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المجادلة Al-Mujadila

The Pleading Woman 22 verses · Madinah

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The Ẓihār Divorce

58:1

قَدْ سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ قَوْلَ ٱلَّتِى تُجَٰدِلُكَ فِى زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَٱللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَآ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ ۝١

Allāh has indeed heard the statement of the woman who was pleading with you regarding her husband, and she also complained to Allāh about her situation. And Allāh heard the conversation between you two; verily, Allāh is Hearing, Seeing.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

The Arabs before Islam had a form of divorce known as ẓihār. It was a divorce in which a man would say to his wife, “You are to me like my mother’s back.” With these words, the husband will separate from his wife forever. Khawlah bint Tha‘labiyyah, the wife of Aws bin aṣ-Ṣābit al-Anṣāri, came to the Prophet with a complaint that her husband had given her the ẓihār divorce and asked me to leave the house, and she also prayed: “O Allāh I complain to you.” Then came the verses:

58:2

ٱلَّذِينَ يُظَٰهِرُونَ مِنكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِهِم مَّا هُنَّ أُمَّهَٰتِهِمْ ۖ إِنْ أُمَّهَٰتُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱلَِّٰٓٔى وَلَدْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنكَرًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ وَزُورًۭا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌۭ ۝٢

Those among you who divorce their wives in ẓihār should know that they are not their mothers; certainly, their mothers are only those who gave birth to them. And they are indeed saying a statement that is unlawful and false. Verily Allāh is Pardoning, All-Forgiving.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:3

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُظَٰهِرُونَ مِن نِّسَآئِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا قَالُوا۟ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَتَمَآسَّا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ تُوعَظُونَ بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ ۝٣

The forgiveness of Allāh is explained by the penalty introduced in such cases before intimate relations take place: Those who divorce their wives in ẓihār and then regret and retract what they had uttered, they should: (1) Set free a slave before they touch one another. This is the advice given to you, and Allāh is All-Aware of what you do.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:4

فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَتَمَآسَّا ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۚ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ ۝٤

(2) However, he who can’t find the means to free a slave, then he should fast for two successive months before they can touch one another. (3) And the one who cannot even fast for two months, then he should feed sixty poor people. All these flexible options have been given so that they may believe in Allāh and His Messenger and abandon the pagan traditions. These are the limits imposed by Allāh, and those who disobey shall have a painful chastisement.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:5

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَآدُّونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ كُبِتُوا۟ كَمَا كُبِتَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ وَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ ءَايَٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَٰتٍۢ ۚ وَلِلْكَٰفِرِينَ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ ۝٥

Indeed, those who oppose Allāh and His Messenger shall be subdued in this world just as those who were before them were subdued. We have certainly sent down clear verses to them, and so there is a disgraceful punishment for the unbelieversS. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:6

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًۭا فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوٓا۟ ۚ أَحْصَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ وَنَسُوهُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ شَهِيدٌ ۝٦

on the day when Allāh shall raise them all and then inform them about what they have done – Allāh has fully counted their misdeeds while they forgot it, and Allāh is Witness to all things.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

Whispering & Secret Conversations

58:7

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ مَا يَكُونُ مِن نَّجْوَىٰ ثَلَٰثَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ رَابِعُهُمْ وَلَا خَمْسَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ سَادِسُهُمْ وَلَآ أَدْنَىٰ مِن ذَٰلِكَ وَلَآ أَكْثَرَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَعَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كَانُوا۟ ۖ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ۝٧

Do you realize that verily Allāh knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth? Then you should know that there can be no secret conversation between three persons but that He (i.e., Allāh) is the fourth of them, nor between five persons but that He is the sixth of them, neither less than that nor more individuals but that He is with them (i.e., knows of them) wherever they are. Then on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they were doing. Verily Allāh is Aware of all things.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

After referring to His absolute knowledge, Allāh mentions the behaviour of the hypocrites and their allies who would sit in the Prophet’s mosque and have secret conversations to spread corruption and thereby lower the morale of the Muslims.

58:8

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ نُهُوا۟ عَنِ ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَيَتَنَٰجَوْنَ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِذَا جَآءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ ٱللَّهُ وَيَقُولُونَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا ٱللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ ۚ حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ يَصْلَوْنَهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ۝٨

Do not you see those who were forbidden from secret conversations that hurt the believers, but they didn’t abide by the prohibition and continued to return to what they were forbidden from —they continued to secretly converse regarding sins that only affect the doer (e.g., missing prayers), transgressions that are hurtful to others (e.g., fraud in trade) and disobedience to the Messenger in the orders that he has issued. And when these hypocrites come to you, they greet you with a greeting that Allāh has never greeted you with. They used to say, “as-sām ‘alayk – may death be upon you.” And while greeting him in this way, they say to themselves, “Why does not Allāh punish us for what we say? So he is not a true prophet; otherwise, God would have punished us!” They do not realize that the timing of punishment is in God’s hand; sufficient for them is the Hellfire that they shall enter it—it is indeed an evil destination!S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:9

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا تَنَٰجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَتَنَٰجَوْا۟ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِىٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ ۝٩

O you who believe! If and when you secretly converse out of necessity, then do not secretly converse regarding sins, transgression and disobedience to the Messenger; rather, secretly converse for the sake of piety and righteously; and fear displeasing Allāh unto whom you shall be gathered.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:10

إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ لِيَحْزُنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَيْسَ بِضَآرِّهِمْ شَئًْا إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ۝١٠

Verily secret conversations are from Satan so that he may upset the believers; however, remember that he cannot hurt them in the least except by the creative will of Allāh, and so the believers should put their trust in Allāh.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:11

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا۟ فِى ٱلْمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفْسَحُوا۟ يَفْسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُوا۟ فَٱنشُزُوا۟ يَرْفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ دَرَجَٰتٍۢ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ ۝١١

Etiquettes of Social Gathering: O you who believe! When you are told to make room in sitting places for honourable visitors, then make room for them, and Allāh will make room for you in Paradise. And when you are told to give up your seat for a learned righteous person, then move up for Allāh will raise the ranks of those of you who believe and those who have been given knowledge. And Allāh is Aware of what you do.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:12

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نَٰجَيْتُمُ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُوا۟ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ نَجْوَىٰكُمْ صَدَقَةًۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ ۚ فَإِن لَّمْ تَجِدُوا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ ۝١٢

O you who believe! When you privately converse with the Messenger in a gathering, then offer a charity to the poor before your private conversation – that charity is better for you (as you help others) and more purer (as you cleanse your hearts of greed). However, if you do not find the means to pay the charity, then you are excused; for verily Allāh is Forgiving, Merciful.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

Some affluent companions had the habit of having private conversations with the Prophet and then bragging about their special relationship with him to the poor. Then came a command to test their sincerity:

58:13

ءَأَشْفَقْتُمْ أَن تُقَدِّمُوا۟ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ نَجْوَىٰكُمْ صَدَقَٰتٍۢ ۚ فَإِذْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا۟ وَتَابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ۝١٣

Do you fear poverty by offering charities before your private conversations? Now that you do not want to do it and Allāh has turned towards you with mercy and revoked the command, then perform the ritual prayer, pay the wealth tax, obey Allāh and His Messenger; and Allāh is Aware of what you do.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

The purpose of the charity was to test the sincerity of companions, and in that, they failed utterly. And so, after that test, the command was abrogated:
The only person who followed this verse and paid charity ten times to privately converse with the Prophet was ‘Alī bin Abī Tālib. As-Suyūṭī, ad-Dhurr al-Manthūr, Ibn Abī Shaybah, and al-Ḥākim in his Mustadrak and many others have quoted Imam ‘Alī saying: “There is a verse in Allāh’s Book which none has implemented before me nor will anyone act on it after, and that is the verse of private conversation…”

The Signs of Hypocrites & True Believers

58:14

۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا۟ قَوْمًا غَضِبَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِم مَّا هُم مِّنكُمْ وَلَا مِنْهُمْ وَيَحْلِفُونَ عَلَى ٱلْكَذِبِ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ ۝١٤

Have you not seen those hypocrites who befriend the Jewish people of Medina with whom Allāh is angry? Since they waver between disbelief and faith, these hypocrites are neither with you nor are they with those they befriend; and they falsely swear that they are with you while they know that they are liars.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:15

أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ عَذَابًۭا شَدِيدًا ۖ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ ۝١٥

Allāh has prepared a severe punishment for them; they were surely evil in what they were doing.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:16

ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَٰنَهُمْ جُنَّةًۭ فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ ۝١٦

Whenever believers had suspicions about them, the hypocrites acted deceitfully: they made their oaths of loyalty as a cover and thus barred themselves and others from the way of Allāh; so they shall have a disgraceful punishment.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:17

لَّن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَئًْا ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ ۝١٧

Neither their wealth nor their children shall ever avail them in the least against Allāh; they are the inmates of the Fire, therein they shall abide.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:18

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًۭا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُۥ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ ۖ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ ٱلْكَٰذِبُونَ ۝١٨

The day when Allāh shall raise them all together, they will swear to Him as they falsely swear to you now, thinking that they indeed are on something solid—surely, they are the liars!S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

For the hypocrites’ false oath on the Day of Judgement, see 6:23.

58:19

ٱسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ فَأَنسَىٰهُمْ ذِكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ حِزْبُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ هُمُ ٱلْخَٰسِرُونَ ۝١٩

Satan has overcome them and has consequently caused them to forget the remembrance of Allāh. They are the party of Satan; verily, the party of Satan are the losers!S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:20

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَآدُّونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى ٱلْأَذَلِّينَ ۝٢٠

Surely those who oppose Allāh and His Messenger, they are among the most abased.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:21

كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا۠ وَرُسُلِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌۭ ۝٢١

Allāh has ordained: “I and My Messengers will surely prevail.” Verily Allāh is Strong and Mighty.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)

58:22

لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًۭا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلَْٔاخِرِ يُوَآدُّونَ مَنْ حَآدَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ ءَابَآءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَٰنَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ كَتَبَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْإِيمَٰنَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍۢ مِّنْهُ ۖ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ حِزْبُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزْبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ۝٢٢

You shall not find a people who believe in Allāh and the Last Day loving anyone who opposes Allāh and His Messenger even though they be their fathers, or their children, or their brothers, or their clan. These are the people in whose hearts He has ordained faith and supported them with a spirit and grace from Himself. And He shall admit them into gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in it forever while Allāh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. They are the Allāh’s Party; Oh, Yes! Surely Allāh’s Party is the successful one.S. M. Rizvi (Explanatory)