Sura 33, The Parties (Al-Ahzãb)
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[33:1] O you prophet, you shall reverence GOD and do not obey the
disbelievers and the hypocrites. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.
[33:2] Follow what is revealed to you from your Lord. GOD is fully
Cognizant of everything you all do.
[33:3] And put your trust in GOD. GOD suffices as an advocate.
Devotion to God Is Indivisible
[33:4] GOD did not give any man two hearts in his chest. Nor did
He turn your wives whom you estrange (according to your custom)
into your mothers.* Nor did He turn your adopted children into
genetic offspring. All these are mere utterances that you have
invented. GOD speaks the truth, and He guides in the (right) path.
Footnote
Do Not Change Your Names
[33:5] You shall give your adopted children names that preserve
their relationship to their genetic parents. This is more
equitable in the sight of GOD. If you do not know their parents,
then, as your brethren in religion, you shall treat them as
members of your family. You do not commit a sin if you make a
mistake in this respect; you are responsible for your purposeful
intentions. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[33:6] The prophet is closer to the believers than they are to
each other, and his wives are like mothers to them. The relatives
ought to take care of one another in accordance with GOD's
scripture. Thus, the believers shall take care of their relatives
who immigrate to them, provided they have taken care of their own
families first. These are commandments of this scripture.
Muhammad Pledges to Support God's Messenger of the Covenant*
[33:7] Recall that we took from the prophets their covenant,
including you (O Muhammad), Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus the
son of Mary. We took from them a solemn pledge.*
Footnote
[33:8] Subsequently, He will surely question the truthful about
their truthfulness, and has prepared for the disbelievers (in this
Quranic fact) a painful retribution.
The Battle of the Parties
[33:9] O you who believe, remember GOD's blessing upon you; when
soldiers attacked you, we sent upon them violent wind and
invisible soldiers. GOD is Seer of everything you do.
[33:10] When they came from above you, and from beneath you, your
eyes were terrified, your hearts ran out of patience, and you
harbored unbefitting thoughts about GOD.
[33:11] That is when the believers were truly tested; they were
severely shaken up.
[33:12] The hypocrites and those with doubts in their hearts said,
"What GOD and His messenger promised us was no more than an
illusion!"
[33:13] A group of them said, "O people of Yathrib, you cannot
attain victory; go back." Others made up excuses to the prophet:
"Our homes are vulnerable," when they were not vulnerable. They
just wanted to flee.
[33:14] Had the enemy invaded and asked them to join, they would
have joined the enemy without hesitation.
[33:15] They had pledged to GOD in the past that they would not
turn around and flee; making a pledge with GOD involves a great
responsibility.
[33:16] Say, "If you flee, you can never flee from death or from
being killed. No matter what happens, you only live a short while
longer."
[33:17] Say, "Who would protect you from GOD if He willed any
adversity, or willed any blessing for you?" They can never find,
beside GOD, any other Lord and Master.
[33:18] GOD is fully aware of the hinderers among you, and those
who say to their comrades, "Let us all stay behind." Rarely do
they mobilize for defense.
[33:19] Also, they are too stingy when dealing with you. If
anything threatens the community, you see their eyes rolling with
fear, as if death had already come to them. Once the crisis is
over, they whip you with sharp tongues. They are too stingy with
their wealth. These are not believers, and, consequently, GOD has
nullified their works. This is easy for GOD to do.
[33:20] They thought that the parties might come back. In that
case, they would wish that they were lost in the desert, asking
about your news from afar. Had the parties attacked you while they
were with you, they would rarely support you.
The Prophet's Courage*
[33:21] The messenger of GOD has set up a good example for those
among you who seek GOD and the Last Day, and constantly think
about GOD.
Footnote
[33:22] When the true believers saw the parties (ready to attack),
they said, "This is what GOD and His messenger have promised us,
and GOD and His messenger are truthful." This (dangerous
situation) only strengthened their faith and augmented their
submission.
[33:23] Among the believers there are people who fulfill their
pledges with GOD. Some of them died, while others stand ready,
never wavering.
[33:24] GOD will surely recompense the truthful for their
truthfulness, and will punish the hypocrites, if He so wills, or
redeem them. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
During Muhammad's Time
[33:25] GOD repulsed those who disbelieved with their rage, and
they left emptyhanded. GOD thus spared the believers any fighting.
GOD is Powerful, Almighty.
[33:26] He also brought down their allies among the people of the
scripture from their secure positions, and threw terror into their
hearts. Some of them you killed, and some you took captive.
[33:27] He made you inherit their land, their homes, their money,
and lands you had never stepped on. GOD is in full control of all
things.
Special Responsibility For Being Close
[33:28] O prophet, say to your wives, "If you are seeking this
life and its vanities, then let me compensate you and allow you to
go amicably.
[33:29] "But if you are seeking GOD and His messenger, and the
abode of the Hereafter, then GOD has prepared for the righteous
among you a great recompense."
Special Responsibility
[33:30] O wives of the prophet, if any of you commits a gross sin,
the retribution will be doubled for her. This is easy for GOD to
do.
[33:31] Any one of you who obeys GOD and His messenger, and leads
a righteous life, we will grant her double the recompense, and we
have prepared for her a generous provision.
Setting the Example
[33:32] O wives of the prophet, you are not the same as any other
women, if you observe righteousness. (You have a greater
responsibility.) Therefore, you shall not speak too softly, lest
those with disease in their hearts may get the wrong ideas; you
shall speak only righteousness.
[33:33] You shall settle down in your homes, and do not mingle
with the people excessively, like you used to do in the old days
of ignorance. You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and
give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and obey GOD and His
messenger. GOD wishes to remove all unholiness from you, O you who
live around the Sacred Shrine, and to purify you completely.
[33:34] Remember what is being recited in your homes of GOD's
revelations and the wisdom inherent therein. GOD is Sublime,
Cognizant.
Equality of Men and Women
[33:35] The submitting men, the submitting women, the believing
men, the believing women, the obedient men, the obedient women,
the truthful men, the truthful women, the steadfast men, the
steadfast women, the reverent men, the reverent women, the
charitable men, the charitable women, the fasting men, the fasting
women, the chaste men, the chaste women, and the men who
commemorate GOD frequently, and the commemorating women; GOD has
prepared for them forgiveness and a great recompense.
Major Error Committed by Muhammad Muhammad the Man Disobeys Muhammad
the Messenger
[33:36] No believing man or believing woman, if GOD and His
messenger issue any command, has any choice regarding that
command. Anyone who disobeys GOD and His messenger has gone far
astray.
[33:37] Recall that you said to the one who was blessed by GOD,
and blessed by you, "Keep your wife and reverence GOD," and you
hid inside yourself what GOD wished to proclaim. Thus, you feared
the people, when you were supposed to fear only GOD. When Zeid was
completely through with his wife, we had you marry her, in order
to establish the precedent that a man may marry the divorced wife
of his adopted son. GOD's commands shall be done.
[33:38] The prophet is not committing an error by doing anything
that is made lawful by GOD. Such is GOD's system since the early
generations. GOD's command is a sacred duty.
[33:39] Those who deliver GOD's messages, and who reverence Him
alone, shall never fear anyone but GOD. GOD is the most efficient
reckoner.
Not The Final Messenger*
[33:40] Muhammad was not the father of any man among you. He was a
messenger of GOD and the final prophet. GOD is fully aware of all
things.
Footnote
[33:41] O you who believe, you shall remember GOD frequently.*
Footnote
[33:42] You shall glorify Him day and night.
[33:43] He is the One who helps you, together with His angels, to
lead you out of darkness into the light. He is Most Merciful
towards the believers.
[33:44] Their greeting the day they meet Him is, "Peace," and He
has prepared for them a generous recompense.
[33:45] O prophet, we have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good
news, as well as a warner.
[33:46] Inviting to GOD, in accordance with His will, and a
guiding beacon.
[33:47] Deliver good news to the believers, that they have
deserved from GOD a great blessing.
[33:48] Do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites, disregard
their insults, and put your trust in GOD; GOD suffices as an
advocate.
Marriage Laws
[33:49] O you who believe, if you married believing women, then
divorced them before having intercourse with them, they do not owe
you any waiting interim (before marrying another man). You shall
compensate them equitably, and let them go amicably.
[33:50] O prophet, we made lawful for you your wives to whom you
have paid their due dowry, or what you already have, as granted to
you by GOD. Also lawful for you in marriage are the daughters of
your father's brothers, the daughters of your father's sisters,
the daughters of your mother's brothers, the daughters of your
mother's sisters, who have emigrated with you. Also, if a
believing woman gave herself to the prophet - by forfeiting the
dowry - the prophet may marry her without a dowry, if he so
wishes. However, her forfeiting of the dowry applies only to the
prophet, and not to the other believers. We have already decreed
their rights in regard to their spouses or what they already have.
This is to spare you any embarrassment. GOD is Forgiver, Most
Merciful.
[33:51] You may gently shun any one of them, and you may bring
closer to you any one of them. If you reconcile with any one you
had estranged, you commit no error. In this way, they will be
pleased, will have no grief, and will be content with what you
equitably offer to all of them. GOD knows what is in your hearts.
GOD is Omniscient, Clement.
[33:52] Beyond the categories described to you, you are enjoined
from marrying any other women, nor can you substitute a new wife
(from the prohibited categories), no matter how much you admire
their beauty. You must be content with those already made lawful
to you. GOD is watchful over all things.
Etiquette
[33:53] O you who believe, do not enter the prophet's homes unless
you are given permission to eat, nor shall you force such an
invitation in any manner. If you are invited, you may enter. When
you finish eating, you shall leave; do not engage him in lengthy
conversations. This used to hurt the prophet, and he was too shy
to tell you. But GOD does not shy away from the truth. If you have
to ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a barrier.
This is purer for your hearts and their hearts. You are not to
hurt the messenger of GOD. You shall not marry his wives after
him, for this would be a gross offense in the sight of GOD.*
Footnote
[33:54] Whether you declare anything, or hide it, GOD is fully
aware of all things.
[33:55] The women may relax (their dress code) around their
fathers, their sons, their brothers, the sons of their brothers,
the sons of their sisters, the other women, and their (female)
servants. They shall reverence GOD. GOD witnesses all things.
During the Prophet's Life*
[33:56] GOD and His angels help and support the prophet. O you who
believe, you shall help and support him, and regard him as he
should be regarded.*
Footnote
[33:57] Surely, those who oppose GOD and His messenger, GOD
afflicts them with a curse in this life, and in the Hereafter; He
has prepared for them a shameful retribution.
[33:58] Those who persecute the believing men and the believing
women, who did not do anything wrong, have committed not only a
falsehood, but also a gross sin.
Dress Code for Women
[33:59] O prophet, tell your wives, your daughters, and the wives
of the believers that they shall lengthen their garments. Thus,
they will be recognized (as righteous women) and avoid being
insulted. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[33:60] Unless the hypocrites, and those with disease in their
hearts, and the vicious liars of the city refrain (from
persecuting you), we will surely grant you the upper hand, then
they will be forced to leave within a short while.
[33:61] They have incurred condemnation wherever they go; (unless
they stop attacking you,) they may be taken and killed.
[33:62] This is GOD's eternal system, and you will find that GOD's
system is unchangeable.
End of the World Revealed*
[33:63] The people ask you about the Hour (end of the world). Say,
"The knowledge thereof is only with GOD. For all that you know,
the Hour may be close."
Footnote
The Followers Turn On Their Leaders
[33:64] GOD has condemned the disbelievers, and has prepared for
them Hell.
[33:65] Eternally they abide therein. They will find no lord, nor
a supporter.
[33:66] The day they are thrown into Hell, they will say, "Oh, we
wish we obeyed GOD, and obeyed the messenger."
[33:67] They will also say, "Our Lord, we have obeyed our masters
and leaders, but they led us astray.
[33:68] "Our Lord, give them double the retribution, and curse
them a tremendous curse."
[33:69] O you who believe, do not be like those who hurt Moses,
then GOD absolved him of what they said. He was, in the sight of
GOD, honorable.
[33:70] O you who believe, reverence GOD and utter only the
correct utterances.
[33:71] He will then fix your works, and forgive your sins. Those
who obey GOD and His messenger have triumphed a great triumph.
Freedom of Choice
[33:72] We have offered the responsibility (freedom of choice) to
the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to
bear it, and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it;
he was transgressing, ignorant.*
Footnote
[33:73] For GOD will inevitably punish the hypocrite men and the
hypocrite women, and the idol worshiping men and the idol
worshiping women. GOD redeems the believing men and the believing
women. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
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