Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 31–35

33. Al-Ahzaab · The Clans

Madinan73 verses

۞ وَمَن يَقْنُتْ مِنكُنَّ لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتَعْمَلْ صَٰلِحًۭا نُّؤْتِهَآ أَجْرَهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهَا رِزْقًۭا كَرِيمًۭا

33:31But whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Apostle and acts righteously, We shall give her a twofold reward, and We will have in store for her a noble provision.

يَٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ إِنِ ٱتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ ٱلَّذِى فِى قَلْبِهِۦ مَرَضٌۭ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًۭا مَّعْرُوفًۭا

33:32O wives of the Prophet! You are not like other women: if you are wary [of Allah], do not be complaisant in your speech, lest he in whose heart is a sickness should aspire; speak honourable words.1

وَقَرْنَ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِيَّةِ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ۖ وَأَقِمْنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتِينَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِعْنَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ ٱلرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ ٱلْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًۭا

33:33Stay in your houses and do not flaunt your finery like the former [days of pagan] ignorance. Maintain the prayer and pay the zakat, and obey Allah and His Apostle. Indeed Allah desires to repel all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and purify you with a thorough purification.2

وَٱذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِى بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْحِكْمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ لَطِيفًا خَبِيرًا

33:34And remember what is recited in your homes of the signs of Allah and wisdom. Indeed Allah is all-attentive, all-aware.

إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَٰتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَٱلْقَٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْقَٰنِتَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّٰدِقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَٰشِعَٰتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمَٰتِ وَٱلْحَٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَٰفِظَٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا

33:35Indeed the muslim men and the muslim women, the faithful men and the faithful women, the obedient men and the obedient women, the truthful men and the truthful women, the patient men and the patient women, the humble men and the humble women, the charitable men and the charitable women, the men who fast and the women who fast, the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard, the men who remember Allah greatly and the women who remember [Allah greatly]—Allah holds in store for them forgiveness and a great reward.

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 33

1.In the tradition of Sahih Muslim (Published 1348), Ayesha says that this ayat was revealed when Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) collected Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Husain (a.s.) under the Yamani blanket. And this tradition is also found in Sahih Tirmidhi and Musnad Ahmad. On the contrary according to Tafseer Tabari, Abu Saeed Khudri has stated that when Umme Salmaa requested to come under the Kisa, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: You have a good end but there is no room for you under this Kisa. On this point some commentators have raised the question that when it is revealed under the discussion of the Ayats of wives then what is the justification to exclude them and to include others in it? But its clear reply is that firstly the context of the Ayat is not the proof because the Holy Quran is not a literary work or a compilation that it should be considered. There are many instances where one discussion starts after another and the earlier matter is again referred to. Secondly the subject of the Verse of Purification are the Ahle Bayt (a.s.) which is different from the topic of the wives and women. Thirdly, inspite of there being clear and established authentic traditions it is illogical and incorrect to derive the meaning on the basis of the context.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. Benefit

    The first ignorance indicates the period of Jahiliyya before the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and there is another indication that there must be a second period of ignorance that is to come later. And this period will also come to an end through another Muhammad, whom the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) has given both his name and Kunniyat.

  2. 1

    It should be clear that these ayats have begun with Qui La Zawajek. Then the word Azwaaz is changed into Nisa. Then in the Ayat-e-Tatheer the subject is changed into Ahle Bayt (a.s.), which shows that the import is also different and the meaning is also varying. It is also worth noting that all the honour, obedience and piety of the wives of the Prophet (s.a.) are related to their obedience of Allah and His Messenger (s.a.). If they are no longer pious and come out of their houses they are not worth respect anymore.

  3. 2

    The time is the time of the Prophet (s.a.) and the women are the wives of the Prophet (s.a.). However, the Almighty has prohibited make-up and sweet talk for them. Then what should be the command for ordinary women. How can they be allowed to decorate themselves and walk free among strangers?

  4. Benefit

    There is a possibility that Ayat-e-Tatheer was revealed separately and later the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had it placed over there. Or it mighty have been revealed together with the implied advice that you should be righteous since you are living with such purified personalities.