Al Islam

2330. Zihar or Muzaharah means, separating oneself from one’s wife, calling her mother (Lane). (close)

2331. Ad‘iya’ is plural of da‘iyy which means, one who is claimed as a son by a person who is not his father; adopted son; one whose origin or lineage or parentage is doubted; one who attributes his descent to other than his father (Lane). The verse sought to abolish two very deep-rooted and widespread customs of the Arabs in the Holy Prophet’s time. The more obnoxious of these two was that of Zihar. A husband, in a fit of anger, would call his wife his mother. The poor woman was deprived of her conjugal rights and yet remained tied to him without the right of marrying another man. Islam, a great champion of women’s rights, could not tolerate such a savage custom. The other custom was that of adopting the son of another man as one’s own. This custom, apart from being calculated to cause complications in blood relationships was puerile and foolish. The reason for the abolition of these customs is implied in the words, Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his breast. Human heart is understood to be the seat of emotions and feelings. It can entertain only one kind of emotion at one time. Contradictory emotions cannot possibly be entertained by it at the same time. Moreover, different human relations evoke different emotions. Merely calling one’s wife one’s mother or calling a stranger one’s son cannot evoke the corresponding emotions in one’s heart. A wife can never become a mother nor a stranger a real son. Mere words of mouth cannot change the state of mind of the utterer of those words, nor can they alter hard facts of physical relationship. (close)

3077. Important Words:

تظاھرون (keep away by calling them mothers). ظاھر من امرأته means, he separated from his wife, calling her his mother. ظھارand مظاھرة are infinitive nouns from this root (Lane & Aqrab).

ادعیاء کم (your adopted sons). ادعیاء is the plural of دعی (da‘iyyun) which is derived from دعا which means, he called. ادعاہmeans, he made him to assert his relationship as a son. ادعی الی غیر ابیه means, he claimed as his father one who was not his father. دعی means one invited to a repast; one who is claimed as a son by a person who is not his father; adopted son; one whose origin or lineage or parentage is doubted; a bastard (one who attributes his descent to other than his father) (Aqrab & Lane).

Commentary:

The verse seeks to abolish two very deep-seated and wide-spread customs of the Arabs in the Holy Prophet’s time. The more obnoxious of these two was that of Zihar. A husband, in a fit of anger, would call his wife his mother. The poor woman was deprived of her conjugal rights and yet remained tied to him without the right of marrying another man. Islam, a great champion of women’s rights, could not tolerate such a savage custom. The other custom was that of adopting the son of another man as one’s own. This custom, apart from being calculated to cause complications in blood relationships was also puerile and foolish. The reason for the abolition of both these customs is implied in the words, "Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his breast." Human heart is understood to be the seat of emotions and feelings. It can entertain only one kind of emotion at one time. Contradictory emotions cannot possibly be entertained by it at the same time. Moreover, different human relations evoke different emotions. Hence merely calling one’s wife one’s mother or calling a stranger one’s son cannot evoke the corresponding emotions in one’s heart. A wife can never become a mother nor a stranger a real son. Mere words of mouth cannot change the state of mind of the one who utters those words, nor can they alter hard facts of physical relationship. So it is foolish on the part of a person to call one’s wife one’s mother or to call another a son who is not one’s real son. (close)

3078. Commentary:

The words "in faith" qualify both "your brethren" and "your friends" and the clause would read as "they are your brethren and friends in faith." (close)

2332. The verse clears a possible ambiguity that might have arisen from misunderstanding the injunction contained in v.6 above. While in that verse the believers were enjoined to call them after their fathers, in the present verse the Holy Prophet, by implication, has been called the father of the Faithful. The preceding verse speaks of blood-relationship but the verse under comment speaks of the spiritual relationship that subsists between the Holy Prophet and the Faithful. (close)

a. 8:76. (close)

2333. The Islamic Brotherhood which had come into being through the spiritual fatherhood of the Holy Prophet might have led to the misconception that Muslims could inherit each other’s property. The verse seeks to remove this misconception by laying down that only blood-relations can inherit each other and that from among the blood-relation only the believers can inherit, the disbelievers having been debarred from inheriting their believing relatives. The verse also abolishes that form of brotherhood which was established between the Emigrants of Mecca and the Helpers of Medina on the former’s arrival in Medina, according to which an "Emigrant" would even inherit the property left by an "Helper." That brotherhood, which was but a temporary measure and was adopted to rehabilitate the Emigrants from Mecca, ceased to exist, and blood-relationship, and not faith alone, became the decisive factor in determining inheritance and other kindred matters. But the wider Brotherhood of Islam continued and Muslims were expected to treat one another like brothers. (close)

a. 8:76. (close)

3079. Commentary:

This verse clears a possible ambiguity that might have arisen from misunderstanding the injunction contained in v. 6 above. While in that verse the believers were enjoined to "call them by the names of their fathers," in the present verse the Holy Prophet by implication has been called the father of the Faithful. In fact, the preceding verse speaks of blood-relationship and the verse under comment speaks of the spiritual relationship that subsists between the Holy Prophet and the Faithful. It purports to say that in his capacity as their spiritual father, the Holy Prophet stands closer to them than even their own selves and that his wives being their spiritual mothers ought to be treated by them with greater regard and respect than the mothers who gave them birth, because spiritual relationship stands on a much higher plane than physical relationship. It is to this supreme reality that the Holy Prophet has drawn attention in a well-known saying of his, viz. "the faith of a believer does not become perfect unless the love he bears to me transcends all worldly connections and relationships" (Bukhari, Kitabul-Iman).

The verse removes another possible misunderstanding. The Islamic brotherhood which had come into being through the spiritual fatherhood of the Holy Prophet might have led to the misconception that Muslims could inherit each other’s property. It is this misconception that the verse under comment seeks to remove. It purports to say that (1) only blood relations can inherit each other and (2) that from among the blood relations only the believers can inherit, the disbelievers having been debarred from inheriting their believing relatives.

The verse also abolished that form of brotherhood which was established between the Migrants of Mecca and the Helpers of Medina, on the former’s arrival in Medina, according to which a مھاجر (Migrants) would even inherit the property left by an انصاری (Helper). After this verse was revealed that form of brotherhood which was but a temporary measure, adopted to rehabilitate the Migrants from Mecca, ceased to exist, and blood relationship and not faith alone, became the decisive factor in determining inheritance and other kindred matters. But the wider brotherhood of Islam continued and Muslims were expected to treat one another like brothers. (close)

b. 3:82. (close)

2334. The four Prophets—Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, have found special mention in this verse inasmuch as they occupy a unique position among the hierarchy of pre-Islamic Divine Prophets. Noah was the first Law- bearing Prophet in the real sense of the word and in Abraham converged both the Mosaic and Islamic Dispensations, and Moses was the Holy Prophet’s counterpart while Jesus was the last of the Israelite Prophets and the Holy Prophet’s harbinger. The words "their covenant" mean the covenant which was taken from them or which befitted their dignity and exalted position and was in harmony with their high duties and responsibilities. See also 433. (close)

a. 3:82. (close)

3080. Commentary:

The four Prophets—Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, have found special mention in this verse inasmuch as they occupy a very eminent and exalted position among the hierarchy of pre-Islamic Divine Prophets. Noah was the first Law-bearing Prophet in the real sense of the word and in Abraham converged both the Mosaic and Islamic Dispensations, and Moses was the Holy Prophet’s counterpart while Jesus was the last of the Israelite Prophets and the Holy Prophet’sharbinger. The words "their covenant" mean the covenant which was taken from them or which befitted their dignity and exalted position and was in harmony with their high duties and responsibilities. See also 3:82. (close)

a. 18:103; 48:14; 76:5. (close)

a. 18:103; 48:14; 76:5. (close)

3081. Commentary:

The verse signifies that without the revelation of a Divine Law, man could not be held responsible for his actions. (close)

2335. With this verse begins an account of the Battle of the Trench which took place in the 5th year of the Hijrah and was the fiercest encounter in which the Muslims had so far been engaged. The whole of Arabia rose like one man against Islam. The Quraish of Mecca, their allies, the Ghatafan, the Ashja‘ and Murrah, the Fazarah, the Sulaim and the Banu Sa‘d and Banu Asad, the desert tribes of Central Arabia, aided and abetted by the perfidious Jews and treacherous Hypocrites of Medina, formed themselves into a grand confederacy against the Holy Prophet. A mighty force numbering from ten to twenty thousand strong was pitched against 1200 (according to some writers 3000 Muslims including women and children were employed in digging the Trench) ill-prepared and ill- provisioned Muslims. The siege of Medina lasted from fifteen days to four weeks. Islam emerged stronger from this severe ordeal and the disbelieving Quraish were never again able to march against Muslims in force. (close)

2336. Forces of nature—wind, rain and cold which wearied the disbelievers and damped their spirits. The words may also refer to the hosts of angels which cast fear in the hearts of disbelievers and heartened and encouraged the Muslims. Says William Muir: 'Forage was obtained with the utmost difficulty; provisions were running short, and the camels and horses dying daily in great numbers; wearied and damped in spirit the night set in upon them, cold and tempestuous wind and rain beat mercilessly on the unprotected camp. The storm rose to a hurricane. Fires were extinguished, tents blown down, cooking vessels and other equipage overthrown' ("Life of Muhammad"). (close)

3082. Commentary:

With this verse begins an account of the Battle of the Ditch. This battle which took place in the 5th year of the Hijrahwas the fiercest encounter in which the Muslims had so far been engaged. The whole of Arabia rose like one man against Islam. The Quraish of Mecca, their allies, the Ghatfan, the Ashja‘ and Murrah, the Fararah, the Sulaim and the Banu Sa‘d and Banu Asad, the desert tribes of Central Arabia, aided and abetted by the perfidious Jews and treacherous "Hypocrites"of Medina formed themselves into a grand confederacy against the Holy Prophet. A mighty force numbering from ten to twenty thousand strong was pitched against 1200 (according to some writers 3000 Muslims, including women and children, were employed in digging the Ditch) ill-prepared and ill-provisioned Muslims. The siege of Medina lasted from fifteen days to four weeks, according to different versions after which the forces of darkness melted away without inflicting any serious loss upon the Muslims. Islam emerged stronger from this severe ordeal and the disbelieving Quraish were never again able to march against Muslims in force.

The reference in the word ریحا (wind) is to the strong cold wind which blew upon the confederated hosts and uprooted their tents and extinguished their fires. Says William Muir:

"Forage was obtained with the utmost difficulty; provisions were running short, and the camels and horses dying daily in great numbers; wearied and damped in spirit, the night set in upon them, cold and tempestuous wind and rain beat mercilessly on the unprotected camp. The storm rose to a hurricane. Fires were extinguished, tents blown down, cooking vessels and other equipage overthrown". ("The Life of Mahomet").

The words "and hosts that you saw not" refer to the forces of nature—wind, rain and cold which wearied the disbelievers and damped their spirits. It may also refer to the hosts of angels which cast fear in the hearts of disbelievers and heartened and encouraged the Muslims. (close)

2337. The disbelievers burst upon Muslims from every direction—from the heights of Medina as well as from the plains. The reference in the words 'and you thought diverse thoughts about Allah,' is to the 'Hypocrites' and not to sincere and steadfast Muslims (v.13). (close)

3083. Commentary:

The verse constitutes a very revealing commentary on the mightiness of the forces of disbelief and the most desperate state in which Muslims were then placed. The disbelievers burst upon Medina from every direction.

The words, "from above you and from below you" mean, from the heights of Medina as well as from the plains.

The reference in the words "and you thought diverse thoughts about Allah," is to the hypocrites and the weak of faith among the Muslims. V. 13 makes it quite clear that the reference in the above words is only to these two. (close)

a. 8:18. (close)

a. 8:18. (close)

b. 8:50. (close)

b. 8:50. (close)

2337A. This was the name of Medina before the Hijrah. (close)

2338. The words mean, 'Return to your old faith, or go back to your homes.' (close)

3084. Important Words:

عورة (exposed) is derived from عور and means, part between the navel and knee, pudenda; every part of the body which a person covers; defenceless or exposed; disgrace; any place of concealment; a cleft or fissure in a mountain; a woman; a time in which it is not proper for a woman to appear in public, as at or before day-break, nightfall, and mid-day; vice; weakness; blindness of one eye (Lane & Aqrab). See also 24:32.

یثرب is derived from ثرب. They say ثربه i.e. he rebuked or reproached him and showed him to be foul; he stripped him of his garment (Aqrab). یثرب (which now is known as مدینة النبی i.e. the City of the Prophet) was so called perhaps because the place was malaria-stricken or because the Medinites being cultivators and having been given to farming were looked down upon by the warlike Arabs. See also 12:93.

Commentary:

The reference in the word طائفة (party) is to the hypocrites of Medina. Weakness of faith causes hypocrisy and vice versa.

The expression, "therefore turn back," may mean, return to your old faith, or (2) go back to your homes. (close)