Pleading Woman (Al-Mujâdilah)

In the name of Allah, Gracious, Merciful.

¹Allah has indeed heard the statement of the woman who pleads with you concerning her husband and carries her complaint to Allah: and Allah hears the arguments between both sides among you: for Allah hears and sees all things.¹

²If any men among you divorce their wives by Zihar, they cannot be their mothers: none can be their mothers except those who gave them birth. And in fact they use words iniquitous and false: but truly Allah is one that blots out sins and forgives again and again.

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

¹Qad samial lahu qaulal lati tujadi luka fi zaujiha wa tastaki ilil lahi wal lahu yasmau tahawurakuma innal laha sam,iun basir

²Allazina yuzahiruna minkum miin nisaihim ma hun na ummahatihim in ummahatuhum illal lai waladnahum wa innahum laya quluna munkaram minal qauli wa zura wa innallaha laafuw wun gafur

1. This chapter is called “The Pleading Woman” or “The Woman Who Disputes”. The opening of this chapter is about a woman (Khawla bint Thalaba) who was divorced by her husband (Aus bin Samit) the old fashion way, which is by saying to the woman that you are but a mother to me. She did not like the way the divorce was entered into and she complained to the prophet. On top of this he wanted to be intimate with her. She refused, Muhammad intervened and she still refused until the revelation of this passage. The condition to renewing conjugal relations must meet the requirement in verse 3-5.

3But those who divorce their wives by Zihar then wish to go back on the words they uttered should free a slave before they touch each other: this are you admonished to perform: and Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.

⁴And if any has not the wherewithal he should fast for two months consecutively before they touch each other. But if any is unable to do so he should feed sixty indigent ones. This that you may show your faith in Allah and His apostle. Those are limits set by Allah. For those who reject Him there is a grievous penalty.

⁵Those who resist Allah and His apostle will be humbled to dust as were those before them: for We have already sent down clear signs. And the unbelievers will have a humiliating penalty.

³Wal lazina yuzahiruna min nisa ihim summa yauduna lima qalu fatariru raqabatim min qabli ay yatama sa zalikum tuazuna bih wal lahu bima tamaluna kabir

⁴Famallam yajid fasiyamu sahraini mutatabiaini min qabli ayyatama sa famal lam yastati fa itamu sitina miskina zalika lituminu billahi wa rasulih wa tilka hudulah wa lilkafirina azabun alim

⁵Innal lazina yuhad dunal laha wa rasulahu kubitu kama kubital lazina min qablihim wa qad anzalna ayatim bay yinat wa lilkafirina azabum muhin

[Commentary continues below.]

⁶On the day that Allah will raise them all up again and show them the truth and meaning of their conduct. Allah has reckoned its value though they may have forgotten it: for Allah is witness to all things.

⁷Do you not see that Allah knows all that is in the heavens and on earth? There is not a secret consultation between three but He makes the fourth among them, nor between five but He makes the sixth, nor between fewer nor more but He is in their midst wheresoever they be: in the end will He tell them the truth of their conduct on the day of judgment for Allah has full knowledge of all things.

⁶Yauma yabasuhumul lahu jamian fayunab bi uhun bima qamilu ahsahul lahu wa nasuh wal lahu ala kuli saiin sahid

⁷Alam tara annal laha yalamu ma fisamawati wa ma filard ma yakunu min najwa salasatin illa huwarabiuhum wa la hamsatin min zalika wa la aksara illa huwa maahum ainama kanu summa yunab bi uhum bima amilu yaumal qiyamah innallaha bikuli saiin alim

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸Do you not turn your sight towards those who were forbidden secret counsels ,yet revert to that which they were forbidden? And they hold secret counsels among themselves for iniquity, and hostility, and disobedience to the apostle. And when they come to you they salute you not as Allah salutes you but in crooked ways: and they say to themselves “Why does not Allah punish us for our words?” Enough for them is hell: in it will they burn and evil is that destination!

⁹O you who believe! when you hold secret counsel, do it not for iniquity and hostility and disobedience to the prophet; but do it for righteousness and self restraint; and fear Allah to whom you shall be brought back.

¹⁰Secret counsels are only inspired by the evil one in order that he may cause grief to the believers; but he cannot harm them in the least except as Allah permits; and on Allah let the believers put their trust.

⁸Alam tara ilil lazina nuhu anin najwa summa yauduna lima nuhu anhu wa yatanajauna bil ismi wal udwani wa masiyatir rasuli wa iza ja uka ha yauka bima lam yuha yika bihil lahu wa yaquluna fi anfusihim lau layuaz zibunal lahu bima naqul hasbuhum jahan namu yaslaunaha fabisal masir

⁹Ya ayuhal lazina amanu iza tanajaitum fala tatanajau bil ismi wal udwani wa masiyatir rasuli wa tanajau bil biri wat taqwa wa taqul lahal lazi ilaihi tusyarun

¹⁰Innaman najwa minas syaitani liyahzunal lazina amanu wa laisa bidarihim sai in illa bi iznillah wa alal lahi falyatawak kalil muminun

[Commentary continues below.]

¹¹O you who believe! When you are told to make room in the assemblies, make room: Ample room will Allah provide for you. And when you are told to rise up, rise up: Allah will raise up to suitable ranks those of you who believe and who have been granted knowledge: and Allah is well acquainted with all you do.

¹²O you who believe! When you consult the apostle in private, spend something in charity before your private consultation. That will be best for you and most conducive to purity. But if you find not the wherewithal, Allah is always forgiving, most merciful.

¹¹Ya ayyuhal lazina amanu iza qila lakum tafa sahu fil majalisi fafsahu yafsahil lahu lakum wa iza qilan suzu fan suzu yarfail lahul lazina amanu minkum wal lazina utul ilma darajat wal lahu bima tamaluna kabir

¹²Ya ayyuhal lazina amanu iza najaitumur rasula faqad dimu baina yadai najwa kum sadaqah zalika kairul rahim

[Commentary continues below.]

¹³Is it that you are afraid of spending sums in charity before your private consultation with him? If then you do not so and Allah forgives you then, establish regular prayer; practice regular charity; and obey Allah and His apostle: and Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.

¹⁴Do you not turn your attention to those who turn to such as have the wrath of Allah upon them? They are neither of you nor of them and they swear to falsehood knowingly.

¹⁵Allah has prepared for them a severe penalty: evil indeed are their deeds.

¹⁶They have made their oaths a screen for their misdeeds: Thus they obstruct men from the path of Allah: therefore shall they have a humiliating penalty.

¹³A asfaqtum an tuqad dimu baina yadai najwakum sadaqat fa izlam tafalu wa tabal lahu alaikum fa aqimus salata wa atuz zakata wa atiul laha wa rasulah wallahu kabirun bima tamalun

¹⁴Alam tara ilillazina tawal lau qauman gadibal lahu alaihim mahum minkum wa la minhum wa yahlifuna alal kazibi wa hum yalamun

¹⁵Aad dal lahu lahum azaban sadida innahum saa ma kanu yalamun

¹⁶Ittakazu aimanahum jun natan fasad du an sabilillahi falahum azabum muhin

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁷Of no profit whatever to them against Allah will be their riches nor their sons: They will be companions of the fire to dwell therein!

¹⁸One day will Allah raise them all up: then will they swear to Him as they swear to you: and they think that they have something to stand upon: No indeed! they are but liars!

¹⁹The evil one has got the better of them: So he has made them lose the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of the evil one. Truly it is the party of the evil one that will perish!

²⁰Those who resist Allah and His apostle will be among those most humiliated.

²¹Allah has decreed: “It is I and My apostle who must prevail”: For Allah is one, full of strength, able to enforce His will.

¹⁷Lan tugniya anhum amwaluhum wa la auladuhum minal lahi saia ulaika ashabun nar hum fiha halidun

¹⁸Yauma yabatsuhumul lahu jamian fayahlifuna lahu kama yahlifuna lakum wa yahsabuna an nahum ala sai ala innahum humul kazibun

¹⁹Istahwaza alaihimus syaitanu fa ansahum zikral lah ulaika hizbus syaitan ala inna hizbay syaitani humul khasirun

²⁰Innal lazina yuhad dunal laha wa rasulahu ulaika fil azallin

²¹Katabal lahu la agliban na anna wa rusuli innal laha qawi yun aziz

[Commentary continues below.]

²²You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the last day loving those who resist Allah and His apostle even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred. For such He has written faith in their hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself. And He will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow to dwell therein. Allah will be well pleased with them and they with Him. They are the party of Allah. Truly it is the party of Allah that will achieve felicity.²

²²La tajidu qauma yuminuna billahi wal yaumil akhiri yuwad duna man had dal laha wa rasulahu wa lau kanu abaahum au abna ahum au ikhwanahum au asyiratahum ulaika kataba fi qulubihimul imana wa ayadahum biruhim min wa yudkiluhum jan natin tajri min tahtihal anharukalidina fiha radiyal lahu anhum wa radu an ulaika hizbul lah ala inna hizbal lahi humul muflihun

2. This verse underscores the fact Islamic unity with the rest of the world is a farce. Muslims are only encouraged to befriend other Muslims. Friendship with unbelievers (non-Muslims) does not exist. Allah says in this verse that it is false because, “Thou wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who resist Allah and His Apostle even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred”. If Allah says it cannot happen, then it is very hypocritical on the part of Muslims to continue to lie to the rest of the world of non-Muslims as beings friends with them.