Abdullah Yusuf Ali Translation
1. O Ye who believe! Put not yourselves forward before Allah and His
Messenger. but fear Allah. for Allah is He Who hears and knows all things.
2. O ye who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet,
nor speak aloud to him in talk, as ye may speak aloud to one another, lest your
deeds become vain and ye perceive not.
3. Those that lower their voices
in the presence of Allah's Messenger,- their hearts has Allah tested for piety:
for them is Forgiveness and a great Reward.
4. Those who shout out to
thee from without the inner apartments - most of them lack understanding.
5. If only they had patience until thou couldst come out to them, it would
be best for them: but Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
6. O ye who
believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth,
lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards become full of repentance for
what ye have done.
7. And know that among you is Allah's Messenger. were
he, in many matters, to follow your (wishes), ye would certainly fall into
misfortune: But Allah has endeared the Faith to you, and has made it beautiful
in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you Unbelief, wickedness, and
rebellion: such indeed are those who walk in righteousness;-
8. A Grace
and Favour from Allah. and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.
9. If
two parties among the Believers fall into a quarrel, make ye peace between them:
but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other then fight ye
(all) against the one that transgresses until it complies with the command of
Allah; but if it complies then make peace between them with justice and be fair:
for Allah loves those who are fair (and just).
10. The Believers are but
a single Brotherhood: So make peace and reconciliation between your two
(contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive Mercy.
11. O
ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: It may be that the
(latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: It
may be that the (latter are better than the (former): Nor defame nor be
sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames:
Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has
believed: And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.
12. O ye
who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible): for suspicion in some cases
is a sin: And spy not on each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to
eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it...But fear Allah. For
Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.
13. O mankind! We created you from
a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes,
that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the
most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of
you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).
14. The desert Arabs say, "We believe." Say, "Ye have no faith; but ye
(only)say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' For not yet has Faith entered
your hearts. But if ye obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not belittle aught
of your deeds: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
15. Only those
are Believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and have never since
doubted, but have striven with their belongings and their persons in the Cause
of Allah. Such are the sincere ones, Were We then weary with the first Creation,
that they should be in confused doubt about a new Creation?
16. Say:
"What! Will ye instruct Allah about your religion? But Allah knows all that is
in the heavens and on earth: He has full knowledge of all things.
17.
They impress on thee as a favour that they have embraced Islam. Say, "Count not
your Islam as a favour upon me: Nay, Allah has conferred a favour upon you that
He has guided you to the faith, if ye be true and sincere.
18. "Verily
Allah knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth: and Allah Sees well all
that ye do."
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟
لَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
2. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا
تَرْفَعُوٓا۟ أَصْوَٰتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا۟ لَهُۥ
بِٱلْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَن تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَٰلُكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ
لَا تَشْعُرُونَ
3. إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَٰتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ
ٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱمْتَحَنَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ
لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ
4. إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنَادُونَكَ مِن
وَرَآءِ ٱلْحُجُرَٰتِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
5. وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ
صَبَرُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ تَخْرُجَ إِلَيْهِمْ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ
غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
6. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن جَآءَكُمْ
فَاسِقٌۢ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓا۟ أَن تُصِيبُوا۟ قَوْمًۢا بِجَهَٰلَةٍ
فَتُصْبِحُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَٰدِمِينَ
7. وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ
رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ لَوْ يُطِيعُكُمْ فِى كَثِيرٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ
وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْإِيمَٰنَ وَزَيَّنَهُۥ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ
وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْكُفْرَ وَٱلْفُسُوقَ وَٱلْعِصْيَانَ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ
ٱلرَّٰشِدُونَ
8. فَضْلًا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَنِعْمَةً ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
9. وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟
بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ فَإِنۢ بَغَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ فَقَٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى
تَبْغِى حَتَّىٰ تَفِىٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن فَآءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟
بَيْنَهُمَا بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ
10. إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ ۚ
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
11. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ
ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًا
مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ
وَلَا تَلْمِزُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا۟ بِٱلْأَلْقَٰبِ ۖ بِئْسَ
ٱلِٱسْمُ ٱلْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ ٱلْإِيمَٰنِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ
ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ
12. يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًا
مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا يَغْتَب
بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا
فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ
13.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ
شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ
أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
14. قَالَتِ ٱلْأَعْرَابُ
ءَامَنَّا ۖ قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ وَلَٰكِن قُولُوٓا۟ أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا
يَدْخُلِ ٱلْإِيمَٰنُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ لَا
يَلِتْكُم مِّنْ أَعْمَٰلِكُمْ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
15.
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ثُمَّ لَمْ
يَرْتَابُوا۟ وَجَٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ
أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّٰدِقُونَ
16. قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ ٱللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ
وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ
شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
17. يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَسْلَمُوا۟ ۖ قُل لَّا تَمُنُّوا۟
عَلَىَّ إِسْلَٰمَكُم ۖ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ هَدَىٰكُمْ
لِلْإِيمَٰنِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ
18. إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ
ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ
The Surah takes its name from verse 4 in which the word hujurat has occurred.
Period of Revelation
Traditions show and the subject
matter of the Surah also supports the same that this Surah is a collection of
the commandments and instructions sent down on different occasions, which have
been put together because of the relevancy of the theme. Moreover, the
traditions also show that most of these commandments were sent down during the
final stage of the Holy Prophet's life at Madinah. For instance, about verse 4
the commentators state that it was sent down concerning the Bani Tamim whose
deputation had arrived in Madinah and started calling out to the Holy Prophet
from outside the apartments (hujurat) of his wives, and according to all
biographical books on the Holy Prophet's life this deputation had visited
Madinah in A. H. 9. Likewise, about verse 6 a large number of the traditions of
Hadith confirm that it was sent down concerning Walid bin Uqbah whom the Holy
Prophet had sent to collect the zakat from the Bani al-Mustaliq, and it is well
known that Walid bin Uqabah had become a Muslim on the conquest of Makkah.
Subject Matter and Topics
The subject matter of this
Surah is to teach the Muslims the manners worthy of true believers.
In
the first five verses they have been taught the manners they should observe with
regard to Allah and His Messenger.
Then, they have been given the
instruction that it is not right to believe in every news blindly and to act
according to it, without due thought. If information is received about a person,
a group or a community, it should be seen carefully whether the means of the
information is reliable or not. If the means is not reliable, it should be
tested and examined to see whether the news is authentic or not before taking
any action on it.
Then, it has been told what attitude should the other
Muslims adopt in case two groups of the Muslims fall to mutual fighting.
Then the Muslims have been exhorted to safeguard against the evils that corrupt
collective life and spoil mutual relationships. Mocking and taunting each other,
calling others by nicknames, creating suspicions, prying into other people's
affairs and back biting are the evils which are not only sins in themselves but
they also corrupt society. Allah has mentioned all these evils separately and
forbidden them as unlawful.
After this, the national and racial
distinctions that cause universal corruption in the world have been condemned.
Nations and tribes and families pride of Ancestry and their looking down upon
others as inferior to themselves and their pulling down others only for the sake
of establishing their own superiority is an important factor that has filled the
world with injustices and tyranny. Allah in a brief verse has cut at the root of
this evil by stating that all men are descendants of the same one pair and their
division into tribes and communities is only for the sake of recognition, not
for boasting and pride, and there is no lawful basis of one man's superiority
over the other except on the basis of moral excellence.
In conclusion,
the people have been told that the real thing is not the verbal Profession of
the Faith but to believe in Allah and His messenger truly, to obey them in
practical life and to exert sincerely with one's self and wealth in the cause of
Allah. True believers are only those who adopt this attitude. As for those who
profess Islam merely orally without affirmation by the heart and then adopt an
attitude as if they had done someone a favor by accepting Islam, may be counted
among the Muslims in the world, may even be treated as Muslims in society, but
they cannot be counted as believers in the sight of Allah.