Al-Aḥzāb

Surah 33 of the Quran
الأحزاب‎ ; Al-Aḥzāb; The Clans, The Coalition Forces, The Forces Combined
Arabic text; Audio fileⓘ; English text;
Classification	Medinan
Position	Juzʼ 21 to 22
No. of verses	73
	← Quran 32 Quran 34 →

Al-Ahzab (Arabic: الأحزاب, al-aḥzāb;^[1] meaning: the confederates,^[2] or "the clans", "the coalition", or "the combined forces") is the 33rd chapter (sūrah) of the Quran (Q33) with 73 verses (āyāt). The sūrah takes its name from the mention of the parties (al-aḥzāb), or confederates (an alliance among the Quraysh and other tribes), who fought the Muslims at the Battle of the Trench (5/627), also known as the Battle of the Parties and as the siege of Madinah.^[3]

Summary

1-3 Muhammad to obey God rather than the unbelievers
4-5 Adopted sons not to be regarded as real sons by Muslims
6 Muhammad's wives the mothers of the faithful
7-8 The covenant of the prophets with God
9-11 God’s favour to the Muslims at the Ditch
12-15 The disaffected people of Madína rebuked
16-17 None can flee from God’s anger
18-20 The treachery of the hypocrites of Madína exposed
21 Muhammad an example to the faithful
22-24 Patient endurance of the believers at the Ditch
25 The triumph at the Ditch attributed to God’s favor
26-27 Reference to the slaughter of the Bani Qainuqáa
28-29 Muhammad’s wives rebuked
30-31 Muhammad’s wives, if incontinent, to be doubly punished, but if faithful, to be doubly rewarded
32 33 34 They are exhorted to modest behaviour and piety
35 Blessings promised to faithful men and women
36-40 Revelations touching the Zainab divorce story
41-43 The blessedness of true believers
44-47 Muhammad a witness and preacher of good tidings
48 The law of divorce modified
49-51 Special privileges of Muhammad with respect to women
52 Muhammad limited in respect to wives
53-55 Conduct to be observed by believers at the Prophet’s house
56 God and the angels bless Muhammad, who should be treated with respect by believers
57-58 The curse of those who offend Muhammad or the Muslims
59 Command respecting the veiling of Muslim women
60-62 Threatened punishment of Madína hypocrites
63 Men know not the hour of judgment
64-68 Awful fate of infidels
69-71 Believers exhorted to respectful treatment of their Prophet
72-73 The responsibilities of the faithful ^[4]

Exegesis

This surah mentions what happened at the Battle of the Trench to remind believers of the mercy and power of Allah since Allah made the various tribes who attacked Medina leave.

Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), Q33 is a later period "Medinan surah". It contains instructions regarding the treatment of the Prophet and his wives and warns the hypocrites of their bad behavior.^[5] According to some scholars, Medinan verses are concerned with the legal matters in Islamic society.^[6] These suras generally contain rules and regulations for the believers to follow.

5-6 Adopted and blood-related persons

Verses 33:5-6 are concerned with the differences between adopted and blood-related persons. Verse 33:5 refers to adoption in Islam and verse 33:6 contains a reference to the term "Mother of Believers", who was the Prophet's wife. This perhaps suggests their elevated standing with the community and in the later verses, these women are described as "unlike any other."^[7]

7-8 Sincerity of the prophets

Verses 33:7-8 show that God will test even the sincerity of the prophets. The beginning of the sura seems to be concerned with truthfulness. The sura reinforces that "God is enough to trust...All this is written in the Scripture...God will question [even] the truthful about their sincerity, and for those who reject the truth He has prepared a painful torment...speak in a direct fashion."^[7] Truthfulness and trust seem to be emphasized for believers and Muhammad since he was dealing with hypocrites and betrayers^{[according to whom?]} in Medina, who spread lies, deserted the army during the battle, or supported the attackers.^[6]

9-20 Battle of the Trench – aftermath

Verses 33:9-27 are concerned with the believers' and hypocrites' reactions to the Battle of the Trench. The believers are those who remain steadfast in their belief and courage whereas the hypocrites try to run for safety, abandon the Muslim army, and doubt God and Prophet Muhammad.

21 Prophet of Allah is an excellent model

Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much "Surely, in the Messenger of God, there is for you a fairer, good example for those whose hope had been in God and the Last Day and remembered God frequently."^{[Quran 33:21 (Translated by Laleh Bakhtiar)]}

Quran 33:21 shows that it is an important principle to follow the Messenger of God in all his words and deeds.^[8]^[9]^[10]

26 Siege of Banu Qurayza

Quran 33:26 contains a reference to the siege of the Banu Qurayza and consequent looting of their possessions.

28–32 Wives of Muhammad

Quran 33:28-34 contain a reference to Muhammad's wives and tell the believers the proper conduct with Muhammad and his household. The prophet's wives are called the Mothers of the Believers and thus have to follow certain rules and regulations as women who are "unlike other women".^[7]

33 purification

35-36 Forgiveness and reward

Quran 33:35-36 show the characteristics of people who will be forgiven and rewarded by God. Some scholars take these verses to mean equal worth of women and men and thus reject claims that women are inferior to men.^[11]

37-47 God to be trusted, obeyed, and glorified

Quran 33:37-47 reaffirm that God needs to be trusted, obeyed, and glorified. Quran 33:40 contains a reference to Finality of Prophethood.

49-52 Who the prophet can marry

Quran 33:49-52 detail who the prophet can marry or not. Verse 50 was revealed pertaining to Maymunah bint al-Harith.

53-58 House rules

Quran 33:53-58 tell the believers how they should interact with Muhammad when visiting him and his household.

59 Islam and gender segregation

Quran 33:59 uses the phrase adna al-jilbab which is sometimes understood as 'wrap around' and is used to acknowledge women to cover themselves, as an act of modesty.^[12]^[13]

60-73 Punishment for hypocrites and idolaters

Quran 33:60-73 explains the actions that God will take with the disbelievers and believers and will direct Muhammad to take against the hypocrites. The penultimate verse explains that mankind chose to be given free will.The last verse ends with the proclamation that God will punish both hypocrites and idolaters, whether they are men and women, and reward the believers of both genders. Both genders are presented as equal since they are both punished or redeemed without any differences when judged by God.

References

^ Ibn Kathir. "Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Al Ahzab". Quran 4 U. Tafsir. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
^ George Sale translation
^ Joseph E. B. Lumbard, "Introduction to Sūrat al-Aḥzāb in The Study Quran, ed. S. H. Nasr, Caner Dagli, Maria Dakake, and Mohammed Rustom (HarperOne, 2015).
^ Wherry, Elwood Morris (1896). A Complete Index to Sale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^ Haleem 2004, p. 266–271.
^ ^a ^b Donner, Fred. Muhammad and the Believers. p. 81.
^ ^a ^b ^c Haleem 2004, p. 268.
^ Abdul-Rahman, Muhammad Saed (2009). The Meaning and Explanation of the Glorious Qur'an (Vol 7). MSA Publication Limited. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-86179-661-5.
^ Fitzpatrick, Coeli; Walker, Adam Hani (2014). Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 416. ISBN 978-1-61069-178-9.
^ Morgan, Diane (2010). Essential Islam: A Comprehensive Guide to Belief and Practice. ABC-CLIO. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-313-36025-1.
^ Wadud 1999, p. 99.
^ al-Jalalayn. "The Tasfirs". altafsir.com. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
^ Barlas, Asma (2006). The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an: Women's readings of the Qur'an. New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 267–268.

Sources

Haleem, M.A.S. Abdel (2004). The Qur'an. New York: Oxford University Press.
Wadud, Amina (1999). Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-802943-4.

External links

Q33:56, 50+ translations, islamawakened.com
Quran 33 Clear Quran translation
Works related to The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/33. The Allies at Wikisource

[Quran_4_U-1] Ibn Kathir. "Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Al Ahzab". Quran 4 U. Tafsir. Retrieved 12 December 2019.

[GST-2] George Sale translation

[3] Joseph E. B. Lumbard, "Introduction to Sūrat al-Aḥzāb in The Study Quran, ed. S. H. Nasr, Caner Dagli, Maria Dakake, and Mohammed Rustom (HarperOne, 2015).

[4] Wherry, Elwood Morris (1896). A Complete Index to Sale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

[FOOTNOTEHaleem2004266–271-5] Haleem 2004, p. 266–271.

[donner-6] Donner, Fred. Muhammad and the Believers. p. 81.

[FOOTNOTEHaleem2004268-7] Haleem 2004, p. 268.

[8] Abdul-Rahman, Muhammad Saed (2009). The Meaning and Explanation of the Glorious Qur'an (Vol 7). MSA Publication Limited. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-86179-661-5.

[9] Fitzpatrick, Coeli; Walker, Adam Hani (2014). Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 416. ISBN 978-1-61069-178-9.

[10] Morgan, Diane (2010). Essential Islam: A Comprehensive Guide to Belief and Practice. ABC-CLIO. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-313-36025-1.

[FOOTNOTEWadud199999-11] Wadud 1999, p. 99.

[12] -Jalalayn. "The Tasfirs". altafsir.com. Retrieved 18 March 2020.

[13] Barlas, Asma (2006). The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an: Women's readings of the Qur'an. New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 267–268.

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