Surah Al-Mujadila

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · Al-Mujadila

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

Qad sami'a Allahu qawla allati tujadiluka fi zawjiha wa tashtaki ila Allah, wallahu yasma'u tahawurakuma, inna Allaha sami'un basir

Allah has heard the words of the woman who disputes with you about her husband and complains to Allah, and Allah hears your dialogue. Allah is Hearing, Seeing.

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

Alladhina yuzahiruna minkum min nisa'ihim ma hunna ummahatihim, in ummahatuhum illa alla'i waladnahum, wa innahum layaquluna munkaran mina al-qawli wa zura, wa inna Allaha la'afuwwun ghafur

Those of you who declare their wives to be like their mothers: they are not their mothers. Their mothers are only those who gave birth to them. They are saying something rejected and false. Allah is Pardoning, Forgiving.

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

Walladhina yuzahiruna min nisa'ihim thumma ya'uduna lima qalu fatahriru raqabatin min qabli an yatamassa, dhalikum tu'azuna bih, wallahu bima ta'maluna khabir

Those who declare their wives to be like their mothers and then go back on what they said must free a slave before the two touch each other. That is what you are admonished with, and Allah is Aware of what you do.

﴾٤﴿ 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

Faman lam yajid fasiyamu shahrayni mutatabi'ayni min qabli an yatamassa, faman lam yastati' fa-it'amu sittina miskina, dhalika litu'minu billahi wa rasulih, wa tilka hududu Allah, wa lil-kafirina 'adhabun alim

Whoever does not find one must fast two consecutive months before the two touch each other. Whoever is not able must feed sixty poor people. That is so you may believe in Allah and His Messenger. These are the limits of Allah, and for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.

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

Inna alladhina yuhadduna Allaha wa rasulahu kubitu kama kubita alladhina min qablihim, wa qad anzalna ayatin bayyinat, wa lil-kafirina 'adhabun muhin

Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger are humbled as those before them were humbled. We have sent down clear signs, and for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.

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

Yawma yab'athuhumu Allahu jami'an fayunabbi'uhum bima 'amilu, ahsahu Allahu wa nasuh, wallahu 'ala kulli shay'in shahid

On the day Allah raises them all and informs them of what they did. Allah has counted it and they forgot it. Allah is Witness over all things.

﴾٧﴿ 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

Alam tara anna Allaha ya'lamu ma fi as-samawati wa ma fi al-ard, ma yakunu min najwa thalathatin illa huwa rabi'uhum wa la khamsatin illa huwa sadisuhum wa la adna min dhalika wa la akthara illa huwa ma'ahum ayna ma kanu, thumma yunabbi'uhum bima 'amilu yawma al-qiyamah, inna Allaha bikulli shay'in 'alim

Do you not see that Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth? There is no private conversation of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, nor fewer than that nor more but He is with them wherever they are. Then He will inform them of what they did on the Day of Resurrection. Allah knows all things.

﴾٨﴿ 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

Alam tara ila alladhina nuhu 'ani an-najwa thumma ya'uduna lima nuhu 'anhu wa yatanajawna bil-ithmi wal-'udwani wa ma'siyati ar-rasul, wa idha ja'uka hayyawka bima lam yuhayyika bihi Allahu wa yaquluna fi anfusihim lawla yu'adhdhibuna Allahu bima naqul, hasbuhum jahannamu yaslawnaha, fabi'sa al-masir

Do you not see those who were forbidden private counsel and then return to what they were forbidden, and confer in sin, aggression, and disobedience to the Messenger? When they come to you they greet you with a greeting Allah has not greeted you with, and they say within themselves: why does Allah not punish us for what we say? Hell is enough for them. They will burn in it, and wretched is that destination.

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

Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu idha tanajaytum fala tatanajaw bil-ithmi wal-'udwani wa ma'siyati ar-rasul, wa tanajaw bil-birri wat-taqwa, wattaqu Allaha alladhi ilayhi tuhsharun

You who believe, when you confer privately, do not confer in sin, aggression, and disobedience to the Messenger. Confer in righteousness and God-consciousness, and fear Allah, to whom you will be gathered.

﴾١٠﴿ إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّجْوَىٰ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ لِيَحْزُنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَيْسَ بِضَآرِّهِمْ شَيْـًٔا إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Innama an-najwa mina ash-shaytani liyahzuna alladhina amanu wa laysa bidarrihim shay'an illa bi-idhni Allah, wa 'ala Allahi falyatawakkali al-mu'minun

Private counsel of that kind is from Shaytan, to grieve those who believe. It does not harm them at all except by the permission of Allah. Let the believers rely on Allah.

﴾١١﴿ 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

Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu idha qila lakum tafassahu fi al-majalisi fafsahu yafsahi Allahu lakum, wa idha qila unshuzu fanshuzu yarfa'i Allahu alladhina amanu minkum walladhina utu al-'ilma darajat, wallahu bima ta'maluna khabir

You who believe, when you are told to make room in the gatherings, make room, and Allah will make room for you. When you are told to rise, rise. Allah raises those of you who believe, and those given knowledge, by degrees. Allah is Aware of what you do.

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

Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu idha najaytumu ar-rasula faqaddimu bayna yaday najwakum sadaqah, dhalika khayrun lakum wa athar, fa-in lam tajidu fa-inna Allaha ghafurun rahim

You who believe, when you consult the Messenger privately, present a charity before your consultation. That is better for you and purer. If you do not find the means, then Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

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

A-ashfaqtum an tuqaddimu bayna yaday najwakum sadaqat, fa-idh lam taf'alu wa taba Allahu 'alaykum fa-aqimu as-salata wa atu az-zakata wa ati'u Allaha wa rasulah, wallahu khabirun bima ta'malun

Did you fear to present charities before your consultation? Since you did not do it, and Allah turned to you, then establish the prayer, give the zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah is Aware of what you do.

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

Alam tara ila alladhina tawallaw qawman ghadiba Allahu 'alayhim ma hum minkum wa la minhum wa yahlifuna 'ala al-kadhibi wa hum ya'lamun

Do you not see those who take as allies a people Allah is angry with? They are not of you nor of them, and they swear to a lie while they know.

﴾١٥﴿ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ عَذَابًۭا شَدِيدًا ۖ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ

A'adda Allahu lahum 'adhaban shadida, innahum sa'a ma kanu ya'malun

Allah has prepared a severe punishment for them. Evil is what they have been doing.

﴾١٦﴿ ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَٰنَهُمْ جُنَّةًۭ فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ مُّهِينٌۭ

Ittakhadhu aymanahum junnatan fasaddu 'an sabili Allahi falahum 'adhabun muhin

They took their oaths as a shield and turned people away from the path of Allah, so for them is a humiliating punishment.

﴾١٧﴿ لَّن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

Lan tughniya 'anhum amwaluhum wa la awladuhum mina Allahi shay'a, ula'ika ashabu an-nar, hum fiha khalidun

Their wealth and their children will avail them nothing against Allah. Those are the companions of the Fire. They remain in it.

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

Yawma yab'athuhumu Allahu jami'an fayahlifuna lahu kama yahlifuna lakum, wa yahsabuna annahum 'ala shay', ala innahum humu al-kadhibun

On the day Allah raises them all, they will swear to Him as they swear to you, and they think they stand on something. They are the liars.

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

Istahwadha 'alayhimu ash-shaytanu fa-ansahum dhikra Allah, ula'ika hizbu ash-shaytan, ala inna hizba ash-shaytani humu al-khasirun

Shaytan overcame them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah. Those are the party of Shaytan. The party of Shaytan are the losers.

﴾٢٠﴿ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُحَآدُّونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى ٱلْأَذَلِّينَ

Inna alladhina yuhadduna Allaha wa rasulahu ula'ika fi al-adhallin

Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger are among the most debased.

﴾٢١﴿ كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا۠ وَرُسُلِىٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌۭ

Kataba Allahu la-aghlibanna ana wa rusuli, inna Allaha qawiyyun 'aziz

Allah has written: I will prevail, I and My messengers. Allah is Strong, Exalted in Might.

﴾٢٢﴿ لَّا تَجِدُ قَوْمًۭا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ 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

La tajidu qawman yu'minuna billahi wal-yawmi al-akhiri yuwadduna man hadda Allaha wa rasulahu wa law kanu aba'ahum aw abna'ahum aw ikhwanahum aw 'ashiratahum, ula'ika kataba fi qulubihimu al-imana wa ayyadahum biruhin minh, wa yudkhiluhum jannatin tajri min tahtiha al-anharu khalidina fiha, radiya Allahu 'anhum wa radu 'anh, ula'ika hizbu Allah, ala inna hizba Allahi humu al-muflihun

You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day giving loyal affection to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they are their fathers, their sons, their brothers, or their kindred. He has written faith in their hearts and supported them with a spirit from Him, and He will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, remaining in them. Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. Those are the party of Allah. The party of Allah are the successful.

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

Surah Al-Mujadila is twenty-two verses, chapter 58, Madani, and it opens Juz 28. It is named after a woman. Not a prophet, not a battle, not a natural sign. A woman came to the Prophet ﷺ with a domestic problem, argued her case, was not immediately given the answer she wanted, and turned her complaint upward. The first verse of the surah is the report that it was heard.

Al-Bukhari records Aisha saying that she could hear some of the woman's words and not others while she stood in the room, and that Allah heard all of it from above the seven heavens. The mufassirun name her as Khawla bint Tha'labah. The rest of the surah is a set of rules for a community: how to speak in private, how to sit in a gathering, how to handle oaths, and where loyalty ends.

A woman argued in a room where she was barely audible. The reply came from above the seven heavens and the chapter is named after her.

Verses 1–4 · The Complaint That Was Heard

Allah has heard the words of the woman who disputes with you about her husband and complains to Allah.

Qad sami'a Allahu qawla allati tujadiluka fi zawjiha wa tashtaki ila Allah: Allah has heard. The verb is placed first and the surah opens on it. Before any ruling is given, the fact of being heard is established.

Wallahu yasma'u tahawurakuma: and Allah hears your dialogue, both sides of it. The exchange between her and the Prophet ﷺ is described as fully attended.

The practice at issue is zihar, a pre-Islamic formula in which a man declared his wife to be like his mother's back, which suspended her without divorcing her. She was left neither married nor free. The Quran calls the statement munkaran mina al-qawli wa zura, a rejected saying and a falsehood, and then dismantles the mechanism: your wives are not your mothers, your mothers are only those who gave birth to you.

The expiation is then given in three descending stages, which is the pattern of Quranic legal mercy. Free a slave. If not possible, fast two consecutive months before they touch each other. If not able, feed sixty poor people.

Notice that the ruling does not end the marriage. It reopens it, at a cost. The woman who complained got her household back rather than a settlement.

She was not asking for release. She was asking for her home, and the ruling handed it back to her.

Verses 7–10 · The Fourth in Every Room

There is no private conversation of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth.

Ma yakunu min najwa thalathatin illa huwa rabi'uhum wa la khamsatin illa huwa sadisuhum: the arithmetic is stated deliberately, one number after another, so it cannot be read as a figure of speech.

Wa la adna min dhalika wa la akthara illa huwa ma'ahum ayna ma kanu: nor fewer than that nor more, except He is with them wherever they are. The verse closes every gap the counting might have left.

The application follows immediately. Some were holding private counsel in sin, aggression, and disobedience to the Messenger, and were greeting him with a corrupted greeting. Al-Bukhari and Muslim record the incident where the greeting was twisted into a curse and Aisha answered them sharply, and the Prophet ﷺ told her that gentleness is answered with gentleness.

Idha tanajaytum fala tatanajaw bil-ithmi wal-'udwani wa ma'siyati ar-rasul, wa tanajaw bil-birri wat-taqwa: when you confer privately, do not confer in sin, aggression, and disobedience. Confer in righteousness and God-consciousness. Private conversation is not banned. Its content is regulated.

Innama an-najwa mina ash-shaytan liyahzuna alladhina amanu: private counsel of that kind is from Shaytan, in order to grieve the believers. The purpose named is not damage. It is grief, the feeling of being talked about, and the verse names it as the actual objective.

He is the fourth of three and the sixth of five. The room you thought was private has always had one more attendee.

Verse 11 · Make Room, and Be Raised

When you are told to make room in the gatherings, make room, and Allah will make room for you.

Tafassahu fi al-majalis fafsahu yafsahi Allahu lakum: make space and He makes space for you. The reward is described using the same verb as the act, which is a pattern worth noticing. What you do to others is done to you in kind.

Wa idha qila unshuzu fanshuzu: and when you are told to rise, rise. The instruction to give up your seat is issued alongside the instruction to take one, and both are treated as obedience.

Yarfa'i Allahu alladhina amanu minkum walladhina utu al-'ilma darajat: Allah raises those of you who believe, and those given knowledge, by degrees. Two groups named, and the second one is defined by knowledge rather than by wealth, lineage, or seniority.

The verse sits inside a passage about who sits where in a room, and it answers the status question underneath the seating question. The ranking system being described is not the one operating in the room.

Give up your seat when told. The ranking that matters is not decided by the seating.

Verses 12–13 · The Ruling That Was Eased

When you consult the Messenger privately, present a charity before your consultation.

Fa qaddimu bayna yaday najwakum sadaqah: give charity before you take his time in private. The ruling filters access by cost, and the cost goes to the poor.

Ali ibn Abi Talib is reported by al-Tirmidhi and others to have said that he alone acted on this verse, and that it was then abrogated. The ruling was in force briefly, and almost nobody paid.

Then verse 13 eases it. A a-shfaqtum an tuqaddimu bayna yaday najwakum sadaqat, fa idh lam taf'alu wa taba Allahu 'alaykum fa-aqimu as-salata wa atu az-zakah: did you fear to give charity before your consultation, and since you did not do it and Allah turned to you, then establish the prayer and give the zakat.

The passage is a test that was passed by one man and failed by everyone else, and the failure is answered with mercy rather than punishment. What replaced it was the standing obligation, prayer and zakat, which is the same structure Al-Muzzammil used when the night was eased.

A small price was set on his private time and almost no one paid it. The ruling lifted, and the obligation stayed.

Verses 14–22 · The Two Parties

They took their oaths as a shield and turned people away from the path of Allah.

Ittakhadhu aymanahum junnah: they took their oaths as a shield. Swearing is used as armor, a way to be believed without being trustworthy. The image is defensive, not offensive.

Istahwadha 'alayhimu ash-shaytanu fa-ansahum dhikra Allah: Shaytan overcame them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah. Ula'ika hizbu ash-shaytan. That is the party of Shaytan.

Then the hardest verse in the surah. La tajidu qawman yu'minuna billahi wal-yawmi al-akhiri yuwadduna man hadda Allaha wa rasulah, wa law kanu aba'ahum aw abna'ahum aw ikhwanahum aw 'ashiratahum: you will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day giving loyal affection to those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they are their fathers, their sons, their brothers, or their kindred.

The four categories are listed individually, ascending in difficulty, and none of them is granted an exception. The verse is not describing hatred of family. It is describing where affection stops being able to override allegiance.

Ula'ika kataba fi qulubihimu al-iman wa ayyadahum bi-ruhin minh: He has written faith in their hearts and supported them with a spirit from Him. Then the closing line. Ala inna hizba Allahi humu al-muflihun. The party of Allah are the successful.

Two parties, and the dividing line runs through the family. One is named after Shaytan and the other after Allah.

Structural Summary

Twenty-Two Verses. She Was Heard.

Verses 1–4The ComplaintA woman disputes, complains upward, and is heard. Zihar dismantled and expiated in three descending stages.

Verses 5–6The RecordThose who oppose Allah and His Messenger are humbled, and He has counted what they forgot.

Verses 7–10The FourthHe is the fourth of three and the sixth of five. Confer in righteousness, not in sin. Private counsel aimed at grief is from Shaytan.

Verse 11The GatheringMake room and room is made for you. Rise when told. Belief and knowledge are what raise a man by degrees.

Verses 12–13The EasingCharity before private consultation. One man paid it, the ruling lifted, prayer and zakat remained.

Verses 14–19The ShieldOaths used as armor, wealth and children availing nothing, and a party that forgot Allah until it forgot itself.

Verses 20–22The PartyLoyalty tested against fathers, sons, brothers, and kin. The party of Allah are the successful.

Why This Surah Is For You

The chapter is named after a woman with a domestic complaint that the room could barely hear. Before any ruling arrives, verse 1 establishes that it was heard in full. Any man who leads a household or an organization should read that ordering carefully. The hearing came first and the ruling came second.

Verse 7 is the most practical verse in the surah for a man who operates through private rooms. He is the fourth of three. Every closed conversation you have ever had about someone had one more attendee, and verse 10 names the objective of the wrong kind of private talk as grief.

Verse 11 answers the status question underneath every gathering. Make room, rise when asked, and understand that the ranking being applied is by belief and knowledge, not by the chair you are sitting in. The men who fight hardest for the seat are being ranked by a system that does not use seats.

Verse 22 is the one to sit with, because it is aimed at people you love. Fathers, sons, brothers, kin, listed one by one with no exemption granted. It does not command you to hate them. It sets the limit past which affection cannot function as allegiance.

The Practice · Daily Integration

Twenty-Two Verses. Confer in Righteousness.

Hear the complaint fully before you rule on it. Verse 1 puts the hearing before the ruling, and the person complaining could barely be heard in the room.

Run every private conversation through verse 7. He is the fourth. Say nothing in a closed room you would not have attributed to you.

Make room. Verse 11 is small and physical, and the reward is stated in the same verb as the act.

Give something before you ask for someone's time. Verses 12 and 13 set a price on access and sent the money to the poor, and almost nobody paid it.

She argued in a room that barely heard her. Allah heard her from above the seven heavens, and the chapter carries her name.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verse 11 / 44

The Verse

قَدْ سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ قَوْلَ ٱلَّتِى تُجَٰدِلُكَ فِى زَوْجِهَا

Qad sami'a Allahu qawla allati tujadiluka fi zawjiha

What does this verse say?