The Confederates (al-Ahzab)

10 minutes • 2127 words

¹ O Prophet! Fear Allah, and do not obey the unbelievers and the hypocrites. Allah is Knowledgeable and Wise.

² And follow what is revealed to you from your Lord. Allah is fully aware of what you do. ³ And put your trust in Allah. Allah is enough as a trustee. ⁴ Allah did not place two hearts inside any man’s body. Nor did He make your wives whom you equate with your mothers, your actual mothers. Nor did He make your adopted sons, your actual sons. These are your words coming out of your mouths.

⁵ Call them after their fathers; that is more equitable with Allah. But if you do not know their fathers, then your brethren in faith and your friends. There is no blame on you if you err therein, barring what your hearts premeditates.

⁶ The Prophet is more caring of the believers than they are of themselves.

His wives are mothers to them.

Blood-relatives are closer to one another in Allah’s Book than the believers or the emigrants, though you should do good to your friends.

That is inscribed in the Book.

Recall that We received a pledge from the prophets, and from you, and from Noah, and Abraham, and Moses, and Jesus.

We received from them a solemn pledge.

That He may ask the sincere about their sincerity. He has prepared for the disbelievers a painful punishment.

⁹ Muslims, Remember Allah’s blessings upon you, when forces came against you, and We sent against them a wind, and forces you did not see. Allah is Observant of what you do.

¹⁰ When they came upon you, from above you, and from beneath you; and the eyes became dazed, and the hearts reached the throats, and you harbored doubts about Allah.

¹¹ There and then the believers were tested, and were shaken most severely.

When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is sickness said, “Allah and His Mes- senger promised us nothing but illusion.”
And when a group of them said, “O people of Yathrib, you cannot make a stand, so re- treat.” And a faction of them asked the Prophet to excuse them, saying, “Our homes are exposed,” although they were not ex- posed. They only wanted to flee.
Had it been invaded from its sides, and they were asked to dissent, they would have done so with little hesitation.
Although they had made a pledged to Al- lah, in the past, that they will not turn their backs. A pledge to Allah is a responsibility. ¹⁶ Say, “Flight will not benefit you, if you flee from death or killing, even then you will be given only brief enjoyment.”
Say, “Who is it who will shield you from Allah, if He intends adversity for you, or in- tends mercy for you?” Besides Allah, they will find for themselves neither friend nor helper.
Allah already knows the hinderers among you, and those who say to their brethren, “Come and join us.” Rarely do they mobilize for battle.
Being stingy towards you. And when fear approaches, you see them staring at you— their eyes rolling—like someone fainting at death. Then, when panic is over, they whip you with sharp tongues. They resent you any good. These have never believed, so Allah has nullified their works; a matter easy for Allah.
They assumed that the confederates had not withdrawn. But were the confederates to advance, they would wish they were in the de- sert with the Bedouins, inquiring about your news. And if they were among you, they would have done little fighting.
You have an excellent example in the Mes- senger of Allah; for anyone who seeks Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah fre- quently.
And when the believers saw the confeder- ates, they said, “This is what Allah and His messenger have promised us; and Allah and His messenger have told the truth.” And it only increased them in faith and submission.
Of the believers are men who are true to what they pledged to Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their vows; and some are still waiting, and never wavering.
That Allah may reward the truthful for their truthfulness; and punish the hypocrites, if He wills, or pardon them. Allah is Forgiv- ing and Merciful.
Allah repelled the disbelievers in their rage; they gained no advantage. Allah thus spared the believers combat. Allah is Strong and Mighty.
And He brought down from their strong- holds those of the People of the Book who backed them, and He threw terror into their hearts. Some of them you killed, and others you took captive.
And He made you inherit their land, and their homes, and their possessions, and a re- gion you have never stepped on. Allah has power over all things.
O Prophet! Say to your wives, “If you desire the life of this world and its finery, then let me compensate you, and release you kindly.
But if you desire Allah, His Messenger, and the Home of the Hereafter, then Allah has prepared for the righteous among you a mag- nificent compensation.”
O wives of the Prophet! Whoever of you commits a proven indecency, the punishment for her will be doubled. And that would be easy for Allah.

But whoever of you remains obedient to Allah and His Messenger, and acts righteously, We will give her a double reward; and We have prepared for her a generous provision.

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women, if you observe piety. So do not speak too softly, lest the sick at heart lusts after you, but speak in an appropriate manner.
And settle in your homes; and do not display yourselves, as in the former days of ignorance. And perform the prayer, and give regular charity, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah desires to remove all impurity from you, O People of the Household, and to purify you thoroughly.
And remember what is recited in your homes of Allah’s revelations and wisdom.
Muslim men and Muslim women, believing men and believing women, obedient men and obedient women, truthful men and truthful women, patient men and patient women, humble men and humble women, charitable men and charitable women, fasting men and fasting women, men who guard their chastity and women who guard, men who remember Allah frequently and women who remember—Allah has prepared for them a pardon, and an immense reward.
It is not for any believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, to have liberty of choice in their decision.

Whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has gone far astray.

When you said to him whom Allah had blessed, and you had favored, “Keep your wife to yourself, and fear Allah.” But you hid within yourself what Allah was to reveal. And you feared the people, but it was Allah you were supposed to fear. Then, when Zaid ended his relationship with her, We gave her to you in marriage, that there may be no re- striction for believers regarding the wives of their adopted sons, when their relationship
There is no blame on the Prophet regard- ing what Allah has ordained for him. Such is the pattern of Allah among those who passed before. The command of Allah is an absolute decree.
Those who deliver the messages of Allah, and fear Him, and never fear anyone except Allah. Allah is sufficient as a reckoner.
Muhammad is not the father of any of your men; but he is the Messenger of Allah, and the seal of the prophets. Allah is Cognizant of everything.
O you who believe, remember Allah with frequent remembrance.
And glorify Him morning and evening.

Allah reaches out to you, and His angels, to bring you out of darkness into the light. And He is Ever-Merciful towards the believers.

Their greeting on the Day they meet Him is, “Peace,” and He has prepared for them a generous reward.
O prophet! We have sent you as a witness, and a bearer of good news, and a warner.
And a caller towards Allah by His leave, and an illuminating beacon.
And give the believers the good news that for them is a great reward.
And do not obey the blasphemers and the hypocrites, and ignore their insults, and rely on Allah. Allah is a sufficient protector.
Muslims, When you marry be- lieving women, but then divorce them before you have touched them, there is no waiting period for you to observe in respect to them; but compensate them, and release them in a graceful manner.
O Prophet! We have permitted to you your wives to whom you have given their dowries, and those you already have, as granted to you by Allah, and the daughters of your paternal uncle, and the daughters of your paternal

aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncle, and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you, and a believing woman who has offered herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet desires to marry her, exclusively for you, and not for the believers.

We know what We have ordained for them regarding their wives and those their righthands possess. This is to spare you any difficulty. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.

You may defer any of them you wish, and receive any of them you wish. Should you de- sire any of those you had deferred, there is no blame on you. This is more proper, so that they will be comforted, and not be grieved, and be content with what you have given each one of them. Allah knows what is within your hearts.
Beyond that, no other women are permissible for you, nor can you exchange them for other wives, even if you admire their beauty, except those you already have. Allah is Watchful over all things.
Muslims, Do not enter the homes of the Prophet, unless you are given permis- sion to come for a meal; and do not wait for its preparation. And when you are invited, go in. And when you have eaten, disperse, without lingering for conversation. This irritates the Prophet, and he shies away from you, but Allah does not shy away from the truth. And when you ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a screen; that is purer for your hearts and their hearts. You must never offend the Messenger of Allah, nor must you ever marry his wives after him, for that would be an enormity with Allah.
Whether you declare a thing, or hide it, Allah is Aware of all things.
There is no blame on them concerning their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their brothers’ sons, or their sisters’ sons, or their women, or their female servants. But they should remain conscious of Allah. Allah is Witness over all things.
Allah and His angels give blessings to the Prophet. O you who believe, call for blessings on him, and greet him with a prayer of peace.
Those who insult Allah and His Messen- ger, Allah has cursed them in this life and in the Hereafter, and has prepared for them a demeaning punishment.
Those who harm believing men and believing women, for acts they did not commit, bear the burden of perjury and a flagrant sin.
O Prophet! Tell your wives, and your daughters, and the women of the believers, to lengthen their garments. That is more proper, so they will be recognized and not harassed. Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
If the hypocrites, and those with sickness in their hearts, and the rumormongers in the City, do not desist, We will incite you against them; then they will not be your neighbors there except for a short while.
They are cursed; wherever they are found, they should be captured and killed outright.
Such has been Allah’s precedent with those who passed away before. You will find no change in Allah’s system.
The people ask you about the Hour. Say, “The knowledge thereof rests with Allah. But what do you know? Perhaps the hour is near.”
Allah has cursed the disbelievers, and has prepared for them a Blaze.
Dwelling therein forever, not finding a protector or a savior.
The Day when their faces are flipped into the Fire, they will say, “If only we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger.”
And they will say, “Lord, we have obeyed our superiors and our dignitaries, but they led us away from the way.
Lord, give them double the punishment, and curse them with a great curse.”
Muslims, Do not be like those who abused Moses; but Allah cleared him of what they said. He was distinguished with Al- lah.
Speak in a straightforward manner.