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In the name
of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful |
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SECTION: 1
Allah has indeed heard the words of the woman (Khawlah
daughter of Tha‘labah, who had been divorced by calling her:
‘‘You are to me like my mother" which was an acceptable practice
for divorce among pagan Arabs), who pleaded with you against
her husband and made her complaint to Allah, and Allah has heard
what you said to each other. Allah hears all and sees all.[1]
Those of you who divorce their wives by Zihăr (calling them
to be like their mothers) should know that they are not
their mothers. Their mothers are only those who gave birth to
them. Surely the words they utter are absurd and false. Allah
could punish them for this but He forgave them, surely Allah
is All-Pardoning, All-Forgiving.[2] Those who divorce their
wives by Zihăr, then wish to retract the words they uttered,
shall have to free a slave before they touch each other. This is
enjoined as a penalty for doing so. Allah is well-aware
of all your actions.[3] He that has no slave, shall fast
two consecutive months before they touch each other. He that
cannot fast, shall feed sixty poor people. This is enjoined so
that you may have faith in Allah and His Rasool. These are the
limits set by Allah, and the violators shall have a painful
punishment.[4] Those who resist Allah and His Rasool, shall be
humiliated as were those before them. We have sent down clear
revelations; the disbelievers shall have a humiliating
punishment.[5] On the Day of Judgment Allah will raise
them all back to life, then inform them about what they
have done. Allah has kept full record of their deeds even though
they may have forgotten, for Allah is a witness over all
things.[6]
58:[1-6] |
The pagan practice of divorce through Zihăr (calling his wife as
his mother) is prohibited
Penalty for practicing 'Zihăr' |
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SECTION: 2
Are you not aware that Allah knows all that is in the heavens
and in the earth? It cannot be that three persons converse in
secret and He is not the fourth of them; or five persons
converse in secret and He is not the sixth of them; whether
fewer or more, wherever they may be, He is with them. Then on
the Day of Resurrection He will inform them of what they have
done, surely Allah has knowledge of all things.[7] Have you not
seen those who, though forbidden to hold secret counsels,
persistently do what was forbidden? They hold secret counsels
among themselves for sin, hostility and disobedience to the
Rasool. Yet when they come to you, they greet you in words which
Allah does not greet you with, and say to themselves: “Why does
Allah not punish us for what we say?” Hell is enough for them,
they shall burn in its flames, what an evil destination![8] O
believers! When you confer together in private, do not talk
about sin and hostility and disobedience to the Rasool; but to
counsel about virtue and piety, and fear Allah, before whom you
shall be brought together.[9] Conspiring in secret is the work
of shaităn, who means to vex the believers; but he cannot harm
them at all except as Allah permits; so in Allah let the
believers put their trust.[10] O believers! When you are asked
to make room in your meetings, make room, Allah will make room
for you in the Hereafter. And if you are told to rise up,
then rise up: Allah will raise to higher ranks those of you who
have faith and knowledge. Allah is aware of all your
actions.[11] O believers! When you want to consult the Rasool in
private, offer something in charity before your consultation,
that is best and purest for you. But if you lack the means, know
that Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[12] Do you hesitate
to give out in charity before your private consultation with
him? If you cannot afford it - Allah will forgive you - so
establish Salah and pay Zakah, and obey Allah and His Rasool.
Allah is well aware of all your actions.[13]
58:[7-13] |
Allah is Omnipresent, if three persons converse in secret, He is
the fourth
Secret counsels are forbidden except about virtue and piety
Conspiring in secret is the work of Shaităn
Etiquettes of holding a meeting
The order to spend in charity before consulting the Rasool in
private |
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SECTION: 3
Have you not seen the ones who have befriended those people who
are under the wrath of Allah? They are neither on your side nor
yet on theirs and they knowingly swear to falsehood.[14] Allah
has prepared for them a severe punishment; evil indeed is what
they are doing.[15] They use their oaths as shields, and debar
others from the Way of Allah. They shall have a humiliating
punishment.[16] Neither their riches nor their sons shall avail
them anything against Allah. They shall be the inmates of hell
and live there forever.[17] On the Day when Allah will raise
them all to life, they will swear to Him as they now swear to
you, thinking that their oaths will help them. By no means!
Surely they are the liars.[18] Shaităn has gained possession of
them, and caused them to forget Allah’s warning. They are the
party of shaităn. Beware! Surely it is the party of shaităn that
shall be the loser.[19] Those who resist Allah and His Rasool
will be among the most humiliated.[20] Allah has decreed: “It is
I and My Rasools who will most certainly prevail." Surely Allah
is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.[21] You will never find any people
who believe in Allah and the last Day on friendly terms with
those who oppose Allah and His Rasool, even though they be their
fathers, their sons, their brothers or their relatives. It is
they in whose hearts Allah has inscribed faith and has
strengthened them with a spirit of His own. He will admit them
to gardens beneath which rivers flow, to live therein forever.
Allah will be well pleased with them, and they will be well
pleased with Him. They are the party of Allah. Beware! Surely it
is the party of Allah that will be successful.[22]
58:[14-22]
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People who befriend those who are under the wrath of Allah will
be severely punished
True believers do not befriend those who oppose Allah and His
Rasool |
Major Issues, Divine
Law and Guidance:
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* The pagan practice of divorce through
Zihăr (calling one's wife as one's mother) is prohibited.
* The penalty for practicing ‘Zihăr.’
* Allah is Omnipresent, if three persons converse in secret, he
is the fourth of them.
* Secret counsels are forbidden except when they are for virtue
and piety.
* Conspiring in secret is the work of Shaităn.
* Etiquettes of holding a meeting.
* Order to spend in charity before consulting the Rasool in
private.
* Those who befriend those who are under the wrath of Allah will
be severely punished.
* True believers do not befriend those who oppose Allah and His
Rasool.
In this Sürah, instructions have been
given to the Muslims about the different problems that
confronted them at that time. From the beginning of the Sürah to
verse 6, legal injunctions about Zihăr are given. The Muslims
are strictly warned that they should not persist in the
practices of ignorance after they have accepted Islam.
In vv. 7-10 the hypocrites are taken to task for their secret
consultations by which they conspired against the Prophet (pbuh)
and, because of their hidden malice and grudge, they used to
greet him, like the Jews, in a manner as to wish him ill instead
of well. In this connection the Muslims are consoled: “These
secret consultations of the hypocrites can do no harm to you;
therefore, you should go on doing your duty with full trust in
Allah.” Besides, they are also taught: "The true believers, when
they talk secretly together, do not talk of sin and
transgression and disobedience to the Messenger. If they have to
talk secretly together they should talk of goodness and piety.”
In vv. 11-13 the Muslims are taught manners of social behavior
and given instructions to eradicate social evils which were
prevalent among the people then as they are today. In the case
of people sitting in an assembly, when more people arrive, they
do not even show the courtesy to squeeze together to make room
for others, as a result the newcomers have to keep standing, sit
in the doorway, to leave or seeing that there is still not
enough room start jumping over the peoples' heads to find room
for themselves. This often used to be experienced in the
Prophet’s assemblies. Therefore, Allah gave the instruction: "Do
not behave selfishly and narrow-mindedly in your assemblies.
Accommodate the newcomers also with an open heart.”
From verse 14 to the end of the Sürah, members of the Muslim
society - which was a mixture of the sincere Muslims, the
hypocrites and the waverers - have been told plainly as to what
is the criterion of sincerity in Islam:
* Some so called Muslims are those who befriend the enemies of
Islam: they do not hesitate for the sake of their interests to
be treacherous to the reli- gion which they profess to believe
in; they partake in spreading all sorts of doubts and suspicions
against Islam and prevent the people from adopting the Way of
Allah. But since they are part of the Muslim community their
false profession of Faith serves them as a cover and shield.
* Other kinds of Muslims are those who, in the matter of Allah’s
Religion, do not care even for their own father, brother,
children and family, to say nothing of others. They do not
cherish any feeling of love for the person who is an enemy of
Allah, His Rasool and His Religion.
In these verses, Allah explicitly states that the people of the
first kind, in fact, belong to Satan’s party however hard they
may try to convince others of their Islam by swearing oaths. The
honor of belonging to Allah’s party is possessed only by the
Muslims of the second kind. They alone are the true Muslims,
they alone will attain to true success and with them alone is
Allah well pleased. |
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