View source for Al-Aḥzāb

{{Short description|33rd chapter of the Qur'an}}
{{infobox surah
| number         = 33
| number-3       = 033
| name           = Al-Aḥzāb
| name-ar        = الأحزاب
| name-en        = The Confedrates
| prev_sura      = Quran 32
| next_sura      = Quran 34
| classification = Medinan
| other names-ar  = <!-- alternate Arabic names -->
| other names     = The Coalition, The Combined Forces, The Allies, The Confederates, The Joint Forces, The Parties
| juz            = 21 to 22
|Hizb_number     =43
| rukus          = 9
| verses         = 73
| words          = 1303
| letters        = 5788
| muqattaat      = <!-- only if applicable -->
| sajdahs        = (none)
| audio          = Chapter 33, Al-Ahzab (Murattal) - Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.mp3
}}
{{Quran}}
[[Image:Sura 33.jpg|thumb|Section from verses 73 of Sura al-Ahzab]]
'''Al-Ahzab''' ({{langx|ar|الأحزاب}}, {{transl|ar|al-aḥzāb}};<ref name = "Quran 4 U">{{cite web|url=http://www.quran4u.com/Tafsir%20Ibn%20Kathir/033%20Ahzab.htm |title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Surah Al Ahzab |work=Quran 4 U|author= Ibn Kathir|author-link= Ibn Kathir|publisher=[[Tafsir]]|access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref> {{small|meaning:}} the confederates,<ref name=GST>[[George Sale translation]]</ref> or "the clans", "the coalition", or "the combined forces") is the [[List of chapters in the Quran|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.<ref>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).</ref>
==Summary==
*'''1-3''' [[Muhammad]] to obey God rather than the [[unbelievers in Islam|unbelievers]]
*'''4-5''' [[Islamic adoptional jurisprudence|Adopted sons not to be regarded as real sons by Muslims]]
*'''6''' [[Wives of Muhammad|Muhammad's wives]] the mothers of the faithful
*'''7-8''' The [[covenant in Islam|covenant]] of the prophets with God
*'''9-11''' God’s favour to the Muslims  [[Battle of the Trench|at the Ditch]]
*'''12-15''' [[Muhammad in Medina|The disaffected people of Madína rebuked]]
*'''16-17''' None can flee from God’s anger
*'''18-20''' The treachery of the [[Muhammad in Medina|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 [[Verse of purification|33]] 34''' They are exhorted to [[Haya (Islam)|modest behaviour]] and [[Islamic views on piety|piety]]
*'''35''' Blessings promised to faithful men and women
*'''36-40''' Revelations touching [[Zaynab bint Jahsh#Circumstances of the divorce|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 in Islam|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 [[Hijab|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 <ref>{{cite book |last1=Wherry |first1=Elwood Morris |author1-link=Elwood Morris Wherry |title=A Complete Index to [[Sale's Text]], Preliminary Discourse, and Notes |date=1896 |publisher=Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co |location=London}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
==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 in Islam|revelation]]  (''[[asbāb al-nuzūl]]''), Q33 is a later period "[[Medinan surah]]". It contains instructions regarding the treatment of the Prophet and [[Muhammad's wives|his wives]] and warns the hypocrites of their bad behavior.{{sfn|Haleem|2004|p=266–271}} According to some scholars, Medinan verses are concerned with the legal matters in Islamic society.<ref name="donner">{{cite book|last=Donner|first=Fred|title=Muhammad and the Believers|pages=81}}</ref> These suras generally contain [[Sharia|rules and regulations]] for the believers to follow.
===5-6  Adopted and blood-related persons===
Verses [http://muflihun.com/33/5-6 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."{{sfn|Haleem|2004|p=268}}
===7-8  Sincerity of the prophets===
Verses [http://muflihun.com/33/7-8 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."{{sfn|Haleem|2004|p=268}} Truthfulness and trust seem to be emphasized for believers and Muhammad since he was dealing with hypocrites and betrayers{{according to whom|date=February 2018}} in Medina, who spread lies, deserted the army during the battle, or supported the attackers.<ref name="donner"/>
===9-20 Battle of the Trench – aftermath===
Verses [http://muflihun.com/33/9-27 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===
{{Main|Al-Insān al-Kāmil }}
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."{{Cite Quran|33|21|t=Laleh Bakhtiar}}
{{Cite Quran|33|21|style=ref}} shows that it is an important principle to follow the Messenger of God in all his words and deeds.<ref>{{cite book|last=Abdul-Rahman|first=Muhammad Saed|author-link=Muhammad Saed Abdul-Rahman|title=The Meaning and Explanation of the Glorious Qur'an (Vol 7)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b3FB5bzUkK8C&pg=PA180|year=2009|publisher=MSA Publication Limited|isbn=978-1-86179-661-5|page=180}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=Coeli|last2=Walker|first2=Adam Hani|title=Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God &#91;2 volumes&#93;|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2AtvBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA416|year=2014|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-178-9|page=416}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Morgan|first=Diane|title=Essential Islam: A Comprehensive Guide to Belief and Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U94S6N2zECAC&pg=PA97|year=2010|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-36025-1|page=97}}</ref>
===26 Siege of Banu Qurayza===
{{Cite Quran|33|26|style=ref}} contains a reference to the siege of the [[Banu Qurayza]] and consequent looting of their possessions.
===28–32 Wives of Muhammad ===
{{Main|Wives of Muhammad}}
{{Cite Quran|33|28-34|style=ref}} 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".{{sfn|Haleem|2004|p=268}}
===33 purification===
{{Main| Verse of purification}}
===35-36 Forgiveness and reward ===
{{Cite Quran|33|35-36|style=ref}} 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.{{sfn|Wadud|1999|p=99}}
===37-47  God to be trusted, obeyed, and glorified===
{{Cite Quran|33|37-47|style=ref}} reaffirm that God needs to be trusted, obeyed, and glorified. {{Cite Quran|33|40|style=ref}} contains a reference to [[last prophet|Finality of Prophethood]].
===49-52 Who the prophet can marry ===
{{Cite Quran|33|49-52|style=ref}} detail who the prophet can marry or not. Verse 50 was revealed pertaining to [[Maymunah bint al-Harith]].
===53-58  House rules===
{{Cite Quran|33|53-58|style=ref}} tell the believers how they should interact with Muhammad when visiting him and his household.
===59  Islam and gender segregation===
{{see also|Islam and gender segregation}}
{{Cite Quran|33|59|style=ref}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=33&tAyahNo=59&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=22  |title=The Tasfirs |author=al-Jalalayn |author-link=Tafsir al-Jalalayn |work=altafsir.com|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Barlas|first=Asma|title=The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an: Women's readings of the Qur'an|year=2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=New York|pages=267–268}}</ref>
===60-73 Punishment for hypocrites and idolaters===
{{Cite Quran|33|60-73|style=ref}} 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#Islam|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.
==See also==
* [[Verse of purification]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
=== Sources ===
*{{cite book|last=Haleem|first=M.A.S. Abdel|title=The Qur'an|year=2004|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York}}
*{{cite book|last=Wadud|first=Amina|author-link=Amina Wadud|title=Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PjeHD2soxaEC|year=1999|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-802943-4}}
==External links==
*[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/33/56/ Q33:56], 50+ translations, islamawakened.com
*[https://quran.com/33 Quran 33] [[Clear Quran translation]]
*{{wikisource-inline|The Holy Qur'an (Maulana Muhammad Ali)/33. The Allies}}
{{Sura|33|[[As-Sajda]]|[[Saba (sura)|Saba]]}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Al-Ahzab| ]]
[[Category:Islam and women]]
[[Category:Jihad]]
[[Category:Chapters in the Quran]]