About the Surah

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

O Prophet [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)]! Fear Allah (and don’t fear any-body else nor worry about their threats). And don’t obey the disbelievers (who oppose you openly) and the hypocrites (who secretly support the disbelievers). (Obey Allah Only). Indeed, Allah is the All-Knower, the All-Wise.

(Obeying Allah means) Follow what is revealed to you from your Creator. Verily, Allah is Well Acquainted with what you do.

And put your complete trust in Allah (against their threats) and Allah is Suf-ficient as a Disposer of Affairs.

Allah has not made two hearts for any man inside his body. And your wives do not become your mothers when you say to your wives: “You are like my mother’s back.” And your adopted sons are not your real sons. That is only what you utter from your mouth (which is not the truth). But Allah speaks the truth, and He guides you to the Right Path.

Call them (adopted sons) by the names of their fathers. That is more just with Allah. But if you don’t know their fathers’ name, then they are your broth-ers in faith and your friends. And there is no sin for you regarding this if you happen to make a mistake. However, if you do it intentionally, it will be a sin. (Hence, ask for Allah’s forgiveness, since) Allah is Very-Forgiving, Most Merci-ful.

The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) has more rights on believers than believers have for their own selves (since their own selves lead them to good as well as bad but the Prophet(may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) guides them to goodness only), and the Prophet’s wives are mothers154 of the believers. In fact, the blood relatives have more mutual right, in the Book of Allah, than the other believers and emigrants (from Makkah), except if you intend to show kindness to your friends (by making a will for them upto one third of your wealth). This command is written in Allah’s Book (i.e. Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz).

And (remember) when We took from the Prophets their covenant, and from you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!], and from Nuh ( )  , Ibrahim ( )  , Musa ( )   and Isa ( )   the son of Maryam. And We took from them a firm covenant. [Notice that Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is the last Prophet but his name is mentioned first of all, showing his high status among the Prophets].

So that Allah may ask the truthful people (i.e. Prophets) about conveying Allah’s message completely and We have prepared a painful torment for the dis-believers.

O you who believe! Remember Allah’s Favours upon you when huge armies came against you, so We sent against them a wind (which destroyed their tents) and troops which you did not see (i.e. angels during the battle of Al-Ahzaab). And Allah is All-Seer of what you do.

When your enemies came upon you from above you and from below you, and when your eyes were staring (due to terror) and the hearts reached to the throats, and several doubts were created in you about Allah (this was the state of mind of some believers at that time).

There the believers were tested and they were shaken with an extremely se-vere shaking.

And when the hypocrites and those with a disease (of doubt-fulness) in their hearts said: “Allah and His messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) have made only a deceiving promise.”

And when a group of them said: “O people of Yathrib (Al-Madinah)! It is not a suitable site for you to stay (it is like inviting death). You better retreat back to your homes.” And another group of them asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) for the permission (to go back home), saying: “Truly, our homes are not secure (from the enemy)”, although their homes were not unsecure. In fact, they simply wished to flee from there.

And if (the enemy forces) are made to enter (the city) from all directions and they (the hypocrites) are asked to revert to disbelief, they will not hesitate, but little, to go back to disbelief (i.e. they love and long for disbelief).

[O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] Say: “Your fleeing will not benefit you at all if you flee with fear of death or being killed. You will be enjoying worldly life only for a short time (eventually you have to taste death).”

Say: “Who can protect you from Allah if He intends to harm you or (who can stop it) if He intends to show His mercy to you?” And they will not find any protector or helper for themselves besides Allah.

Allah is fully aware of those among you who hold back others and they say to their brethren: “Come along and join us.” And they come to the battle rarely (since they are afraid of death).

They are extremely miser in helping you [in (i) digging the ditch (ii) in fighting (iii) financially]. Then when fear comes, you will see them looking to-wards you, with their eyes revolving like the one over whom death hovers. But when the fear disappears, they verbally attack you with their sharp tongues. They are very greedy for riches. (In fact,) they have not believed. So Allah has made all their deeds null and void and that is very easy for Allah.

They think that the forces (of the disbelievers) have not yet withdrawn. And if the forces come again, they wish that they were in the desert among the villag-ers, seeking news about you (from a remote area without seeing this bitter fighting). And if (some of them cannot go to the villages and) they happen to be among you, they shall fight very casually or ineffectively.

Indeed, there is an excellent example in the Messenger of Allah to follow for everyone who hopes for the meeting with Allah and the Hereafter and remembers Allah much (i.e. if the Messenger is participating in the battle, why should you shun it?) (Also see Surah Aal-Imran:31)

(Some believers have special virtues) and when the believers saw the (big) troops of the disbelievers, they said: “This is what Allah and His messenger had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)] had spoken the truth.” And it increased their faith and submission to Allah.

There are men among the believers who have been true with their promises to Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their pledges (i.e. became martyrs) and others are (anxiously) waiting for it, but they have not even slightly changed (their commitment).

(In the following four Verses the wisdom behind the Battle of Ahzab is de-scribed). So that Allah may reward the men of truth with their truthful (charac-ter), and punish the hypocrites, if He wills, or accept their repentance. Indeed, Allah is Very-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

And Allah drove away the disbelievers in their rage (anger) without achiev-ing any benefit. And Allah was Sufficient for the believers in the fighting (i.e. Allah sent angels and bitter wind and thus the believers did not have to fight to defeat the disbelievers). And Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty.

And those People of the Book, who helped the dis-believers, (Allah) brought them down from their fortress. And Allah did put fear in their hearts, a group (of them) you killed and a group (of them) you made prisoners.

And He made you (the believers) to inherit their lands, their houses, and their wealth and also the lands on which the believers had not yet put their foot on. (It means (i) Khaybar or (ii) Makkah or (iii) Persia and Rome or (iv) all lands which Muslims will conquer in future – Fath al-Qadeer).

O Prophet [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)]! Say to your wives: “If you desire this worldly life, and its pomp and show, then come! I will make a provision for you and release you in a nice way (i.e. divorce you).

“And if you desire Allah and His Messenger (may Allah’s peace and bless-ings be upon him) (i.e. intend to remain the Prophet’s (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) wives in spite of extreme poverty), and the home of the Hereafter, then indeed, Allah has prepared for the good-doers amongst you a fan-tastic reward.”

O Wives of the Prophet! Whoso-ever amongst you will show an indecent behaviour towards the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), there shall be double punishment for her and it is very easy for Allah. (Since a small mistake from people of high esteem is considered a big mistake).

And whosoever amongst you is obedient to Allah and His Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and does good deeds, We shall give her double reward, and We have prepared for her generous provision (i.e. Paradise).

       O Wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women (you have a very esteemed status). If you fear Allah, then don’t be soft in your speech (with other men) since it induces a wrong idea for those who have a disease in their hearts. And you should speak in a customary manner.

       And stay in your houses. (But if you have to go out of your home out of necessity) don’t make a dazzling display (of your ornamentation) like the time of ignorance, and perform Salat and pay the poor-due and obey Allah and His Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Indeed, Allah wishes to remove even (the minor) sins of the members of the family of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and keeps them fully purified (even from minor sins).

       (In order to follow these com-mands, you have to have know-ledge of these commands). Remember what is recited in your houses from the Verses of Allah and the Prophet’s Sunnah. Indeed, Allah is Most Subtle, Well-Acquainted (with everything).

       Indeed, the Muslims (i.e. who do good deeds like Salat, pay poor-due, etc), men and women, the believing  men and women (i.e. with correct Faith), the men and women who are obedient to Allah, the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and actions and also in faith and intention), the men and women who are patient, the men and women who are humble, and the men and women who give the poor-due, the men and women who fast, the men and women who guard their chastity and the men and women who remember Allah much – Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise). (Hence, reward is equal for both men and women and it will not be changed due to their gender).

       And when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, then any believer, man or woman, does not have any right (to modify it). Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), he has clearly strayed away (from the Right Path).

       And (remember) when you were advising that person [Zaid bin Harith ], on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace (guided him to Islam, and released him from slavery) and you [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] have done him favour [educated him, freed him, married him to Zainab ], saying: “Hold on to your wife [Zainab ] and fear Allah.” And you were hiding in your heart what Allah was going to reveal. And you did fear people (in this matter) but Allah has more right that you should fear Him. Hence, when Zaid  had accomplished his desire from her (i.e. divorced her), We gave her to you in marriage, so that in the future there may be no difficulty for the believers regarding (the marriage of) the wives of their adopted sons when they have accomplished their desire from them (i.e. they have divorced them). And Allah’s Command must be fulfilled.

       (Here is the answer to the people’s blame). There is no blame on the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) in that which Allah has made lawful for him. That has been Allah’s way with those (Prophets) who have passed away before this. And the Command of Allah is decreed with specific (wisdom and) time.

       (All the Prophets of the past) used to convey the message of Allah and feared Him and did not fear anybody except Allah. And Allah is Sufficient for the accountability. (Then why fear people? He will punish those who blame you. Hence, don’t be sad about their blame).

       Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last one among the Prophets. And Allah is the All-Knower of everything.

       O you who believe! Engage yourselves in the remembrance of Allah excessively. 

       And glorify His praises in the morning and in the evening.

       He (Allah) sends His blessings on you and (with His Command) His angels also send blessings on you (i.e. they pray to Allah to bless you and forgive you), so that Allah may bring you out from the darkness (i.e. all kinds of ignorances) into light (of Islam). And Allah is Most Merciful to the believers.

       On the Day the believers meet Him (Allah), their (mutual) greetings shall be “Peace” (and the angels will also greet them with it. This is the spiritual reward for the believers. And physical reward will be that) Allah has prepared for them a generous reward (i.e. Paradise).

       O Prophet [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)]! Indeed, We have sent you as a witness (in the Hereafter), and (in this world) you are a bearer of glad tidings (to the believers) and a warner (for the disbelievers).

       And (in general) you are one who invites everyone to Allah, with the Permission of Allah, and you are like a lamp giving out light (by the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah).

       And give glad tidings to the believers that they will have a Great Bounty from Allah.

       And don’t obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites and disregard the hardships caused by them to you, and put your (complete) trust in Allah and Allah is Sufficient as a Trustee.

       O you who believe! When you marry believing women, and then you divorce them before you have sexual intercourse with them, then there is no (divorce) period to be counted for them. So give them some gift and release them (i.e. divorce them) in a pleasant manner. (Same law is applied to the women of the People of the Book. However, the believers are encouraged to marry believing women).

       O Prophet [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)]! Indeed, We have made lawful to you your wives, to whom you have paid their bridal-money, and those slave-girls who are (given to you by Islamic law), and the daughters of your paternal uncles, and daughters of your paternal aunts, and daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who immigrated (from Makkah) with you, and a believing woman if she voluntarily offers herself to the Prophet, and as long as the Prophet also wishes to marry her. It is a special privilege for you only and it is not permissible for the rest of the believers. We are fully aware of the laws We have ordained for the believers regarding their wives and the slave-girls (given to them by Islamic law). This is so that you don’t feel any hardship. And Allah is Very-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] You may put off the turn of any of your wives and receive whom you will. There is no sin for you to receive the one whose (turn) you have set aside (temporarily). It is expected that they will be comforted by this and not grieved and they will be pleased with whatever you give them. (They would have grieved if they missed their fixed turns. When they learn about the special favour of Allah to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), they will have no ground to grumble and will be pleased). And Allah knows what is in your hearts. And Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.

       [O Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)!] It is not lawful for you to marry other women after this, (nor to replace them as your wives) even though you are attracted by their beauty, except (i.e. you may have additional) slave-girls (which are assigned to you by Islamic law). And Allah is Watcher over all things.

       O you who believe! Don’t enter the Prophet’s (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) houses, unless you are given permission to take a meal there. Don’t go (too early) to wait there for the preparation of the meal. However, when you are invited, then you may enter (his houses). When you have taken the meal, do leave the place. And don’t sit around for mutual talk. Indeed, such behaviour bothers the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and he is shy to tell you (to leave the place), but Allah is not shy of telling you the truth. And when you ask (his wives) about anything, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not permissible for you to annoy the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) [i.e. (i) by entering his house without permission (ii) by overstaying in his house without his consent (iii) by speaking to his wives without a screen]. And it is not lawful for you to marry his wives after his death. Indeed, it will be a major sin in the sight of Allah. (Making an intention of it in your heart or expressing it by tongue is a major sin also).

       Whether you reveal anything or hide it, indeed, Allah is All-Knower of everything.

       (There are some exceptions regarding the veil) it is no sin for the women (if they appear without the veil) 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 fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Witness over everything.

       Allah sends His Blessings on Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), and  His angels also (pray to Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Ask Allah to bless Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), and (you should) greet him with the Islamic way of greeting i.e. As-Salamu-Alaikum.

       Indeed, those who annoy Allah and His messenger (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), Allah has cursed them in this world and in the Hereafter (i.e. deprived them of His Mercy), and has prepared for them a humiliating torment.

       And those who annoy be-lieving men and women without any mistake on their part, they have committed a crime of slander and an obvious sin.

       O Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)! Tell your wives and your daughters and the believing women to wear their cloaks all over their bodies. In this way they will be identified readily and will not be annoyed by others. And Allah is Most-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

       If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease (for illegal sex) and those who spread false news among the people of Al-Madinah (to depress the believers) don’t stop, we shall definitely make you dominate them (to cause their destruction), then they will not be able to stay (in Al-Madinah) as your neighbours except for a short while.

       They are deprived of the Mercy of Allah. They shall be captured wherever they are found, and killed terribly. (It is not a command but a supplication against them. Since the hypocrites stopped their shameful activities, hence this instruction was not implemented – Fath-al-Qadeer).

       (This is not for these hypocrites only). That was the Way of Allah in the case of all those who passed away before them, and you will not find any change in the Way of Allah. 

       People ask you concerning (the timing) of the Day of Resurrection. Say: “Only Allah has knowledge of it. (When time is unknown) you don’t know it may occur very shortly!”

       Indeed, Allah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a blazing fire.

       They will reside there forever, and they will not find a protector, nor a helper.

       On the Day when their faces will be turned over repeatedly in the Fire, they will say: “Alas! We wish that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed His Messenger [Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him)].”

       And they will say: “Our Creator! Indeed, we obeyed our leaders and our big shots, and they misled us from the (Right) Way.”

       “Our Creator! Award them double punishment and curse them with a big curse!”

       O you who believe! Don’t act like those who tortured Musa ( )  , but Allah cleared him of that which they blamed him for, and Musa ( )   was an esteemed person (in the sight of Allah).

       O you who believe! Fear Allah and always speak straight and justly.

       (As a reward for it) He will motivate you and enable you to do more good deeds and will forgive your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His messenger, then he has achieved a great success.

       Indeed, We offered Our trust to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and were afraid of it. But man agreed to bear it. Indeed, he was unjust (to himself) and was ignorant (of its results).

       (The purpose of making the man bear this trust is) so that Allah may punish the hypocrites, men and women and idolaters, men and women, and so that Allah may accept the repentance of believers, men and women (by letting their beliefs be known). And Allah is Very-Forgiving, Most Merciful.