Verse:62 Commentary Commentary

Some etiquettes and injunctions in regard to meetings with the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ' in particular, and in the society in general

The above verses contain two injunctions. The first injunction is that when the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم call people for the meeting in connection with jihad or any other religious matter, the demand of the faith is that all should attend and must not leave the meeting without his permission. If there is an emergency, permission may be sought from the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ، who was advised that unless there is special need and requirement, permission may be granted on such requests. In the same connection those hypocrites are condemned who would come to attend the meeting only to fulfill the obligation of faith, but would quietly sneak out under the cover of some other person.

This verse was revealed at the time of the battle of Ahzab, when the Arab disbelievers and other groups joined together and suddenly attacked Madinah. After consultations with the companions, the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم consented to dig up a trench to defend against the attack. For this reason this battle is also known as 'the battle of trench (Khandaq) '. This battle was fought in Shawwal 5th Hijra. (Qurtubi)

Baihaqi and Ibn Ishaq have reported that the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم himself had taken part in the digging of the trench. But the hypocrites used to come late in the first place, and after doing a little bit of work just to show their presence, would sneak away quietly. As against this all the believers were putting in their best, and in case of any need or emergency would take permission from the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم before leaving the work. At that point this verse was revealed. (Mazhari)

A question and its answer

It appears from this verse that it is forbidden to get up and leave from the presence of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم without seeking his permission. But there are several incidents when companions used to leave his meeting when they wished and would not deem it necessary to take his permission. The answer to this point is that the injunction mentioned in the present verse is not an injunction for ordinary meetings, but it is meant for specific gatherings, which the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم might have called for some need, as was the case at the time of battle of the trench.

The phrase ) عَلَىٰ أَمْرٍ‌ جَامِعٍ (for a collective matter - 62) is itself pointing toward this exclusivity.

What does أَمْرٍ‌ جَامِعٍ (collective matter) mean?

There are different views on this point. The most evident explanation is that this phrase is used for such acts for which the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم felt necessary to collect the people, as he regarded it important to collect the people for digging the trench on the occasion of battle of Ahzab. (Qurtubi - Mazhari)

Is this injunction exclusive to meetings of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم or is general?

Since this injunction is issued for a religious and Islamic need, all the jurists agree that it is not exclusive to meetings of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم . The same injunction would apply to any Imam or ruler of the Muslims who is in control of the government, if he called up a meeting. It is obligatory to attend the meetings called up by the rulers and it is not lawful to leave it without permission. (Qurtubi - Mazhari - Bayan ul-Quran)

This is but obvious that this injunction has greater stress and emphasis for meetings called up by the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ، and its opposition is open callousness. As for the common meetings and gatherings (not convened by a ruler), acting upon this injunction is surely preferable and commendable from the point of view of Islamic social etiquette. When Muslims are gathered in a meeting for deliberation or action on a collective issue, one should Ie:av ( the meeting only after taking permission from the presiding person.

The second injunction

The second injunction is given in the last verse: Verse:63 Commentary لَّا تَجْعَلُوا دُعَاءَ الرَّ‌سُولِ بَيْنَكُمْ

Do not take the call of the messenger among you as a call of one of you to another - 24:63.

One explanation of this verse is that "call of the messenger" means calling of the people by the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم (which implies that "call" is the act of the messenger). Thus the meaning of the verse is, when the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم call people, it should not be taken as a common call of an

ordinary person, in which one has the choice to go or not to go. In the case of a call by the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم it becomes obligatory to go to him and leaving the meeting without his permission is unlawful. In the context of the verse the above explanation appears more appropriate. That is why Mazhari and Bayan ul-Qur'an have adopted this explanation. The other explanation of "call of the messenger" is related by Ibn Kathir and Qurtubi on authority of Sayyidna ` Abdullah Ibn ` Abbas ؓ . According to this explanation it means calling of the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم by the people for some need which implies that 'the messenger' is the object of the 'call'.

On the basis of this explanation the meaning of the verse would be that when you Call the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for some need, do not call him by his name saying ` Ya Muhammad یا محمد ، as you call others. This is disrespect to him. Therefore, call him by an honorific form of address such as ` Ya Rasul Allah i.e. یا رسول اللہ or ` Ya Nabiyy Allah' یا نبی اللہ . In the final analysis it is obligatory on all Muslims to have respect and veneration for the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and to avoid all such things which are in conflict with respect and etiquette, or which may cause inconvenience to the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم . This injunction is similar in nature to many of those enjoined in Surah al-Hujurat, for instance لَا تَجْهَرُ‌وا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ‌ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ (49:2) It means that when you talk to the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم keep in mind his respect, and do not talk in a loud voice, as people do while talking to each other. A similar example is إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُنَادُونَكَ مِن وَرَ‌اءِ الْحُجُرَ‌اتِ (49:4) which means that when he is inside the house, one must not call him out, rather wait for him outside until he comes out on his own.

A Warning

It has also been inferred from the second explanation that as a common etiquette it is incumbent upon Muslims to pay respect to the elders, and to call them by their names is disrespect. Elders should always be called with titles of respect.

Alhamdulillah

The Commentary on

Surah An-Nur

Ends here. Verse:64 Commentary - - -