Surah 58: Al-Mujadila
The Holy Qur’an with English Translation and Commentary (Five Volume Commentary)
[a]In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.[4171]
[a] See 1:1.
[4171] Commentary:
See 1:1.
Allah has indeed heard the speech of her who pleads with thee concerning her husband, and complains unto Allah. And Allah has heard your dialogue. Verily, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.[4172]
[4172] Commentary:
The reference in the verse seems to be to Khaulah, wife of Aus bin Samit and daughter of Tha‘labah. She had become separated from her husband because the latter had called her "mother," the exact words used by him being, "thou art to me as the back of my mother." According to an old Arab custom all conjugal relations ceased between a man and his wife when he used these words about her. The unfortunate woman could neither demand divorce in order to contract a second marriage, nor could she enjoy conjugal rights. She remained uncared for. Khaulah came to the Holy Prophet and complained to him of the awkward situation in which she was placed, and sought his advice and help in the matter. The Holy Prophet pleaded his inability to do anything for her, as it was his wont not to give a decision in matters of this nature, unless he was guided by revelation. The revelation came, and the custom of Zihar was declared unlawful.
Incidentally, the verse shows that God hears the prayers and plaints of even the weakest of His servants.
[b]Those among you who seek to put away their wives by calling them mothers—they do not thereby become their mothers; their mothers are only those who gave them birth; and they certainly utter words that are manifestly evil and untrue; but surely Allah is the Effacer of sins, Most Forgiving.[4173]
[b] 33:5.
[4173] Commentary:
Zihar or calling one’s wife "mother" has been declared here a heinous sin. For a somewhat detailed note see 33:5.
The words لعفو غفور mean that God in His great mercy has made allowance for man’s weakness and that He is always ready to forgive his lapses, provided he comes to God with a penitent heart and makes amends.
The verse has redeemed a right which through a cruel custom was denied to women and thus has raised them to the status to which they were entitled.
As to those who call their wives mothers, and then would go back on what they have said, the penalty for it is the freeing of a slave before they touch each other. This is what you are admonished with. And Allah is Well-Aware of what you do.[4174]
[4174] Commentary:
The words "they go back on what they have said," may signify that after calling their wives "mothers" they seek to re-establish conjugal relations with them. Or the words may mean that after having once called their wives "mothers" they repeat what they have said. According to this meaning, it is deliberate repetition of the obnoxious words and not their casual or inadvertent utterance that renders the utterer liable to the punishment prescribed in this and the following verse.
But whoso does not find a slave, he must fast for two successive months, before they touch each other. And whoso is not able to do so, must feed sixty poor people. This is so prescribed, that you may truly believe in Allah and His Messenger. And these are the limits prescribed by Allah; and for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.[4175]
[4175] Commentary:
The drastic punishment mentioned in these verses indicates the extreme seriousness of the crime of calling one’s wife "mother." The relationship with "mother" is too sacred to be trifled with. The expression لتؤمنوا باللّٰه و رسوله means, you may learn to obey the commandments of Allah and his Messenger.
[a]Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will surely be abased even as those before them were abased; and We have already sent down clear Signs.[b] And the disbelievers will have a humiliating punishment.[4176]
[a] 9:63.
[b] 22:17; 24:35; 57:10.
[4176] Important Words:
کبتوا (will be abased). کبته means, he threw him down prostrate. کبت اللّٰه الکافر means, God prostrated the disbeliever, and deprived him of what he desired, or disappointed him, or caused him to fail in attaining his desire; he routed him or put him to flight; he turned him away or averted him; he abased; debased him, rendered him vile, despicable or ignominious. (Aqrab)
Commentary:
Calling one’s wife "mother" is tantamount to opposing God—so hideous is the offence. Befittingly the subject of opposition to truth by the Jews and hypocrites is introduced in this verse.
The words "and We have sent clear signs," show that Divine punishment overtakes the sinners after their sins have been fully established and their guilt brought home to them.
On the day when Allah will raise them all together, He will inform them of what they did. Allah has kept account of it, while they forgot it. And Allah is Witness over all things.
Dost thou not see that Allah knows all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth? There is no secret counsel of three, but He is their fourth, nor of five, but He is their sixth, nor of less than that, nor of more, but He is with them wheresoever they may be. Then on the Day of Resurrection He will inform them of what they did. Surely, Allah knows all things well.[4177]
[4177] Commentary:
The subject which was only indirectly introduced in v. 6 has been elaborated in this and the next few verses. The present verse refers to the secret plots and conspiracies against Islam of the Jews and hypocrites of Medina. It condemns this evil practice and warns them that their plots are not hidden from God. He has sent the Holy Prophet and He is his Guardian and Protector, and their conspiracies would do him no harm. They are further warned that they would be punished for their wicked designs. The expulsion of the three Jewish tribes from Medina was the result of their repeated acts of defection and infidelity and of their secret plots against Islam and against the life of the Holy Prophet.
Hast thou not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels and again return to what they were forbidden, and confer in secret for sin and transgression and disobedience to the Messenger? And when they come to thee, they greet thee with a greeting with which Allah has not greeted thee;[a] but among themselves they say, ‘Why does not Allah punish us for what we say?’ Sufficient for them is Hell, wherein they will burn; and a most evil destination it is![4178]
[4178] Commentary:
The words, "they greet thee with which Allah has not greeted thee," may either mean that they go beyond proper limits in hypocritically praising thee, or that they invoke death and destruction upon thee. The words seem to refer to the evil practice of some of the Jews of Medina that when they came to see the Holy Prophet they, with a little twist of the tongue, would invoke curses upon him by saying السام علیک i.e. death to thee; instead of saluting him with the usual السلام علیک i.e. peace be upon thee (Bukhari). See also 2:105.
[a] 2:105; 4:47.
O ye who believe! when you confer together in secret, confer not for the commission of sin and transgression and disobedience to the Messenger, but confer for the attainment of virtue and righteousness, and fear Allah unto Whom you shall all be gathered.[4179]
[4179] Commentary:
In this and the preceding two verses secret societies such as Freemason Lodges, etc. have been condemned, but the condemnation is not unreserved or unqualified. There may be secret conferences held for good purposes. It is the object or motive of a particular conference that determines its nature. In the present verse the believers have been allowed to hold secret conferences only to promote good and righteous causes.
Holding of secret counsels for evil purposes is only of Satan, that he may cause grief to those who believe; but it cannot harm them in the least, except by Allah’s leave. And in Allah should the believers put their trust.[4180]
[4180] Commentary:
The disbelievers are warned that their secret societies and assemblies would not in any way harm the cause of truth, try as they might.
O ye who believe! when it is said to you, ‘Make room!’ in your assemblies, then do make room; Allah will make ample room for you. And when it is said, ‘Rise up!’ then rise up;[a] Allah will raise those who believe from among you, and those to whom knowledge is given, to degrees of rank. And Allah is Well-Aware of what you do.[4181]
[a] 4:159; 7:177.
[4181] Commentary:
As in the preceding verses the subject of holding an assembly was dealt with, it was in the fitness of things that the ethics and etiquette of an assemblage should also be pointed out and this has been done in the present verse.
The commandment contained in the verse is of a general nature but it may also have special application for a particular assembly in which the Holy Prophet was present.