Surah Al-Ahzab

Name and the reason for it

«الاحزاب» is the plural of «حزب», meaning a party or army. The surah is named after the allied armies (the confederates) of the Quraish, the Ghatafan and other tribes, helped by the Jews, who came together to attack Madinah in 5 AH. The word «الْاَحْزَابَ» comes in 33:20 and the "companies" are mentioned again in 33:22; the Battle of Ahzab is described in 33:9 to 27.

Period and occasion of revelation

The surah was revealed in Madinah around 5 AH, two years after Uhud, when the Muslim community had to face war from outside and had to reform its social life from inside. Its different parts have their own background:

• The Battle of Ahzab (Khandaq), Shawwal 5 AH: about 10,000 confederates besieged Madinah, which was defended by about 3,000 Muslims behind a trench (33:9 to 25). After it the Prophet (ﷺ) marched against the treacherous Banu Qurayzah (33:26 to 27).
• Adopted sons and the marriage of Hazrat Zaid (RA) and Hazrat Zainab (RA): Allah abolished the custom of treating an adopted son as a real son (33:4 to 5, 36 to 40).
• The Prophet's (ﷺ) household: the wives were given a choice, rules of conduct and the rule of hijab were given (33:28 to 34, 50 to 55).
• Protection of the believing women from harassment: the jilbab (33:59) and the warning to rumour-mongers in Madinah (33:60 to 62).

Central theme (مرکزی مضمون)

The central theme is obedience to Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) and firmness in trials: the surah protects the community from enemies without (the confederates and Banu Qurayzah), from hypocrites and rumour-mongers within, and from the customs of ignorance in the family. It establishes the high status of the Prophet (ﷺ) as the final prophet, the excellent example, and the one who must be loved, respected and blessed (33:6, 21, 40, 56).

Main topics in order

• 33:1 to 8: command to fear Allah and not obey disbelievers and hypocrites; adopted sons; the Prophet (ﷺ) closer to the believers than themselves; the covenant of the prophets.
• 33:9 to 27: the Battle of the Trench, the hypocrites, the excellent example, Banu Qurayzah.
• 33:28 to 35: the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the qualities of believing men and women.
• 33:36 to 48: obedience to Allah and the Messenger (ﷺ), the marriage with Hazrat Zainab (RA), Khatam an-Nabiyyin, the qualities of the Prophet (ﷺ).
• 33:49 to 58: divorce before touching, special rulings for the Prophet (ﷺ), etiquette of entering his house, hijab, durood.
• 33:59 to 68: the jilbab, the rumour-mongers, the Hour, the punishment of the disbelievers.
• 33:69 to 73: do not hurt the Prophet (ﷺ) as Bani Israel hurt Musa (AS), speak words of justice, and the trust (amanah).

1. Ayah 33:56 (durood)

• Allah Himself and His angels send blessings on the Prophet (ﷺ), and the believers are commanded to do the same: a unique honour, since no other action is ordered by Allah in this way.
• The Prophet (ﷺ) said: whoever sends one blessing on me, Allah sends ten blessings on him (Sahih Muslim, from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA)).

2. Ayah 33:21 (the excellent example)

The ayah makes the life of the Prophet (ﷺ) the standard for every believer in every field: worship, family, trade, war and peace. It is the basis for following the Sunnah.

3. Ayah 33:23 (men true to their promise)

• Hazrat Anas (RA) said that his uncle Anas bin an-Nadr (RA), who missed Badr, vowed to fight and was martyred at Uhud; they used to think this ayah was revealed about men like him (Sahih Bukhari).
• Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (RA) said that when the Quran was being compiled he found the last part of this ayah only with Hazrat Khuzaymah bin Thabit (RA) (Sahih Bukhari).

4. Ayah 33:35 (ten pairs of qualities)

Allah promised forgiveness and a great reward equally to believing men and women who have ten qualities. According to a narration in Tirmidhi, Hazrat Umm Salamah (RA) asked why women were not mentioned in the Quran as men were, and this ayah was revealed.

5. Ayah 33:70 to 71 (truthful speech)

Fear Allah and speak straight, true words: Allah will then put right your deeds and forgive your sins. These two ayat are recited at the start of the Friday sermon in many places (they are among the ayat of the khutbat al-hajah taught by the Prophet (ﷺ), reported by Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi).

Background

• After the exile of Banu an-Nadir, their chiefs (such as Huyayy bin Akhtab) went to Makkah and incited the Quraish and then the Ghatafan and other tribes to destroy Madinah.
• In Shawwal 5 AH about 10,000 men gathered under the leadership of Abu Sufyan; the Muslims were about 3,000.

The trench (خندق)

• On the advice of Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) a trench was dug across the open side of Madinah, a method of defence unknown to the Arabs. The Prophet (ﷺ) himself worked with the Companions. Hence the battle is called Khandaq.
• The enemy could not cross it; the siege lasted about a month with hunger, cold and fear for the Muslims.

How it ended

• The Banu Qurayzah (a Jewish tribe in Madinah with a treaty with the Muslims) broke their agreement and joined the enemy, which made the danger greater.
• Division was sown among the enemy (the role of Hazrat Nu'aym bin Mas'ud (RA), who had just accepted Islam) and then Allah sent a violent cold wind and unseen armies of angels (33:9). The camp was overturned and the confederates left in the night.
• The Prophet (ﷺ) said after it: now we shall march against them and they will not march against us (Sahih Bukhari, from Hazrat Sulayman bin Surad (RA)).
• The Quran says the disbelievers went back in their rage with no gain and that Allah sufficed the believers in the fight (33:25).

Banu Qurayzah

• On the very day the Prophet (ﷺ) returned from the trench, the angel Jibrail (AS) told him to march against Banu Qurayzah, who had broken the treaty at the most dangerous time (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).
• They were besieged in their fortresses for about 25 days, then surrendered and accepted the decision of their ally Hazrat Sa'd bin Mu'adh (RA) of the Aws.
• Hazrat Sa'd (RA) judged that the fighting men be killed, the women and children be taken captive and the property divided, according to their own law; the Prophet (ﷺ) said that he had judged by the judgement of Allah (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).
• The Quran mentions it in 33:26 to 27: Allah brought them down from their fortresses, cast terror into their hearts and made the Muslims inherit their land, houses and property, and land not yet trodden.

Lessons

• Victory is from Allah when believers do their best (a trench) and trust in Him.
• Breaking a treaty brings ruin; the Muslims must keep their own treaties.
• Trials separate true believers from hypocrites.

• They said: Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion (33:12), mocking the promise of victory.
• They called out to the people of Yathrib: there is no place for you to stay, so go back (33:13), and tried to discourage the soldiers.
• A party asked the Prophet's (ﷺ) permission to leave, saying their houses were exposed, though they were not; they only wanted to run away (33:13).
• They had already promised Allah that they would not turn their backs, and that promise would be questioned (33:15). No flight can save from death or give more than a little enjoyment (33:16).
• They held others back, saying to their brothers: come to us, and they came to war only a little (33:18 to 20).
• In fear their eyes rolled like one fainting at death; when fear passed they lashed the Muslims with sharp tongues, greedy for gain (33:19). Allah made their deeds worthless.
• They thought the allied armies had not gone, and if they came again they would wish to be in the desert among the Bedouins asking news from afar (33:20).

The believers' response

• The believers said, "This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us," and it increased them in faith and submission (33:22).
• Some had fulfilled their vow to the death and some were waiting, and none changed (33:23). Allah rewards the truthful and may punish or forgive the hypocrites (33:24).

Pre-Islamic custom

• The Arabs treated an adopted son (called «دَعِيّ») exactly as a real son: he was called by the adopter's name, he inherited from him, and the wife of the adopted son was held forbidden to the adopter, after divorce or death, as a daughter-in-law.
• Hazrat Zaid bin Harithah (RA) was called Zaid bin Muhammad before the revelation.

The Quranic rulings

• 33:4: Allah has not put two hearts in one man's body; a wife declared like a mother (zihar) does not become a mother; adopted sons are not real sons: it is only a saying of the mouth, but Allah says the truth.
• 33:5: call them by their fathers' names, which is more just with Allah; if you do not know the father, they are your brothers in religion and your mawali (those under your care).
• There is no blame for a mistake made unintentionally, only for what the hearts intend (33:5).
• The rights of inheritance belong to blood relatives (33:6); one may only do a kindness, such as a bequest, to a friend or ally.

Hazrat Zaid bin Harithah (RA)

• Taken captive as a boy and sold as a slave, he came to Hazrat Khadijah (RA) and she gave him to the Prophet (ﷺ), who freed and adopted him before prophethood.
• When his father came for him he preferred to stay with the Prophet (ﷺ). He was among the first to believe, and is the only Companion whose name is mentioned in the Quran (33:37).
• He was martyred as a commander in the battle of Mu'tah in 8 AH.

Hazrat Zainab bint Jahsh (RA) (33:36 to 37)

• Hazrat Zainab (RA) was the Prophet's (ﷺ) cousin from a noble Quraishi family. To break class pride, the Prophet (ﷺ) proposed her marriage to Hazrat Zaid (RA), a freed slave. They disliked it at first, and 33:36 was revealed: no believer has a choice once Allah and His Messenger have decided.
• The marriage did not go well because of differences of temperament, and Zaid (RA) wished to divorce her. The Prophet (ﷺ) told him to keep his wife and fear Allah, but Allah had told him she would be his wife.
• After her iddah Allah Himself joined her in marriage to the Prophet (ﷺ) (33:37), in order to abolish the custom in practice: so that there be no difficulty for the believers in marrying the divorced wives of their adopted sons. The Prophet (ﷺ) feared that people would talk, but Allah had more right to be feared.

1. Finality of prophethood (33:40)

• The ayah answers the criticism about the marriage with Hazrat Zainab (RA): Muhammad (ﷺ) is not the father of any of your men, so there is no real relation of father and son with Zaid (RA); he is the Messenger of Allah and the Khatam an-Nabiyyin.
• «خَاتَم» means seal: just as a seal ends a document, prophethood ended with him. The Muslim community agrees (ijma) that there is no prophet after him.

Hadith on finality

• The likeness of me and the prophets before me is a house well built except for the place of one brick; people go round it and admire it and say: why was this brick not placed? I am that brick and I am the seal of the prophets (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
• To Hazrat Ali (RA) at Tabuk: you are to me as Harun was to Musa, except that there is no prophet after me (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
• Prophethood and messengership have come to an end; there is no messenger or prophet after me (Tirmidhi).

2. His qualities in the surah

3. Other special qualities and status

• Closer to the believers than themselves, and his wives are their mothers (33:6): his command comes before their own desires.
• The excellent example (33:21): see the next sections.
• A covenant taken from him first among the prophets: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and Isa (AS) (33:7).
• Allah and His angels bless him, and the believers are commanded to send blessings on him (33:56).
• Harming him is forbidden: those who harm Allah and His Messenger are cursed in this world and the Hereafter (33:57); no one may marry his wives after him (33:53).
• His obedience is obligatory: no believer has a choice after his decision (33:36).

• Context: it comes after the description of the hypocrites' cowardice at Khandaq. The Prophet (ﷺ) dug the trench with the Companions, bore hunger and stayed in the front line; the believers should follow his example, not run away.
• Meaning: «أُسْوَةٌ» is a model to follow; the Prophet (ﷺ) is the perfect pattern for the whole life: worship, character, family, leadership and war.
• Who benefits: the ayah gives three conditions: one who hopes in Allah, hopes for the Last Day and remembers Allah often.
• Lesson: love for the Prophet (ﷺ) is shown by following his Sunnah, not by words only. Compare 3:31 and 59:7.

1. The choice (33:28 to 29)

• The wives asked for more worldly comforts, while the household lived in great simplicity. Allah told the Prophet (ﷺ) to say: if you want the world and its adornment, come, I will provide for you and release you kindly; if you want Allah, His Messenger and the Hereafter, Allah has prepared a great reward.
• Hazrat Aishah (RA) chose Allah and His Messenger first, and all the other wives followed her (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim).

2. Rules for the wives (33:30 to 34)

• Their sin would bring double punishment and their obedience double reward, because of their high position (33:30 to 31).
• They are not like other women: if they fear Allah, they must not be soft in speech so that one with disease in the heart should desire, but speak in a fitting manner (33:32).
• Stay in your houses and do not display yourselves as in the former times of ignorance, establish the prayer, pay zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger (33:33).
• Allah wishes to remove impurity from the Ahl al-Bayt and purify them (33:33). Remember what is recited in your houses of Allah's ayat and wisdom (33:34).

3. Special rulings for the Prophet (ﷺ) (33:50 to 52)

• Allah made lawful for him the wives to whom he had given the dowers, slave women, relatives who emigrated with him and a believing woman who offered herself, as a special concession for him (33:50).
• He had freedom in the turns of the wives (33:51), but no more women were lawful for him after this, nor to exchange wives (33:52).

4. Etiquette of visitors (33:53)

• Do not enter the Prophet's houses without permission; come for a meal only when invited and not early to wait for it.
• After eating, disperse and do not stay for chatting; it troubles the Prophet (ﷺ), who is shy to ask you to leave, but Allah is not shy of the truth.
• If you ask the wives for something, ask from behind a screen: it is purer for your hearts and theirs.
• It is not for you to harm the Messenger of Allah, nor to marry his wives after him: that is a great sin with Allah.
• The occasion: after the wedding feast of Hazrat Zainab (RA) some guests stayed long in conversation (Sahih Bukhari, from Hazrat Anas (RA)).

5. The mahram exemption (33:55) and the wives as mothers (33:6)

• There is no blame on the wives before their fathers, sons, brothers, brothers' and sisters' sons, their women and slaves they own, but fear Allah (33:55).
• They are the mothers of the believers (33:6): they must be respected, and no one may marry them after the Prophet (ﷺ).

1. The screen (33:53)

When asking the Prophet's (ﷺ) wives for anything, believers were to ask from behind a «حِجَاب» (a screen or curtain). It is said to be purer for the hearts of both sides (33:53). This was first given for the Prophet's (ﷺ) household as a rule of etiquette and then became the model for the modesty of the Muslim home.

2. The jilbab (33:59)

• The command: the Prophet (ﷺ) is told to say to his wives, his daughters and the believing women that they should draw over themselves part of their «جَلَابِيب» (outer garments, big sheets) when they go out.
• The reason: that is more suitable that they may be recognised and not annoyed (not harassed). In Madinah, bad men used to trouble women at night; a woman in a jilbab was known as a respectable believing woman.
• Allah is Forgiving and Merciful (33:59): He forgives past lapses and made the command easy.

3. Related teachings

• Stay in the houses and do not display adornment as in jahiliyyah (33:33), speak without softness (33:32).
• Mahram relatives are exempt (33:55).
• Harming believers, men and women, without cause is a manifest sin (33:58).
• For the full rulings on hijab and permission to enter houses see An-Nur 24:27 to 31, 58 (unit 3).

Meaning

• Allah sends «صَلَاة» on the Prophet (ﷺ): He praises him before the angels and shows mercy to him. The angels ask Allah to bless him.
• The believers are commanded to ask Allah to bless him and to send «سَلَام» (greetings of peace) on him «تَسْلِيْمًا».

Authentic hadith on its virtue

• Whoever sends one blessing on me, Allah sends ten blessings on him (Sahih Muslim, from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA)).
• Another narration: Allah sends ten blessings on him, removes ten sins and raises him ten degrees (reported by Nasai).
• The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send blessings on me (reported by Tirmidhi).
• When the ayah was revealed, the Companions asked how to send salam and salat; the Prophet (ﷺ) taught the Ibrahimi durood (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, from Hazrat Ka'b bin Ujrah (RA)).

• The «أَمَانَة» (trust) is the responsibility of obeying Allah's commands by one's free choice, with accountability: the heavens, earth and mountains declined it and feared it, but man took it up.
• Man is called «ظَلُوْمًا جَهُوْلًا» (very unjust and ignorant) because he often does not take the weight of what he took up, wronging himself and forgetting the consequences.
• The result (33:73): Allah will punish the hypocrite men and women and the polytheists, and accept the repentance of the believing men and women; Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
• The lesson: every trust, belief, property, secrets, office, must be fulfilled; the surah ends with the duty that began it, obedience to Allah and the Messenger (ﷺ) (33:71).

1. Qualities of believers (33:35)

Ten pairs of qualities for men and women alike, each with forgiveness and a great reward: Muslims, believers, devout, truthful, patient, humble, givers of charity, fasting, guarding chastity, and remembering Allah often.

2. Obedience to Allah and the Messenger (ﷺ) (33:36)

When Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) decide a matter, no believer, man or woman, has a choice; whoever disobeys is in manifest error.

3. Remembrance and praise (33:41 to 44)

Remember Allah much and glorify Him morning and evening. He and His angels send blessings on you to bring you from darkness to light, and the believers' greeting on meeting Him will be "Salam".

4. Divorce before touching (33:49)

If a man divorces a believing woman before touching her, she has no iddah to complete; he should give her a gift and release her in a good way.

5. Do not obey the disbelievers and hypocrites (33:1 to 3, 48)

The surah begins and ends its first part with the command to fear Allah, follow the revelation, rely on Allah and not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and to disregard their harm (33:48).

6. Rumour-mongers (33:60 to 62)

The hypocrites, those with disease in their hearts and those who spread rumours in Madinah were warned: if they do not stop, Allah will set the Prophet (ﷺ) against them and they will not stay as neighbours except a little. This is Allah's established way: you will never find any change in it («لَنْ تَجِدَ», no. 33 of the 80 words).

7. The Hour, Hell and regret (33:63 to 68)

Only Allah knows when the Hour will be. In the Fire the disbelievers will say, "Would that we had obeyed Allah and the Messenger", and blame their leaders who misled them.

8. Do not hurt the Prophet (ﷺ) as Musa (AS) was hurt, and speak straight (33:69 to 71)

Bani Israel hurt Hazrat Musa (AS) with false charges; Allah cleared him (33:69). Believers are told to fear Allah and speak «قَوْلًا سَدِيْدًا» (straight, just words) and Allah will put their deeds right and forgive their sins (33:70 to 71).

Summary

The surah opens by addressing the Prophet (ﷺ): fear Allah, do not obey the disbelievers and hypocrites, follow the revelation and trust Allah (33:1 to 3). Then it abolishes the belief in adopted sons and zihar as real relations (33:4 to 5), states that the Prophet (ﷺ) is closer to the believers than themselves and his wives are their mothers, and that blood relatives inherit first (33:6). The covenant taken from the prophets is recalled (33:7 to 8).

Ruku 2 recalls the favour of Allah at Khandaq: the armies, the wind and the angels (33:9), the terrifying siege (33:10 to 11), and the hypocrites' words and flight (33:12 to 20).

Key ayat

Teachings

• Faith needs a single, whole-hearted direction towards Allah (33:4).
• Do not change lineage; call people by their fathers' names (33:5).
• Remember Allah's favours in the hour of danger (33:9).
• Cowardice and breaking promises are signs of hypocrisy (33:12 to 20).

Summary

Ruku 3 gives the excellent example of the Prophet (ﷺ) (33:21), the faith of the true believers (33:22 to 24), the failure of the confederates (33:25) and the fate of Banu Qurayzah (33:26 to 27). Ruku 4 turns to the Prophet's (ﷺ) household: the choice given to the wives (33:28 to 29), double reward and punishment (33:30 to 31), and instructions of modesty and prayer (33:32 to 34). Ayah 33:35, the ten qualities of believing men and women, opens Ruku 5 and is given here with the other key ayat.

Key ayat

Teachings

• Follow the Prophet (ﷺ) in all of life (33:21).
• Fulfil your promise to Allah, even at the cost of life (33:23).
• A high position brings a heavier responsibility (33:30 to 31).
• Men and women are equal in reward for faith and deeds (33:35).

Summary

Ruku 5 (33:35 to 40) begins with the ten qualities of believing men and women (33:35), then obedience to Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) (33:36), the marriage of Hazrat Zainab (RA) and the end of the adopted-son custom (33:37 to 39), and the Prophet's (ﷺ) status as the last prophet (33:40). Ruku 6 (33:41 to 48) commands much dhikr (33:41 to 44) and lists the Prophet's (ﷺ) five qualities (33:45 to 46), with a promise to the believers and a command not to obey the disbelievers (33:47 to 48). Ruku 7 (33:49 to 52) gives the ruling of divorce before touching (33:49) and the special rulings for the Prophet's (ﷺ) marriages (33:50 to 52).

Key ayat

Teachings

• There is no choice against the command of Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) (33:36).
• Prophethood ended with Muhammad (ﷺ) (33:40).
• Remember Allah much, morning and evening (33:41 to 42).
• A divorce before touching needs no iddah, and a gift and kind release (33:49).

Summary

Ruku 8 (33:53 to 58) gives the etiquette of entering the Prophet's (ﷺ) house and the rule of the screen (33:53 to 55), the command of durood (33:56), and the curse on those who harm Allah, His Messenger (ﷺ) and the believers (33:57 to 58). Ruku 9 (33:59 to 73) gives the jilbab (33:59), the warning to rumour-mongers (33:60 to 62), the Hour and the regret of the disbelievers in Hell (33:63 to 68), the example of Hazrat Musa (AS) (33:69), the command of straight speech (33:70 to 71) and the trust (33:72 to 73).

Key ayat

Teachings

• Take permission and keep to the limits of etiquette in another's house (33:53).
• Send durood on the Prophet (ﷺ) (33:56).
• Women are to cover themselves modestly when they go out (33:59).
• Harming a believer without cause is a sin; speak true words (33:58, 70).
• The trust is the great responsibility of man (33:72).

• Surah Al-Ahzab is the 33rd surah, Madani, with 73 ayat and 9 rukus.
• It is in para 21 (33:1 to 30) and para 22 (33:31 to 73).
• «الاحزاب» means the allied armies (confederates); named for the Battle of Ahzab.
• The Battle of Ahzab or Khandaq took place in Shawwal 5 AH.
• About 10,000 confederates against about 3,000 Muslims; the siege lasted about a month.
• The trench was dug on the advice of Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA).
• The siege ended with a strong wind and unseen forces (33:9).
• Banu Qurayzah broke the treaty; Hazrat Sa'd bin Mu'adh (RA) judged them (33:26 to 27).
• Adopted sons are not real sons: 33:4; call them by their fathers' names: 33:5.
• Hazrat Zaid bin Harithah (RA) is the only Companion named in the Quran (33:37).
• The Prophet (ﷺ) is closer to the believers than themselves; his wives are their mothers (33:6).
• The excellent example («أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ») is in 33:21.
• Khatam an-Nabiyyin is in 33:40.
• The five qualities: witness, bearer of good news, warner, caller to Allah, illuminating lamp (33:45 to 46).
• The wives were given the choice between the world and Allah and His Messenger (33:28 to 29).
• The command of durood is 33:56; the jilbab is 33:59; the trust is 33:72.
• The screen («حِجَاب») for asking the wives is 33:53.

When an ayah is printed in the paper, look for these key words first. For each ayah I give what examiners ask.