33al-AḥzābThe Alliesسُورَةُ الأحزاب

O Prophet! Shield [yourself] against Allah [His corrective power] by not obeying the kāfirs and the munāfiqs — surely, Allah is always [and forever] well-informed, most wise.

And follow [through on] what is revealed to you from your Sustainer: for, verily, Allah is very well acquainted with what you are doing.

And place your complete trust in Allah: for suffice it that He is the most reliable.

Allah has not placed two hearts inside [one] person’s body [nor is it natural for a person to be of two minds], and He has not likened your wives, whom you pronounced [to be] sexually taboo [to you], to be [sexually] comparable to your mothers [as you allege], and He has not recognized your adopted children as your [biological] children; these [allegations] are merely what you express with your mouths, whereas it is Allah who speaks the truth and guides to the correct direction [in such family and social affairs].

Give them [the adoptees] their [biologicial] fathers’ [genealogical] names: doing so is, in Allah’s sight, [a better form of] social justice. And if you do not know their fathers; then you are to deem them as your brethren-in-dīn and your colleagues. You carry no sin if you err in this regard [after having tried your best]; [but of far greater import is the sin you incur] if your hearts intend [to deliberately obfuscate such matters] — and Allah is always most forgiving, most gracious.

The Prophet has precedence over the committed muslims’ preference for their [own] selves, and his wives are [to be honored as] their [the committed muslims’] mothers; and blood relatives are reciprocally responsible for themselves according to the Book of Allah [in matters of inheritance] — overruling prior [temporary Hijrah emergency] inheritance rights pertaining to the committed muslims [the Anṣār] and the Muhājirūn. Nonetheless, you are to dispense the common good to your colleagues [in faith and liability]: this [coaching] has been recorded in the [divinely decreed] Book [of rulings].

And bear in mind that We accepted a solemn pledge from all the prophets, and from you [Muhammad], and from Nūḥ, and Ibrāhīm, and Mūsā, and ‘Īsā, son of Mary — for We have acknowledged a most solemn pledge from [all of] them,

So that, eventually, He will ask people of truth about their truth [responsibilities]. And He has prepared painful agony for the deniers [of His power and authority].

O you who are securely committed [to Allah’s control, clout, and command] bear in mind Allah’s blessings upon you when [enemy] legions moved toward you, whereupon We unleashed violent wind against them as well as troops you could not see: and Allah has always been observant of what you do.

[Remember the time] when they [the enemies] moved down toward you [closing in on you from the east] and advanced upward on the way to you [closing in on you from the West], and remember when [because of fear] your vision was unfocused and [your] hearts leaped to [your] throats and you pondered unsubstantiated notions about Allah:

For in that [desperate] situation the committed muslims were put to [a severe] test and rigorously unsettled.

And [bethink] when the munāfiqs said, as did those who had sickness in their hearts, “[It turns out that] Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusions!”

And [bethink] when a contingent of them said, “O you people of Yathrib! You no longer have a foothold [vis-à-vis your enemy] here; hence, go back [to your dwellings]!” — whereupon a faction of them asked the Prophet’s permission [to walk out of their military mission], saying, “Undoubtedly, our houses are unprotected [and may be attacked by the enemy at any moment]!” — but, in actual fact, their homes were not open to attack: they just wanted to flee [from the warfront].

And if it [Madinah] was [militarily] set upon from all directions and they [the munāfiqs] were summoned to [an anti-Islamic] sedition [by the mushrik allies to fight against the committed muslims] they would gallop to do such a thing and would not hesitate or delay in the least —

Even though they had in the past pledged to Allah that they would not cut and run [during war time]: and a pledge made to Allah shall [surely] be accounted for.

Say [O Muhammad, to these wannabe deserters], “Fleeing will not be to your advantage whether you [try to] flee from death or from becoming a war casualty; and even so, [were you to flee], your enjoyment [of life] shall be marginal.”

Say [O Muhammad], “Who is there that will safeguard you [or anyone else] from Allah if He decrees that harm comes your way? Or if He decrees mercy to come your way?” And [they must surely realize that] they will not find anyone, other than Allah, who will protect and support them.

Of course, Allah knows those who may deter others from among you [in fighting for Him] and those who say to their brethren [living in Madinah], “Come! Join us [in confronting the enemy]” — the while they hardly ever lock swords,

[They are] too little, too late in offering you substance [and what you need]. But then, when danger arrives you see them looking to you [for help, O Prophet], their eyes rolling [with terror] as if they are overwhelmed by death; yet as soon as the danger subsides they will assail you [the committed muslims] with razor-sharp tongues, [and they are] stingy when it comes to giving generously. Those are the ones who have not committed themselves [to Allah’s influence and truth], so Allah aborts their deeds: and that is easy for Allah to do.

They think that the [mushrik] allies [the aḥzāb] have not [in fact] departed [back to Makkah]; and were the allies to come again [for another military confrontation against Madinah] they [the munāfiqs] would desire to join up with them in the barren region [of the desert], looking to gather intelligence on you [the committed muslims], and even if they were with you [in your jurisdiction] they would but make a pretense at fighting [on your side].

Without doubt, in the Apostle of Allah you have an excellent role model for he who looks forward to [with hope and anticipation] Allah and the Final Day and who persistently is conscious of Allah.

And when the committed muslims saw the [grand alliance of anti-Islamic] allies [and their material military superiority] they said, “This is what Allah and His Messenger have promised us: and Allah and His Messenger have stated the truth!” — and it all did nothing but boost their commitment and their compliance unto Allah.

Among the committed muslims are men who are true to their [life-and-death] pledge to Allah: some of them [in the course of honoring their pledge] have passed on and some of them still await without having vacillated in the least.

[Such escalations of the struggle are meant] for Allah to reward those who are truthful [to their pledge] in accordance with their certitude, and to cause the munāfiqs to suffer — if He so decrees — or [if they repent], to accept their repentance: for, indeed, Allah is very forgiving, very merciful.

And Allah turned back the kāfirs [still seething] with [all] their fury — they made no progress — and Allah spared the committed muslims [further] fighting, for Allah has always been powerful, grand;

And He brought down from their strongholds those people of scripture who had allied themselves [with the mushriks] and He cast terror in their hearts: some you eliminated, and some you took as prisoners of war;

And He made you [the committed muslims] heirs to their lands, and their properties, and their commodities — and [promised you] lands you have not trekked [yet]: for Allah has always had the power over everything.

O Prophet! Say to your wives, “If you so desire the [comforts] of earthly life and its glamor, then I will properly provide for you [a settlement payment] and courteously release you from wedlock;

“But if you desire [want] Allah and His Apostle and the Final Abode [with all its valuables], then [know that] Allah has primed for those who would do more good [than they need to] from among you an ample reward!”

O wives of the Prophet! Whoever of you commits a flagrant moral breach shall have her affliction doubled up — and that is easy for Allah to do;2

But if any of you devotes herself to Allah and His Apostle and does what is right [and upright] We shall afford her a twofold reward and We have readied for her magnanimous sustenance.

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women so long as you are on guard [concerning Allah’s power presence]; therefore do not soft-speak [in a manner that attracts or catches the fancy of men], lest any [man] with a sickness in his heart entertain a desire [to be intimate with you]; rather speak in a [non-suggestive, non-seductive] proper way.

And settle [your sexual gratification] in your homes and do not show-off your charms as was [practiced during] the time of earlier social ignorance [of Islam], and standardize the ṣalāh and systemize the zakāh and obey Allah and His Apostle: for Allah wants to exempt you from [all] adulteration, O you folks of the [Prophet’s] household, and to thoroughly purify you [from any sin].

And [you, the wives of the Prophet] be mindful of all that is put in order [and correlated] in your homes of Allah’s āyāt and [be conscious] of the wisdom [therein]: for, indeed, Allah is subtle and proficient [in the āyāt He reveals and in the judicious human experience generated by people following through with the obedience of Allah and His Prophet].

Verily muslim males and muslim females, committed muslim males and committed muslim females, devoted muslim males and devoted muslim females, truthful muslim males and truthful muslim females, patient muslim males and patient muslim females, muslim males emotionally attached to Allah and muslim females emotionally attached to Allah, muslim males who give of what they have and muslim females who give of what they have [to those in need], fasting muslim males and fasting muslim females, muslim males who rein in [their sexual desire] as well as muslim females [who do so], muslim males who are always [and constantly] conscious of Allah [and His justice and power] as well as muslim females [who are thus conscious] — Allah has prepared for them forgiveness [of past misdeeds] and a huge reward.

It does not befit a committed muslim male or a committed muslim female once Allah and His Apostle have decided on an issue to have an option [of whether to obey or not to obey]: for whoever [thus] disobeys Allah and His Apostle has evidently gone off course.

And, as it were, you [O Muhammad] said to he who Allah had blessed [Zayd ibn Ḥārithah, by accepting his commitment to Islam] and [the one] you blessed [by freeing him from bondage and adopting him], “Hold on to your wife [Zaynab bint Jaḥsh, and do not divorce her] and be aware of Allah [His just power presence]!” And you [Muhammad] held back within yourself that which Allah was about to bring to light [the legislation of annulling the jāhilī definition of adoption that considered an adopted son to be a biological son] for you were apprehensive of [what] people [might think]; in the meantime it was Allah who was more deserving of your angst! [But] then, when Zayd came to the end of his union with her, We gave her to you [Muhammad] in marriage, so that no blame would attach to [current and future generations of] committed muslims for [marrying] the spouses of their adopted children when their adopted children [innocently] end their marriages with them — and Allah’s will [through this course of action] is fulfilled.

[For this reason], no blameworthiness can be attributed to the Prophet regarding what Allah has ordained for him. [This was] Allah’s approach with those who elapsed in earlier times — and [know that] Allah’s affair has always been a calculated destiny —

[And that is His way of doing things with] those who communicate Allah’s messages and stand in awe of Him and do not stand in awe of anyone except Allah: for no one can tally [deeds] as sufficiently as Allah.

[Be informed, O committed muslims, that] Muhammad has never been the father of any of your men, but he is Allah’s Apostle and the finality of all prophets. And Allah has always been well-informed of all things.

O you who are securely committed [to Allah]! Be conscious of Allah unceasingly,

And praise and exalt Him [His uniqueness] in the morning and evening.

He it is who confers His blessings upon you, as do His malā’ikah, so that He can extricate you from [life’s] obscurities [and propel you] into enlightenment — and He has always been gracious to committed muslims.

Their greeting on the Day they meet Him shall be [one of] “Peace”; and He would have prepared for them an outstanding reward.

O Prophet! Behold, We have sent you [to all peoples] as a witness [to whether they agree with Us or not] and as a bearer of good news [for those who come to an understanding of Us] and a warner [to those who conflict with Us],

And as one who summons [all people] to Allah in accordance with His sanction, and [We sent you, O Muhammad] as an illuminating beacon.

And [that being the case], tell the committed muslims the good news that they shall, indeed, have a vast bounty [coming to them] from Allah;

And do not comply with the deniers of Allah [His “power for justice”] and the [political] double-dealers, and disregard their maltreatment and [instead] place your trust in Allah: suffice it that none but Allah can be more trusted.

O you who are committed [to Allah’s fairness and justice]! If you marry committed muslim women and then divorce them before ever having intercourse with them, you should not expect them [the divorced wives] to go through their waiting periods [that would otherwise be required had there been a sexual consummation]. Thus, offer them [the divorcées] a solace settlement payment, and release them [from wedlock] in a courteous manner.

O Prophet! Behold, We have sanctioned for you your wives whom you have given their dowers, as well as those whom are in the [honorable] care of your [dependable and responsible] right hand, as they are your God-given post-war [social] responsibility. And [We have decreed it lawful for you to marry] your paternal uncle’s daughters and your paternal aunt’s daughters and your maternal uncle’s daughters and your maternal aunt’s daughters who fled with you [to Madinah to escape the persecution in Makkah], and any committed muslimah who, of her own accord, proposes to marry the Prophet if the Prophet is willing to wed her — a [dowry-free] privilege for you [O Prophet] and not for other committed muslims [who are obligated to pay the dowry, seeing that] We have already proclaimed the requirements ordained upon them regarding their wives and whomever is in the honorable care of their right hands. In promulgating this, We have relieved you [O Prophet] from any stigma — and Allah has always been very forgiving, very gracious.

You [O Prophet] are allowed to reschedule your intimate time with whomever of them [your wives] and to accommodate whomever you decide to, and if you long for any one of those [you earlier deferred] then [you may re-approach her] without [feeling] guilt: [by doing this] they will feel heartened [whenever you are with them], and not feel dejected [whenever it appears to them that they are overlooked or ignored], and be contented with what you have to offer them — and Allah knows what is in your hearts, and Allah has always been well-informed, very forbearing.

No [other] women shall, from now on, be lawful to you, nor are you allowed to replace any of them [your current wives] with others even if their [the others] beauty and charm appeals to you; [none other shall be your wife] beyond those you [already] honorably and responsibly care for. And Allah has always been watchful over everything.

O you who are [faithfully] committed [to Allah’s pledge]! Do not enter the Prophet’s dwellings [quarters] unless you are permitted [to do so]; [and when you are invited] to a meal, do not come [ahead of time] so as to linger around for the meal to be readied [served] — but whenever you are invited, [punctually] enter; and when you finish [eating] your food, disperse without [engaging in] drawn-out [spun-out] chitchats: that, [you should know], might hurt [the Prophet’s feelings], and yet he might feel shy of [telling] you [how he feels, and that you should be dismissed from his presence]; but Allah is not shy of [expressing] what is right. And [concerning the Prophet’s wives], whenever you [the muslims] ask them for a necessity, ask them from behind a screen [camouflage]: this [behavior] heightens the purity of your hearts and theirs. Besides, it is not appropriate for you to hurt the feelings of Allah’s Apostle — just as it is not appropriate for you to ever marry his widows after he has passed away: that, indeed, would be an enormity in the sight of Allah.

Whether you divulge anything [concerning these matters] or conceal it, [know that] Allah has knowledge of everything [you think and feel].

[However], they [the Prophet’s wives] incur no misdeed [to appear freely] in the presence of their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their womenfolk, or such [female victims of warfare] who are within [their] honorable family protection. And [O wives of the Prophet], remain consciously on guard [of Allah’s power presence] — for, behold, Allah has always been [and will always be] an observer of everything [that is happening].

Verily, Allah and His malā’ikah bless and laud the Prophet; [hence], O you who are committed [to Allah], [acclaim and] applaud him and unreservedly relinquish yourselves [to his care].

Definitely, as for those who [confrontationally] offend Allah and His Apostle, Allah will curse them in this [immediate] world and in the end world [the life of the hereafter]; and He has prepared for them a rude affliction.

And as for those who harm the committed muslims — men and women — without their having incurred any offense, they [who harm] surely will bring upon themselves the guilt of libel and a flagrant misconduct.

O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the committed muslim women that they should put on their jilbābs [exclusive outer garments, when in public]: this will identify them [as the decent women they are] and spare them annoyance. And Allah has always been [and is] very forgiving, very merciful.

[I, the Almighty, affirm] that if the munāfiqs and those with diseased hearts as well as those who are spreading false [and misleading war] information in Madinah do not cease and desist, We will command you [O Prophet] to overpower them, whereupon they will not want to live together with you except for a short time:

Condemned are they [and thus] wherever they may be encountered [in other regions] they will be apprehended and put to death.

This [manner of punishment] is Allah’s social law applied to those [power structures] in times past — and you will never find an alternative to Allah’s social law.

People will ask you [O Muhammad] about the [Final] Hour. Say, “But information [of its timing] is in the purview of Allah [alone]; nevertheless, the [Final] Hour may be drawing near!”

Verily, Allah has denounced the kāfirs and prepared for them a furious fire,

Within which they will dwell forever: they will find neither sponsor nor supporter [to rescue them from such a tremendous consequence].

On the Day when their faces will be turned about in the Fire, they will exclaim, “Oh, how we wish we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Apostle!”

And they will say, “O our Sustainer! We obeyed our superiors and our chiefs, and so it was they who led us off course!

“O our Sustainer! Give them twice the [amount of] torment and condemn them a most substantial condemnation!”

O you who are committed [to Allah’s power attendance]! Do not be like those who offended Mūsā, for which Allah absolved him of their words [of calumny and denigration]: for he was a man of recognition [and distinction] in Allah’s sight.

O you who are committed [to Allah’s helpful power]! Guard yourselves against Allah [His corrective power] and express yourselves with words that are accurate [and truthful]:

[For that] He will adjust your deeds and forgive your sins. And [keep in mind] that whoever obeys Allah and His Apostle has succeeded exceedingly.

We have extended the [divine] trust [that entails accountability] to the heavens, and the earth, and the mountains: but they refused to shoulder it; and furthermore, they dreaded it. Yet [on the other hand] man took it [upon himself] — indeed, he has always been susceptible to being very unwarranted [grossly unfair to himself], very uninformed [impetuous].

[Toward this end] Allah will [be the one to] inflict suffering on the munāfiqs, men and women, as well as on the mushriks, both men and women. And [in the course of this] Allah will [be the one to] pardon committed muslims, both men and women: for Allah has always been [and is] very forgiving, very merciful.