Surah 58. Al-Mujadila

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Verses [Section]: 1-6[1], 7-13 [2], 14-22 [3]

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Quran Text of Verse 1-658. Al-Mujadila Page 54258. Al-Mujadilaبِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِقَدْIndeedسَمِعَhas heardاللّٰهُAllahقَوْلَ(the) speechالَّتِیْ(of) one whoتُجَادِلُكَdisputes with youفِیْconcerningزَوْجِهَاher husbandوَ تَشْتَكِیْۤand she directs her complaintاِلَیtoاللّٰهِ ۖۗAllahوَ اللّٰهُAnd Allahیَسْمَعُhearsتَحَاوُرَكُمَا ؕ(the) dialogue of both of youاِنَّIndeedاللّٰهَAllahسَمِیْعٌۢ(is) All-Hearerبَصِیْرٌ All-Seer اَلَّذِیْنَThose whoیُظٰهِرُوْنَpronounce ziharمِنْكُمْamong youمِّنْ[from]نِّسَآىِٕهِمْ(to) their wivesمَّاnotهُنَّtheyاُمَّهٰتِهِمْ ؕ(are) their mothersاِنْNotاُمَّهٰتُهُمْ(are) their mothersاِلَّاexceptالّٰٓـِٔیْthose whoوَلَدْنَهُمْ ؕgave them birthوَ اِنَّهُمْAnd indeed theyلَیَقُوْلُوْنَsurely sayمُنْكَرًاan evilمِّنَ[of]الْقَوْلِ[the] wordوَ زُوْرًا ؕand a lieوَ اِنَّBut indeedاللّٰهَAllahلَعَفُوٌّ(is) surely Oft-Pardoningغَفُوْرٌ Oft-Forgiving وَ الَّذِیْنَAnd those whoیُظٰهِرُوْنَpronounce ziharمِنْ[from]نِّسَآىِٕهِمْ(to) their wivesثُمَّthenیَعُوْدُوْنَgo backلِمَاon whatقَالُوْاthey saidفَتَحْرِیْرُthen freeingرَقَبَةٍ(of) a slaveمِّنْbeforeقَبْلِbeforeاَنْ[that]یَّتَمَآسَّا ؕthey touch each otherذٰلِكُمْThatتُوْعَظُوْنَyou are admonishedبِهٖ ؕto itوَ اللّٰهُAnd Allahبِمَاof whatتَعْمَلُوْنَyou doخَبِیْرٌ (is) All-Aware فَمَنْThen whoeverلَّمْ(does) notیَجِدْfindفَصِیَامُthen fastingشَهْرَیْنِ(for) two monthsمُتَتَابِعَیْنِconsecutivelyمِنْbeforeقَبْلِbeforeاَنْ[that]یَّتَمَآسَّا ۚthey both touch each otherفَمَنْBut (he) whoلَّمْnotیَسْتَطِعْis ableفَاِطْعَامُthen (the) feedingسِتِّیْنَ(of) sixtyمِسْكِیْنًا ؕneedy one(s)ذٰلِكَThatلِتُؤْمِنُوْاso that you may believeبِاللّٰهِin Allahوَ رَسُوْلِهٖ ؕand His Messengerوَ تِلْكَand theseحُدُوْدُ(are the) limitsاللّٰهِ ؕ(of) Allahوَ لِلْكٰفِرِیْنَand for the disbelieversعَذَابٌ(is) a punishmentاَلِیْمٌ painful اِنَّIndeedالَّذِیْنَthose whoیُحَآدُّوْنَopposeاللّٰهَAllahوَ رَسُوْلَهٗand His Messengerكُبِتُوْا(will) be disgracedكَمَاasكُبِتَwere disgracedالَّذِیْنَthoseمِنْbefore themقَبْلِهِمْbefore themوَ قَدْAnd certainlyاَنْزَلْنَاۤWe have sent downاٰیٰتٍۭVersesبَیِّنٰتٍ ؕclearوَ لِلْكٰفِرِیْنَAnd for the disbelieversعَذَابٌ(is) a punishmentمُّهِیْنٌۚhumiliating یَوْمَ(On the) Dayیَبْعَثُهُمُ(when) Allah will raise themاللّٰهُ(when) Allah will raise themجَمِیْعًاallفَیُنَبِّئُهُمْand inform themبِمَاof whatعَمِلُوْا ؕthey didاَحْصٰىهُAllah has recorded itاللّٰهُAllah has recorded itوَ نَسُوْهُ ؕwhile they forgot itوَ اللّٰهُAnd Allahعَلٰی(is) overكُلِّallشَیْءٍthingsشَهِیْدٌ۠a Witness

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Surah Introduction

A companion named Khawlah bint Tha'labah had a disagreement with her husband, Aws ibn Aṣ-Ṣâmit, who then told her that she was as unlawful for him as the ẓahr (back) of his mother. This statement had been considered to be a form of divorce (known as ẓihâr) in Arabia. Khawlah came to the Prophet ( ﷺ ) to ask for his opinion. He ( ﷺ ) told her that he had not received any revelation in this regard, and that, based on tradition, she was divorced. She argued that she and her husband had children together who would suffer if their parents were separated. Then she started to plead to Allah as the Prophet ( ﷺ ) repeated the same answer. Eventually, this Medinian sûrah was revealed in response to her pleas, thereby abolishing this ancient practice. The sûrah emphasizes Allah's infinite knowledge and overwhelming power, and makes it clear that those who ally themselves with Allah and comply with His orders are bound to prevail, whereas those who challenge Him and ally themselves with His enemies will be debased and vanquished. This concept is elaborated upon in the next sûrah (verses 59:1-4 and 11-17).

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Translation of Verse 1-61. In the Name of Allah-the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

1. Indeed, Allah has heard the argument of the woman who pleaded with you ˹O Prophet˺ concerning her husband, and appealed to Allah. Allah has heard your exchange. Surely Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

2. Those of you who ˹sinfully˺ divorce their wives by comparing them to their mothers ˹should know that˺ their wives are in no way their mothers. None can be their mothers except those who gave birth to them. What they say is certainly detestable and false. Yet Allah is truly Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving.

3. Those who divorce their wives in this manner, then ˹wish to˺ retract what they said, must free a slave before they touch each other. This ˹penalty˺ is meant to deter you. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.

4. But if the husband cannot afford this, let him then fast two consecutive months before the couple touch each other. But if he is unable ˹to fast˺, then let him feed sixty poor people. This is to re-affirm your faith in Allah and His Messenger. These are the limits set by Allah. And the disbelievers will suffer a painful punishment.

5. Indeed, those who defy Allah and His Messenger will be debased, just like those before them. We have certainly sent down clear revelations. And the disbelievers will suffer a humiliating punishment.

6. On the Day Allah resurrects them all together, He will then inform them of what they have done. Allah has kept account of it all, while they have forgotten it. For Allah is a Witness over all things.

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Commentary