture who backed them (the disbelievers) Allâh brought them
down from their forts and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) a group (of
them) you killed, and a group (of them) you made captives. (26) And He caused you to
inherit their lands, and their houses, and their riches, and a land which you
had not trodden (before). And Allâh is Able to do all things. (27) O Prophet (Muhammad
SAW)! Say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world, and its glitter,
then come! I will make a provision for you and set you
free in a handsome manner (divorce).[] (28) But if you desire
Allâh and His Messenger, and the home of the Hereafter, then verily, Allâh has
prepared for Al¬Muhsinât (good¬doers) amongst you an enormous reward. (29) O wives of the
Prophet! Whoever of you commits an open illegal sexual intercourse, the torment
for her will be doubled, and that is ever easy for Allâh. (30)And whosoever of you
is obedient to Allâh and His Messenger SAW , and does
righteous good deeds, We shall give her, her reward twice over, and We have
prepared for her Rizqan Karim (a noble provision -Paradise).
(31) O wives of the
Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allâh),
then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy,
or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an
honourable manner. (32) And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like
that of the times of ignorance, and perform As-Salât (Iqamât¬as¬Salât), and
give Zakât and obey Allâh and His Messenger. Allâh wishes only to remove
Ar¬Rijs (evil deeds and sins) from you, O members of the family (of the Prophet
SAW), and to purify you with a thorough purification. (33) And remember (O you
the members of the Prophet's family, the Graces of your Lord), that which is
recited in your houses of the Verses of Allâh and Al¬Hikmah (i.e. Prophet's
Sunnah - legal ways, so give your thanks to Allâh and glorify His Praises for
this Qur'an and the Sunnah). Verily, Allâh is Ever Most Courteous,
Well¬Acquainted with all things. (34) Verily, the Muslims (those who submit to
Allâh in Islâm) men and women, the believers men and women (who believe in Islâmic
Monotheism), the men and the women who are obedient (to Allâh), the men and
women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men and the women who
are patient (in performing all the duties which Allâh has ordered and in
abstaining from all that Allâh has forbidden), the men and the women who are
humble (before their Lord Allâh), the men and the women who give Sadaqât (i.e.
Zakât, and alms), the men and the women who observe Saum (fast) (the obligatory
fasting during the month of Ramadân, and the optional Nawâfil fasting), the men
and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men
and the women who remember Allâh much with their hearts and tongues. Allâh has
prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).
(35)It is not for a
believer, man or woman, when Allâh and His Messenger have decreed a matter that
they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allâh and
His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in to a plain error. (36) And (remember) when
you said to him (Zaid bin Hârithah radhiallahu'anhu the freed¬slave of the
Prophet SAW) on whom Allâh has bestowed Grace (by guiding him to Islâm) and you
(O Muhammad SAW too) have done favour (by manumitting him) "Keep your wife
to yourself, and fear Allâh." But you did hide in yourself (i.e. what
Allâh has already made known to you that He will give her to you in marriage)
that which Allâh will make manifest, you did fear the people (i.e., their
saying that Muhammad SAW married the divorced wife of his manumitted slave)
whereas Allâh had a better right that you should fear Him. So when Zaid had
accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in
marriage, so that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the believers in respect
of (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have no
desire to keep them (i.e. they have divorced them). And Allâh's Command must be
fulfilled. (37) There is no blame on the Prophet (SAW) in that which Allâh has
made legal for him.That has been Allâh's Way with those who have passed away of
(the Prophets of) old. And the Command of Allâh is a decree determined. (38) Those who convey the
Message of Allâh and fear Him, and fear none save Allâh. And Sufficient is
Allâh as a Reckoner. (39) Muhammad (SAW) is not the father of any of your men, but
he is the Messenger of Allâh and the last (end) of the Prophets[]. And Allâh is
Ever All¬Aware of everything. (40) O you who believe! Remember Allâh with much
remembrance. (41) And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning
(Fajr) and 'Asr prayers]. (42) He it is Who sends Salât (His blessings) on
you, and His angels too (ask Allâh to bless and forgive you), that He may bring
you out from darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of Belief and
Islâmic Monotheism). And He is Ever Most Merciful to the believers. (43)Their greeting on the
Day they shall meet Him will be "Salâm: Peace (i.e. the angels will say to
them: Salâmu 'Alaikum)!" And He has prepared for them a generous reward
(i.e. Paradise). (44) O Prophet
(MuhammadSAW )! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad
tidings, and a warner, (45) And as one who invites to Allâh [Islâmic Monotheism, i.e.
to worship none but Allâh (Alone)] by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light
(through your instructions from the Qur'ân and the Sunnah the legal ways of the
Prophet SAW [] ). (46) And announce to the believers (in the Oneness of Allâh
and in His Messenger Muhammad SAW) the glad tidings, that they will have from
Allâh a Great Bounty. (47) And obey not the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and
harm them not (in revenge for their harming you till you are ordered). And put
your trust in Allâh, and Sufficient is Allâh as a Wakîl (Trustee, or Disposer
of affairs). [Tafsir At-Qurtubi] (48) O you who believe! When you marry believing
women, and then divorce them before you have sexual intercourse with them, no
'Iddah [divorce prescribed period, see (V.65:4)] have you to count in respect of them.
So give them a present, and set them free (i.e. divorce), in a handsome manner.
(49) O Prophet (Muhammad
SAW)! Verily, We have made lawful to you your wives, to whom you have paid
their Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of
marriage), and those (slaves) whom your right hand possesses - whom Allâh has
given to you, and the daughters of your 'Ammat (paternal uncles) and the
daughters of your 'Amm (paternal aunts) and the daughters of your Khâlat
(maternal uncles) and the daughters of your Khâl (maternal aunts) who migrated
(from Makkah) with you, and a believing woman if she offers herself to the
Prophet, and the Prophet wishes to marry her; a privilege for you only, not for
the (rest of) the believers. Indeed We know what We have enjoined upon them
about their wives and those (slaves) whom their right hands possess, - in order
that there should be no difficulty on you. And Allâh is Ever Oft¬Forgiving,
Most Merciful. (50)You (O Muhammad SAW) can postpone (the turn of) whom you will of
them (your wives), and you may receive whom you will. And whomsoever you desire
of those whom you have set aside (her turn temporarily), it is no sin on you
(to receive her again), that is better that they may be comforted and not
grieved, and may all be pleased with what you give them. Allâh knows what is in
your hearts. And Allâh is Ever All¬Knowing, Most Forbearing. (51) It is not lawful for
you (to marry other) women after this, nor to change them for other wives even
though their beauty attracts you, except those (slaves) whom your right hand
possesses. And Allâh is Ever a Watcher over all things. (52) O you who believe!
Enter not the Prophet's houses, unless permission is given to you for a meal,
(and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation. But when you are
invited, enter, and when you have taken your meal, disperse, without sitting
for a talk. Verily, such (behaviour) annoys the Prophet, and he is shy of
(asking) you (to go), but Allâh is not shy of (telling you) the truth. And when
you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that
is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not (right) for you
that you should annoy Allâh's Messenger, nor that you should ever marry his
wives after him (his death). Verily! With Allâh that shall be an enormity (53) Whether you reveal
anything or conceal it, verily, Allâh is Ever All¬Knower of everything. (54)It is no sin on them
(the Prophet's wives, if they appear unveiled) before their fathers, or their
sons, or their brothers, or their brother's sons, or the sons of their sisters,
or their own (believing) women, or their (female) slaves, And
coradies keep your duty to Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Ever All¬Witness over
everything. (55) Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the
Prophet (Muhammad SAW) and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive
him). O you who believe! Send your Salât[] on (ask Allâh to bless) him
(Muhammad SAW), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of
greeting (salutation i.e. As¬Salâmu 'Alaikum). (56) Verily, those who
annoy Allâh and His Messenger (SAW)[] Allâh has cursed them in this world, and
in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a humiliating torment. (57) And those who annoy
believing men and women undeservedly, they bear (on themselves) the crime of
slander and plain sin. (58) O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the
women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies
(i.e.screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way).
That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so
as not to be annoyed. And Allâh is Ever Oft¬Forgiving, Most Merciful[] (59) If the hypocrites,
and those in whose hearts is a disease (evil desire for adultery), and those
who spread false news among the people in Al¬Madinah, stop not, We shall
certainly let you overpower them; then they will not be able to stay in it as
your neighbours but a little while. (60) Accursed, they shall be seized wherever found
and killed with a (terrible) slaughter. (61) That was the Way of Allâh in the case
of those who passed away of old, and you will not find any change in the Way of
Allâh. (62) People ask you concerning the Hour, say: "The knowledge of
it is with Allâh only. What do you know? It may be that the Hour is near!"
(63) Verily, Allâh has
cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a flaming Fire (Hell). (64)Wherein
they will abide for ever, and they will find neither a Walî (a protector) nor a
helper. (65) On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire,
they will say: "Oh, would that we had obeyed Allâh and obeyed the
Messenger (Muhammad SAW)." (66) And they will say: "Our Lord! Verily, we
obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (Right) Way.
(67) Our Lord! Give them
double torment and curse them with a mighty curse!" (68) O you who believe! Be
not like those who annoyed Mûsa (Moses), but Allâh cleared him of that which
they alleged, and he was honourable before Allâh[] (69) O you who believe!
Keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. (70) He will direct you to
do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys
Allâh and His Messenger (SAW) he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e.
he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to Paradise).
(71) Truly, We did offer
Al¬Amânah (the trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties
which Allâh has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but
they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allâh's
Torment). But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of
its results).[] (72) So that Allâh will punish the hypocrites, men and women, and the
men and women who are Al¬Mushrikûn (polytheists, idolaters, pagans,
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh, and His Messenger Muhammad SAW ). And
Allâh will pardon (accept the repentance of) the true believers of the Islâmic
Monotheism, men and women. And Allâh is Ever Oft¬Forgiving, Most Merciful. (73)