Al-Mujadila

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said concerning the interpretation of Allah's saying (Allah hath heard): '(Allah hath heard) He says: Allah heard before He informed you, O Muhammad, (the saying of her that disputeth) that speaks to and argues (with thee (Muhammad) concerning her husband, and complaineth unto Allah) and entreats Allah, Exalted is He, to explain her matter. (And Allah heareth your colloquy) and Allah hears your conversation and exchange of words. (Lo! Allah is Hearer) of your conversation, (Knower) of her matter. The story is that Khawlah Bint Tha'labah Ibn Malik Ibn al-Dakhshim al-Ansariyyah was married to Aws Ibn al-Samit al-Ansari and the latter, who was touched by the jinn, wanted to have sexual intercourse with her while in her period. When she refused, he became angry and said: �if you leave the house before I have sexual intercourse with you, you are unlawful to me just as my mother is�.

(Such of you as put away your wives (by saying they are as their mothers)-They are not their mothers) they are not like their mothers; (none are their mothers) in terms of unmarriageability (except those who gave them birth) or those whose milk they drank in their infancy (they indeed utter an ill word) when they declare their wives unlawful to them, like the unlawfulness of their mothers (and a lie. And lo! Allah is Forgiving) since He did not punish him for declaring unlawful that which Allah made lawful, (Merciful) after he has repented and shown remorse.

Allah explained the expiation for saying to one's wife: �you are unlawful to me just like my mother is� (Zihar), saying: (Those who put away their wives (by saying they are as their mothers)) those who make unlawful for themselves sexual intercourse with their wives (and afterward would go back on that which they have said) then go back on making it lawful; ((the penalty) in that case (is) the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. Unto this) freeing of a slave (ye are exhorted) as an expiation of the Zihar; (and Allah is informed of what ye do) regarding the Zihar, of expiation and other things.

(And he who findeth not (the wherewithal)) the means to free a slave, (let him fast for two successive months before they touch one another) before they have sexual intercourse with one another; (and for him who is unable to do so) i.e. to fast because he is weak ((the penance is) the feeding of sixty needy ones) giving each needy person half a measure (half a sa') of wheat or one measure (sa') of barley or dates. (This) which I have explained regarding the expiation of the Zihar, (that ye may put trust in Allah and His messenger) in order that you acknowledge the obligations of Allah and the wont of His Messenger. (Such are the limits (imposed by Allah)) such are the legal rulings and obligations of Allah regarding the Zihar; (and for disbelievers) in the limits imposed by Allah (is a painful doom) whose pain will extend to their hearts. From the beginning of the surah to this point was revealed about Khawlah Bint Tha'labah Ibn Malik al-Ansariyyah and her husband Aws Ibn al-Samit, the brother of 'Ubadah Ibn al-Samit, who was angered by his wife for refusing him to sleep with her and, as a result, made sexual intercourse with her forbidden on him. But he regretted doing so, and Allah revealed how he could expiate the sin he committed. The Prophet (pbuh) told him: �You should free a slave�. Aws said: �I have very little money and it costs a great deal to free a slave�. The Prophet (pbuh) said: �Then you should fast two successive months�. Aws said: �I cannot do so! If I do not eat once or twice a day my eyesight becomes dim; and I fear peril if I fast�. The Prophet (pbuh) said: �Then you should feed 60 needy ones�. Aws said: �I can not afford it�. The Prophet (pbuh) ordered for him a measure of dates and commanded him to give it to the needy. Aws said: �I do not know of anyone in Medina who is more in need of it than I�. The Prophet (pbuh) told him to eat it and, with the help of another person, the Prophet (pbuh) fed 60 needy people, and this allowed Aws to go back to his wife whom he had declared unlawful for himself.

(Those who oppose Allah and His messenger) regarding Religion and show enmity towards him (will be abased) they will be chastised and conquered on the day of the Ditch; they will be killed and defeated; the reference here is to the people of Mecca (even those before them were abased) just as those who had fought against the prophets before the people of Mecca were chastised and conquered; (and We have sent down clear tokens) We have sent Gabriel with revelations making clear the commands and prohibitions, the lawful and unlawful, (and for disbelievers) in the revelations of Allah (is a shameful doom) through which they will be humiliated; and it is said that a shameful doom means: a severe chastisement.

(On the day when Allah will raise them all together) will raise the adherents of all religions (and inform them of what they did) in the life of the world. (Allah hath kept account of it) i.e. He has kept account of all their works (while they forgot it) while they left the obedience of Allah with which they were commanded. (And Allah is Witness over all things) over all their works.

(Hast thou not seen) have you not been informed, O Muhammad, in the Qur'an (that Allah knoweth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth) of creation? (There is no secret conference of three but He is their fourth) except that Allah knows about them, their works and secret conference, (nor of five but He is their sixth) He knows them and knows their secret conference, (nor of less than that or more but He is with them) He knows them and knows their secret conference (wheresoever they may be; and afterward, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did) in the life of the world. (Lo! Allah is Knower of all things) of their works and secret conference. This verse was revealed about Safwan Ibn Umayyah and his son-in-law; their story is mentioned in the Surah of Prostration.

(Hast thou not observed) O Muhammad (those who were forbidden conspiracy) other than true believers (and afterward returned to that which they had been forbidden) of conspiracy, leaving aside true believers, (and (now) conspire together) among themselves (for crime) for lies (and wrong-doing) transgression (and disobedience towards the messenger) by opposing the Messenger after he forbade them from doing so? What happened is that the hypocrites used to hold secret conferences with the Jews regarding the military expeditions of the believers, in order to aggrieve the believers. (And when they) i.e. the Jews (come unto thee they greet thee with a greeting wherewith Allah greeteth thee not) for they used to say al-sam, i.e. death, be with you [that is instead of saying al-salam, i.e. peace, be with you] and the Prophet (pbuh) used to answer: �and al-sam be with you�, (and say within themselves) to one another: (Why should Allah punish us for what we say) to His Prophet? If he were truly a Prophet, as he claims, his prayer would have been answered when he answers: �and al-sam be with you�. Allah answered them, saying: (Hell will suffice them) i.e. the Jews as a destination in the Hereafter; (they will feel the heat thereof. A hapless journey's end) is hell wherein they will end!

(O ye who believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an! (when ye conspire together) among yourselves, (conspire not together for crime) for lying (and wrong-doing) transgression (and disobedience towards the messenger) by opposing the Messenger like the hypocrites did with the Jews, leaving aside the true believers, (but conspire together for righteousness) for performing the obligations of Allah and for being good towards one another (and pity) shunning transgressions and boycott, (and keep your duty) fear Allah for secret conferencing with other than the true believers, (towards Allah, unto whom ye will be gathered) in the Hereafter.

(Lo! Conspiracy) of the hypocrites with the Jews while leaving the true believers aside (is only of the devil) is of the obedience of Satan and by his command, (that he may vex those who believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an; (but he can harm them) secret conference of the hypocrites will not harm the believers (not at all unless by Allah's leave) unless it is by Allah's will. (In Allah let believers put their trust) and let them not put it in other than Him.

(O ye who believe! When it is said) when the Prophet (pbuh) says: (Make room in assemblies, then make room; Allah will make way for you (Hereafter)) in the Hereafter. This was revealed about Thabit Ibn Qays Ibn Shammas whose story is mentioned in the Surah of the Private Apartments. It is also said it was revealed about a group of people from Badr, among whom were Thabit Ibn Qays Ibn Shammas. These people went to the Prophet (pbuh) on a Friday when he was staying in the apartment of his wife Safiyyah. When they could not find a place where to sit, they stood at the beginning of the assembly. So the Prophet (pbuh) addressed some people who were not among those who participated in the Battle of Badr: so-and-so and so-and-so and so-and-so let those who took part in the Battle of Badr sit in your places. This is because the Prophet (pbuh) used to honour all those who fought at the battle of Badr. But when he did that, he noticed that those who were made to give up their seats resented it, and so Allah revealed about them this verse. (And when it is said, Come up higher!) in prayer, jihad or remembrance (go up higher; Allah will exalt those who believe) in secret and openly (among you) in ranks, (and those who have knowledge) along with faith, (to high ranks) merits in Paradise, more than the merits given to those who have faith but have no knowledge. This is because a believer who is knowledgeable is better than a believer who is not. (Allah is informed of what ye do) of good or evil.

(O ye who believe) in Muhammad (pbuh) and the Qur'an! (When ye hold conference) when you speak (with the messenger, offer an alms before your conference). This was revealed about those believers who were well off and used to speak to the Prophet (pbuh) more than the poor believers, so much so that they vexed both the Prophet (pbuh) and the poor believers. Allah, therefore, forbade them from doing so and commanded them to give alms to the poor, one silver coin for each word they would say to him, before they even spoke with the Prophet (pbuh). (That) almsgiving (is better) than holding back money (and purer for you) and purer for your hearts from sins; and it is also said this means: it is purer for the hearts of the poor in that it prevents their hearts from becoming hard. (But if ye cannot find (the wherewithal)) to give alms, O poor believers, then you can speak with the Prophet (pbuh) as much as you wish without being required to give alms (then lo! Allah is Forgiving) He forgives your sins, (Merciful) towards the one among you who dies repentant.

When they stopped speaking with the Prophet (pbuh) because of the required almsgiving involved, Allah reproached them for doing so, saying: (Fear ye) are you miserly, O well off people, (to offer alms before your conference) to offer alms to the poor before speaking with the Prophet (pbuh)? (Then, when ye do it not) when you do not give alms (and Allah hath forgiven you) the question of giving alms, (establish worship) perform the five daily prayers (and pay the poor-due) from your wealth (and obey Allah) in that which He commands you (and His messenger) in that which he commands you. (And Allah is Aware of what ye do) whether it is good or evil. But no one gave alms for speaking with the Prophet (pbuh) except 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib who gave to alms a golden piece which he sold for ten silver pieces, and then asked the Prophet (pbuh) a question of ten words.

Allah then said about 'Abdullah Ibn Ubayy and his host, because of their alliance with the Jews: (Hast thou not seen) O Muhammad (those who take for friends) for assistance and help (a folk) i.e. the Jews (with whom Allah is wroth? They) i.e. the hypocrites (are neither of you) in private such that what is due to you is due to them (nor of them) i.e. the Jews, openly such that whatever is due to the Jews is due to them, (and they swear a false oath) they falsely swear that they are believers and true in their faith (knowingly) while they know they are lying in their oath.

(Allah hath prepared for them) for the hypocrites: 'Abdullah Ibn Ubayy and his host (a dreadful doom) in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. (Evil indeed is that which they are wont to do) evil is that which they do in their state of hypocrisy.

(They make a shelter of their oaths) they lie in their oath in order not to be killed (and turn (men) from the way of Allah) they secretly turn people away from Allah's religion and obedience; (so theirs will be a shameful doom) with which they will be humiliated in the Hereafter.

(Their wealth) the abundance of the wealth of the hypocrites and the Jews (and their children) and the abundance of their children (will avail them naught against Allah) against Allah's chastisement. (Such) the hypocrites and the Jews (are rightful owners of the Fire) the inhabitants of the Fire; (they will abide therein) for eternity, neither to die nor leave it.

(On the day) the Day of Judgement (when Allah will raise them all together) the hypocrites and the Jews, (then will they swear unto Him) we were never hypocrites or disbelievers (as they (now) swear unto you) in the life of the world, (and they will fancy that they have some standing) with regard to religion. (Lo! is it not they who are the liars) in their oaths before Allah?

(The devil hath engrossed them) Satan has conquered them and commanded them to obey him, and they did, (and so hath caused them to forget remembrance of Allah) until they left obeying Allah in private. (They) i.e. the hypocrites and the Jews (are the devil's party) the army of the devil. (Lo! is it not the devil's party) the devil's army (who will be the losers) of the life of the world and the Hereafter?

(Lo! those who oppose) contravene (Allah and His messenger) in the matter of religion, (they will be among the lowest) in the Fire. The reference here is to the Jews and hypocrites.

(Allah hath decreed: Lo! I verily shall conquer, I and My messengers) i.e. Muhammad (pbuh) they shall conquer Persia, Byzantium, the hypocrites and the Jews. (Lo! Allah is Strong) through giving help to his prophets, (Almighty) in retribution against His enemies. This was revealed about 'Abdullah Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salul who said to the true believers: �Do you really think that you shall conquer Persia and Byzantium?�.

Allah then revealed about Hatib Ibn Abi Balta'ah, a man from the Yemen, who wrote a letter to the people of Mecca in which he divulged one of the secrets of the Prophet (pbuh) saying: (Thou wilt not find) O Muhammad (folk) i.e. Hatib (who believe in Allah and the Last Day) resurrection after death (loving those who oppose) contravene against (Allah and His messenger) in matters of religion, meaning here the people of Mecca: (even though they be their fathers) blood fathers (or, their sons or their brethren or their clan) or their own folk or relatives. (As for such) Hatib and his fellow believers, (He hath written faith upon their hearts) He cast love of faith in their hearts (and hath strengthened them with a Spirit from Him) with a mercy from Him; and it is said this means: He helped them with a help from Him, (and He will bring them into Gardens beneath which) beneath its trees and habitations (rivers flow) rivers of wine, water, honey and milk flow, (wherein they will abide) they will dwell in Paradise for eternity, never to die or leave it. (Allah is well pleased with them) because of their faith, works and repentance, (and they are well pleased with Him) because of the reward and honour they receive from Him. (They are Allah's party) they are Allah's army. (Lo! is it not Allah's party who are the successful?) they are saved from His wrath and chastisement; these are the ones who found and obtained what they were seeking, and were saved from the evil of that which they fled from. Hatib was of those who took part in the Battle of Badr, and his story is found in surah �She that is to be examined (al-Mumtahanah)�.