Surah Al-Mujadila

The Pleader

Introduction

Name of Chapter and Reason for its Name

This chapter is called Surah Al-Mujadila, and it was named from the verb ‘pleads with you’ which is used in the very first verse: ‘Allah has certainly heard the speech of her who pleads with you about her husband and complains to Allah. Allah hears the conversation between the two of you. Indeed Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.’

Chapter Number

Surah Al-Mujadila is the 58th chapter of the Quran.

Number of Verses

This chapter has 22 verses.

Place of Revelation

Exegetes deem Surah Al-Mujadila to have been revealed in the city of Medina. Axis and Content

Important Concepts in this Chapter

Verses 2-5

Rulings of zihaar. In the initial few verses of this chapter, there is a discussion on zihaar, which was a type of permanent divorce engaged in during the Age of Ignorance, and was later altered by Islam.

Verses 7-13

Etiquette of sittings and gatherings. In these verses, a series of etiquettes have been mentioned with regards to gatherings, such as ensuring that there is enough room for others to join; and a condemnation is made of secretly talking among one another, and annoying the believers.

Verses 14-22

The fate of those hypocrites who befriended the Jews. The last series of verses discuss the fate of some of the hypocrites who befriended the Jews and displayed animosity towards Allah and His Messenger. These verses condemn such individuals for straying away from the truth and promise them a very severe punishment. The verses then allude that possessing a belief in Allah will act as an obstacle for the believers from befriending the enemies of Allah, and subsequently praises the believers for being wary of the enemies. This chapter concludes by stating that faith has been written on the hearts of the believers, and that Allah has strengthened them with a strong spirit, and has promised them entry into heaven while He is pleased with them.

Discussions on this Chapter

According to the Sunni Traditions

Benefits of Reciting this Surah

عن رسول‌ الله صلی‌الله علیه وسلم: من قرأ سورة المجادلة کتب من حزب الله یوم القیامة

It has been narrated from the Messenger of Allah that: “Whoever recites Surah Al-Mujadila, will be regarded as a member of the party of Allah on the Day of Judgement.”

Verse 9: “O you who have faith! When you talk secretly, do not hold secret talks [imbued] with sin and aggression and disobedience to the Apostle, but talk secretly in [a spirit of] piety and Allah consciousness, and be wary of Allah towards whom you will be brought back.”

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا تَنَٰجَيۡتُمۡ فَلَا تَتَنَٰجَوۡاْ بِٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٰنِ وَمَعۡصِيَتِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَتَنَٰجَوۡاْ بِٱلۡبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِيٓ إِلَيۡهِ تُحۡشَرُونَ ٩ قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا بهز و عفان قالا: أخبرنا همام عن قتادة عن صفوان بن محرز قال: کنت آخذا بید ابن عمر إذ عرض له رجل فقال کیف سمعت رسول‌الله صلی‌الله علیه و سلّم یقول فی النجوی یوم القیامة؟ قال سمعت رسول‌الله صلی‌الله علیه و سلّم یقول: إن الله یدنی المؤمن فیضع علیه کنفه و یستره من الناس و یقرره بذنوبه و یقول له أ تعرف ذنب کذا؟ أ تعرف ذنب کذا؟ أ تعرف ذنب کذا؟ حتی إذا قرره بذنوبه و رأی فی نفسه أنه قد هلک قال فإنی قد سترتها علیک فی الدنیاو أنا أغفرها لک الیوم ثم یعطی کتاب حسناتهو أما الکفار و المنافقون فیقول الأشهاد هؤلاء الذین کذبوا علی ربهم ألا لعنة الله علی الظالمین»

Imam Ahmad said that Bahz and Affan both related to me saying that Hamam reported to us from Qatada from Safwaan ibn Muhriz who said that: “I was holding the hand of Ibn Umar, when a man came in front of him and asked, ‘What have you heard from the Messenger of Allah about the result of secret talks on the Day of Judgement?’ Ibn Umar replied, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah say that: ‘Allah will bring a believer near Him, shelter him and conceal him from the people, and make him confess his sins, and He will ask him: ‘Did you commit such-and-such a sin? Did you commit such-and-such a sin? Did you commit such-and-such a sin?’ Until he will confess to his sins and will see that he will not be saved.’ Allah will then say: ‘I concealed those sins in the world and I forgive them for you today,’ and then he will be given the book of his good deeds. As for the unbelievers and hypocrites, the witnesses will say: ‘These are the people who lied against their Lord. Behold! The curse of Allah is upon the oppressors.’’”

Verse 11: “O you who have faith! When you are told, ‘Make room,’ in gatherings, then do make room; Allah will make room for you. And when you are told, ‘Rise up!’ Then do rise up. Allah will raise those of you who have faith and those who have been given knowledge in rank, and Allah is well aware of what you do.”

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمۡ تَفَسَّحُواْ فِي ٱلۡمَجَٰلِسِ فَٱفۡسَحُواْ يَفۡسَحِ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡۖ وَإِذَا قِيلَ ٱنشُزُواْ فَٱنشُزُواْ يَرۡفَعِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مِنكُمۡ وَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡعِلۡمَ دَرَجَٰتٖۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ خَبِيرٞ ١١ روی أبو داود من حدیث معاویة بن صالح عن أبی الزاهریة عن کثیر بن مرة عن عبد الله بن عمر أن رسول‌ الله صلی ‌الله علیه و سلّم قال: أقیموا الصفوف و حاذوا بین المناکب و سدوا الخلل و لینوا بأیدی إخوانکم و لا تذروا فرجات للشیاطین و من وصل صفا وصله الله و من قطع صفا قطعه الله

Abu Dawood narrates from Muawiyah ibn Saleh who narrates from Abu al-Zahiriyyah from Kathir ibn Murrah from Abdullah ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah said: “Establish your rows straight, align your shoulders, close the gaps, yield your hands to your brothers, and do not leave any gaps for the devils. Whoever completes a row, Allah will reward him, and whoever breaks a row, Allah will forsake him.”

قال أبو داود: حدثنا أحمد بن یونس، حدثنا زائدة، حدثنا السائب بن حبیش عن معدان بن أبی طلحة الیعمری، عن أبی الدرداء قال: سمعت رسول‌اللهصلی‌الله علیه و سلّم یقول: ما من ثلاثة فی قریة و لا بدو لا تقام فیهم الصلاة إلا قد استحوذ علیهم الشیطان فعلیک بالجماعة فإنما یأکل الذئب القاصیة

Verse 19: “Satan has prevailed upon them, so he has caused them to forget the remembrance of Allah. They are Satan’s confederates. Look! Indeed it is Satan’s confederates who are the losers!”

ٱسۡتَحۡوَذَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنُ فَأَنسَىٰهُمۡ ذِكۡرَ ٱللَّهِۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ حِزۡبُ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزۡبَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ هُمُ ٱلۡخَٰسِرُونَ ١٩ قال أبو داود: حدثنا أحمد بن یونس، حدثنا زائدة، حدثنا السائب بن حبیش عن معدان بن أبی طلحة الیعمری، عن أبی الدرداء قال: سمعت رسول‌اللهصلی‌الله علیه و سلّم یقول: ما من ثلاثة فی قریة و لا بدو لا تقام فیهم الصلاة إلا قد استحوذ علیهم الشیطان فعلیک بالجماعة فإنما یأکل الذئب القاصیة

Abu Dawood said that Ahmad ibn Yunus reported to me from Zaidah, who reported from al-Saib ibn Hubaysh from Madan ibn Abu Talha al-Yamuri, from Abu al-Darda who said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘There are no three individuals in a village or a desert among whom the prayers is not called for, except that Satan has control over them. Therefore, adhere to the congregation, for the wolf eats up the strayed sheep.’”

According to the Shia Traditions

Benefits of Reciting this Surah

أبی بن کعب قال قَالَ النَّبِیص: وَمَنْقَرَأَسُورَةَ الْمُجَادَلَةِ کتِبَمِنْحِز ْبِاللهیوْمَالْقِیامَة

Ubay ibn Kab said: “The Messenger said: ‘Whoever recites Surah al-Mujadilah, will be regarded as a member of the Party of Allah on the Day of Judgement.’”

Verse 10: “Indeed [malicious] secret talks are from Satan, that he may upset the faithful, but he cannot harm them in any way except by Allah’s leave, and in Allah let all of the faithful put their trust.”

إِنَّمَا ٱلنَّجۡوَىٰ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ لِيَحۡزُنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَلَيۡسَ بِضَآرِّهِمۡ شَيۡ ًٔا إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلۡيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ١٠ ورد فی الخبر عن عبد الله بن مسعود قَالَ النَّبِی ص إِذَا کنْتُمْ ثَلَاثَةً فَلَا یتَنَاجَی اثْنَانِ دُونَ الثَّالِثِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِک یحْزُنُه It has been recorded in a report from Abdullah ibn Masood that the Messenger said: “If there are three of you, then two of them should not whisper amongst themselves while ignoring the third person - for this whispering will cause him to become worried.”

Verse 11: “O you who have faith! When you are told, ‘Make room,’ in gatherings, then do make room; Allah will make room for you. And when you are told, ‘Rise up!’ Then do rise up. Allah will raise those of you who have faith and those who have been given knowledge in rank, and Allah is well aware of what you do.”

يَوۡمَ يَبۡعَثُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعٗا فَيَحۡلِفُونَ لَهُۥ كَمَا يَحۡلِفُونَ لَكُمۡ وَيَحۡسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَيۡءٍۚ أَلَآ إِنَّهُمۡ هُمُ ٱلۡكَٰذِبُونَ ١٨ ‌وردَأَیضاً فِی الْحَدِیثِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ ص فَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَی الشَّهِیدِ دَرَجَة وَفَضْل الشَّهِیدعَلَی الْعَابِدِ دَرَجَة وَ فَضْل النَّبِی عَلَی الْعَالِمِ دَرَجَة وَفَضْلُ الْقُرْآنِ عَلَی سَائِرِالْکلَامِ کفَضْلِ الله عَلَی خَلْقِهِ وَفَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَی سَائِرِالنَّاسِ کفَضْلِی عَلَی أَدْنَاهُمْ

It has been mentioned in a narration that the Prophet said: “There is a degree of superiority of a scholar over a martyr, and there is a degree of superiority of a martyr over a worshipper, and there is a degree of superiority of a Messenger over a scholar. The superiority of the Quran over all other speech is like the superiority of Allah over all of His creation; and the superiority of a scholar over the rest of the people is like my superiority over the most inferior amongst them.”

Verse 22: “You will not find a people believing in Allah and the Last Day endearing those who oppose Allah and His Apostle even though they were their own parents, children, brothers, or kinsfolk. [For] such, He has written faith into their hearts and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself. He will admit them into gardens with streams running in them, to remain in them [forever], Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him. They are Allah’s confederates. Look! The confederates of Allah are indeed felicitous!”

لَّا تَجِدُ قَوۡمٗا يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأٓخِرِ يُوَآدُّونَ مَنۡ حَآدَّ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَوۡ كَانُوٓاْ ءَابَآءَهُمۡ أَوۡ أَبۡنَآءَهُمۡ أَوۡ إِخۡوَٰنَهُمۡ أَوۡ عَشِيرَتَهُمۡۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلۡإِيمَٰنَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٖ مِّنۡهُۖ وَيُدۡخِلُهُمۡ جَنَّٰتٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ رَضِيَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ حِزۡبُ ٱللَّهِۚ أَلَآ إِنَّ حِزۡبَ ٱللَّهِ هُمُ ٱلۡمُفۡلِحُونَ ٢٢ فِی الدُّرِّالْمَنْثُورِ،أَخْرَجَ الطَّیالِسِی وَابْنِ أَبِی شَیبَةَ عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رسول‌ الله ص: أَوْثَقُ عُرَی الْإِیمَانِ الْحُبُّ فِی الله وَالْبُغْضُ فِی الله

In Al-Durr al-Manthur, Tiyalasi and ibn Abu Shaibah from al-Bara ibn Aazib is reported to have said from the Messenger of Allah that: “The firmest handhold of faith is love for the sake of Allah and hate for the sake of Allah.”