An Nur
Quran Terjemahan Kemenag RI
1
sụratun anzalnāhā wa faraḍnāhā wa anzalnā fīhā āyātim bayyinātil la’allakum tażakkarụn
(Inilah) suatu surah yang Kami turunkan dan Kami wajibkan (menjalankan hukum-hukumnya), dan Kami turunkan di dalamnya tanda-tanda (kebesaran Allah) yang jelas, agar kamu ingat.
2
az-zāniyatu waz-zānī fajlidụ kulla wāḥidim min-humā mi`ata jaldatiw wa lā ta`khużkum bihimā ra`fatun fī dīnillāhi ing kuntum tu`minụna billāhi wal-yaumil-ākhir, walyasy-had ‘ażābahumā ṭā`ifatum minal-mu`minīn
Pezina perempuan dan pezina laki-laki, deralah masing-masing dari keduanya seratus kali, dan janganlah rasa belas kasihan kepada keduanya mencegah kamu untuk (menjalankan) agama (hukum) Allah, jika kamu beriman kepada Allah dan hari kemudian; dan hendaklah (pelaksanaan) hukuman mereka disaksikan oleh sebagian orang-orang yang beriman.
3
az-zānī lā yangkiḥu illā zāniyatan au musyrikataw waz-zāniyatu lā yangkiḥuhā illā zānin au musyrik, wa ḥurrima żālika ‘alal-mu`minīn
Pezina laki-laki tidak boleh menikah kecuali dengan pezina perempuan, atau dengan perempuan musyrik; dan pezina perempuan tidak boleh menikah kecuali dengan pezina laki-laki atau dengan laki-laki musyrik; dan yang demikian itu diharamkan bagi orang-orang mukmin.
4
wallażīna yarmụnal-muḥṣanāti ṡumma lam ya`tụ bi`arba’ati syuhadā`a fajlidụhum ṡamānīna jaldataw wa lā taqbalụ lahum syahādatan abadā, wa ulā`ika humul-fāsiqụn
Dan orang-orang yang menuduh perempuan-perempuan yang baik (berzina) dan mereka tidak mendatangkan empat orang saksi, maka deralah mereka delapan puluh kali, dan janganlah kamu terima kesaksian mereka untuk selama-lamanya. Mereka itulah orang-orang yang fasik,
5
illallażīna tābụ mim ba’di żālika wa aṣlaḥụ, fa innallāha gafụrur raḥīm
kecuali mereka yang bertobat setelah itu dan memperbaiki (dirinya), maka sungguh, Allah Maha Pengampun, Maha Penyayang.
6
wallażīna yarmụna azwājahum wa lam yakul lahum syuhadā`u illā anfusuhum fa syahādatu aḥadihim arba’u syahādātim billāhi innahụ laminaṣ-ṣādiqīn
Dan orang-orang yang menuduh istrinya (berzina), padahal mereka tidak mempunyai saksi-saksi selain diri mereka sendiri, maka kesaksian masing-masing orang itu ialah empat kali bersumpah dengan (nama) Allah, bahwa sesungguhnya dia termasuk orang yang berkata benar.
7
wal-khāmisatu anna la’natallāhi ‘alaihi ing kāna minal-kāżibīn
Dan (sumpah) yang kelima bahwa laknat Allah akan menimpanya, jika dia termasuk orang yang berdusta.
8
wa yadra`u ‘an-hal-‘ażāba an tasy-hada arba’a syahādātim billāhi innahụ laminal-kāżibīn
Dan istri itu terhindar dari hukuman apabila dia bersumpah empat kali atas (nama) Allah bahwa dia (suaminya) benar-benar termasuk orang-orang yang berdusta,
9
wal-khāmisata anna gaḍaballāhi ‘alaihā ing kāna minaṣ-ṣādiqīn
dan (sumpah) yang kelima bahwa kemurkaan Allah akan menimpanya (istri), jika dia (suaminya) itu termasuk orang yang berkata benar.
10
walau lā faḍlullāhi ‘alaikum wa raḥmatuhụ wa annallāha tawwābun ḥakīm
Dan sekiranya bukan karena karunia Allah dan rahmat-Nya kepadamu (niscaya kamu akan menemui kesulitan). Dan sesungguhnya Allah Maha Penerima Tobat, Mahabijaksana.
11
innallażīna jā`ụ bil-ifki ‘uṣbatum mingkum, lā taḥsabụhu syarral lakum, bal huwa khairul lakum, likullimri`im min-hum maktasaba minal-iṡm, wallażī tawallā kibrahụ min-hum lahụ ‘ażābun ‘aẓīm
Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang membawa berita bohong itu adalah dari golongan kamu (juga). Janganlah kamu mengira berita itu buruk bagi kamu bahkan itu baik bagi kamu. Setiap orang dari mereka mendapat balasan dari dosa yang diperbuatnya. Dan barangsiapa di antara mereka yang mengambil bagian terbesar (dari dosa yang diperbuatnya), dia mendapat azab yang besar (pula).
12
lau lā iż sami’tumụhu ẓannal-mu`minụna wal-mu`minātu bi`anfusihim khairaw wa qālụ hāżā ifkum mubīn
Mengapa orang-orang mukmin dan mukminat tidak berbaik sangka terhadap diri mereka sendiri, ketika kamu mendengar berita bohong itu dan berkata, “Ini adalah (suatu berita) bohong yang nyata.”
13
lau lā jā`ụ ‘alaihi bi`arba’ati syuhadā`, fa iż lam ya`tụ bisy-syuhadā`i fa ulā`ika ‘indallāhi humul-kāżibụn
Mengapa mereka (yang menuduh itu) tidak datang membawa empat saksi? Oleh karena mereka tidak membawa saksi-saksi, maka mereka itu dalam pandangan Allah adalah orang-orang yang berdusta.
14
walau lā faḍlullāhi ‘alaikum wa raḥmatuhụ fid-dun-yā wal-ākhirati lamassakum fī mā afaḍtum fīhi ‘ażābun ‘aẓīm
Dan seandainya bukan karena karunia Allah dan rahmat-Nya kepadamu di dunia dan di akhirat, niscaya kamu ditimpa azab yang besar, disebabkan oleh pembicaraan kamu tentang hal itu (berita bohong itu).
15
iż talaqqaunahụ bi`alsinatikum wa taqụlụna bi`afwāhikum mā laisa lakum bihī ‘ilmuw wa taḥsabụnahụ hayyinaw wa huwa ‘indallāhi ‘aẓīm
(Ingatlah) ketika kamu menerima (berita bohong) itu dari mulut ke mulut dan kamu katakan dengan mulutmu apa yang tidak kamu ketahui sedikit pun, dan kamu menganggapnya remeh, padahal dalam pandangan Allah itu perkara besar.
16
walau lā iż sami’tumụhu qultum mā yakụnu lanā an natakallama bihāżā sub-ḥānaka hāżā buhtānun ‘aẓīm
Dan mengapa kamu tidak berkata ketika mendengarnya, “Tidak pantas bagi kita membicarakan ini. Mahasuci Engkau, ini adalah kebohongan yang besar.”
17
ya’iẓukumullāhu an ta’ụdụ limiṡlihī abadan ing kuntum mu`minīn
Allah memperingatkan kamu agar (jangan) kembali mengulangi seperti itu selama-lamanya, jika kamu orang beriman,
18
wa yubayyinullāhu lakumul-āyāt, wallāhu ‘alīmun ḥakīm
dan Allah menjelaskan ayat-ayat(-Nya) kepada kamu. Dan Allah Maha Mengetahui, Mahabijaksana.
19
innallażīna yuḥibbụna an tasyī’al-fāḥisyatu fillażīna āmanụ lahum ‘ażābun alīmun fid-dun-yā wal-ākhirah, wallāhu ya’lamu wa antum lā ta’lamụn
Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang ingin agar perbuatan yang sangat keji itu (berita bohong) tersiar di kalangan orang-orang yang beriman, mereka mendapat azab yang pedih di dunia dan di akhirat. Dan Allah mengetahui, sedang kamu tidak mengetahui.
20
walau lā faḍlullāhi ‘alaikum wa raḥmatuhụ wa annallāha ra`ụfur raḥīm
Dan kalau bukan karena karunia Allah dan rahmat-Nya kepadamu (niscaya kamu akan ditimpa azab yang besar). Sungguh, Allah Maha Penyantun, Maha Penyayang.
21
yā ayyuhallażīna āmanụ lā tattabi’ụ khuṭuwātisy-syaiṭān, wa might yattabi’ khuṭuwātisy-syaiṭāni fa innahụ ya`muru bil-faḥsyā`i wal-mungkar, walau lā faḍlullāhi ‘alaikum wa raḥmatuhụ mā zakā mingkum min aḥadin abadaw wa lākinnallāha yuzakkī might yasyā`, wallāhu samī’un ‘alīm
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Janganlah kamu mengikuti langkah-langkah setan. Barang siapa mengikuti langkah-langkah setan, maka sesungguhnya dia (setan) menyuruh mengerjakan perbuatan yang keji dan mungkar. Kalau bukan karena karunia Allah dan rahmat-Nya kepadamu, niscaya tidak seorang pun di antara kamu bersih (dari perbuatan keji dan mungkar itu) selama-lamanya, tetapi Allah membersihkan siapa yang Dia kehendaki. Dan Allah Maha Mendengar, Maha Mengetahui.
22
wa lā ya`tali ulul-faḍli mingkum was-sa’ati ay yu`tū ulil-qurbā wal-masākīna wal-muhājirīna fī sabīlillāhi walya’fụ walyaṣfaḥụ, alā tuḥibbụna ay yagfirallāhu lakum, wallāhu gafụrur raḥīm
Dan janganlah orang-orang yang mempunyai kelebihan dan kelapangan di antara kamu bersumpah bahwa mereka (tidak) akan memberi (bantuan) kepada kerabat(nya), orang-orang miskin dan orang-orang yang berhijrah di jalan Allah, dan hendaklah mereka memaafkan dan berlapang dada. Apakah kamu tidak suka kalau Allah mengampunimu? Dan Allah Maha Pengampun, Maha Penyayang.
23
innallażīna yarmụnal-muḥṣanātil-gāfilātil-mu`mināti lu’inụ fid-dun-yā wal-ākhirati wa lahum ‘ażābun ‘aẓīm
Sungguh, orang-orang yang menuduh perempuan-perempuan baik, yang lengah dan beriman (dengan tuduhan berzina), mereka dilaknat di dunia dan di akhirat, dan mereka akan mendapat azab yang besar,
24
yauma tasy-hadu ‘alaihim alsinatuhum wa aidīhim wa arjuluhum bimā kānụ ya’malụn
pada hari, (ketika) lidah, tangan dan kaki mereka menjadi saksi atas mereka terhadap apa yang dahulu mereka kerjakan.
25
yauma`iżiy yuwaffīhimullāhu dīnahumul-ḥaqqa wa ya’lamụna annallāha huwal-ḥaqqul-mubīn
Pada hari itu Allah menyempurnakan balasan yang sebenarnya bagi mereka, dan mereka tahu bahwa Allah Mahabenar, Maha Menjelaskan.
26
al-khabīṡātu lil-khabīṡīna wal-khabīṡụna lil-khabīṡāt, waṭ-ṭayyibātu liṭ-ṭayyibīna waṭ-ṭayyibụna liṭ-ṭayyibāt, ulā`ika mubarra`ụna mimmā yaqụlụn, lahum magfiratuw wa rizqung karīm
Perempuan-perempuan yang keji untuk laki-laki yang keji, dan laki-laki yang keji untuk perempuan-perempuan yang keji (pula), sedangkan perempuan-perempuan yang baik untuk laki-laki yang baik dan laki-laki yang baik untuk perempuan-perempuan yang baik (pula). Mereka itu bersih dari apa yang dituduhkan orang. Mereka memperoleh ampunan dan rezeki yang mulia (surga).
27
yā ayyuhallażīna āmanụ lā tadkhulụ buyụtan gaira buyụtikum ḥattā tasta`nisụ wa tusallimụ ‘alā ahlihā, żālikum khairul lakum la’allakum tażakkarụn
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Janganlah kamu memasuki rumah yang bukan rumahmu sebelum meminta izin dan memberi salam kepada penghuninya. Yang demikian itu lebih baik bagimu, agar kamu (selalu) ingat.
28
fa il lam tajidụ fīhā aḥadan fa lā tadkhulụhā ḥattā yu`żana lakum wa ing qīla lakumurji’ụ farji’ụ huwa azkā lakum, wallāhu bimā ta’malụna ‘alīm
Dan jika kamu tidak menemui seorang pun di dalamnya, maka janganlah kamu masuk sebelum kamu mendapat izin. Dan jika dikatakan kepadamu, “Kembalilah!” Maka (hendaklah) kamu kembali. Itu lebih suci bagimu, dan Allah Maha Mengetahui apa yang kamu kerjakan.
29
laisa ‘alaikum junāḥun an tadkhulụ buyụtan gaira maskụnatin fīhā matā’ul lakum, wallāhu ya’lamu mā tubdụna wa mā taktumụn
Tidak ada dosa atasmu memasuki rumah yang tidak dihuni, yang di dalamnya ada keperluan kamu; Allah mengetahui apa yang kamu nyatakan dan apa yang kamu sembunyikan.
30
qul lil-mu`minīna yaguḍḍụ min abṣārihim wa yaḥfaẓụ furụjahum, żālika azkā lahum, innallāha khabīrum bimā yaṣna’ụn
Katakanlah kepada laki-laki yang beriman, agar mereka menjaga pandangannya, dan memelihara kemaluannya; yang demikian itu lebih suci bagi mereka. Sungguh, Allah Maha Mengetahui apa yang mereka perbuat.
31
wa qul lil-mu`mināti yagḍuḍna min abṣārihinna wa yaḥfaẓna furụjahunna wa lā yubdīna zīnatahunna illā mā ẓahara min-hā walyaḍribna bikhumurihinna ‘alā juyụbihinna wa lā yubdīna zīnatahunna illā libu’ụlatihinna au ābā`ihinna au ābā`i bu’ụlatihinna au abnā`ihinna au abnā`i bu’ụlatihinna au ikhwānihinna au banī ikhwānihinna au banī akhawātihinna au nisā`ihinna au mā malakat aimānuhunna awittābi’īna gairi ulil-irbati minar-rijāli awiṭ-ṭiflillażīna lam yaẓ-harụ ‘alā ‘aurātin-nisā`i wa lā yaḍribna bi`arjulihinna liyu’lama mā yukhfīna min zīnatihinn, wa tụbū ilallāhi jamī’an ayyuhal-mu`minụna la’allakum tufliḥụn
Dan katakanlah kepada para perempuan yang beriman, agar mereka menjaga pandangannya, dan memelihara kemaluannya, dan janganlah menampakkan perhiasannya (auratnya), kecuali yang (biasa) terlihat. Dan hendaklah mereka menutupkan kain kerudung ke dadanya, dan janganlah menampakkan perhiasannya (auratnya), kecuali kepada suami mereka, atau ayah mereka, atau ayah suami mereka, atau putra-putra mereka, atau putra-putra suami mereka, atau saudara-saudara laki-laki mereka, atau putra-putra saudara laki-laki mereka, atau putra-putra saudara perempuan mereka, atau para perempuan (sesama Islam) mereka, atau hamba sahaya yang mereka miliki, atau para pelayan laki-laki (tua) yang tidak mempunyai hasrat (terhadap perempuan), atau anak-anak yang belum mengerti tentang aurat perempuan. Dan janganlah mereka menghentakkan kakinya agar diketahui perhiasan yang mereka sembunyikan. Dan bertobatlah kamu semua kepada Allah, wahai orang-orang yang beriman, agar kamu beruntung.
32
wa angkiḥul-ayāmā mingkum waṣ-ṣāliḥīna min ‘ibādikum wa imā`ikum, iy yakụnụ fuqarā`a yugnihimullāhu min faḍlih, wallāhu wāsi’un ‘alīm
Dan nikahkanlah orang-orang yang masih membujang di antara kamu, dan juga orang-orang yang layak (menikah) dari hamba-hamba sahayamu yang laki-laki dan perempuan. Jika mereka miskin, Allah akan memberi kemampuan kepada mereka dengan karunia-Nya. Dan Allah Mahaluas (pemberian-Nya), Maha Mengetahui.
33
walyasta’fifillażīna lā yajidụna nikāḥan ḥattā yugniyahumullāhu min faḍlih, wallażīna yabtagụnal-kitāba mimmā malakat aimānukum fa kātibụhum in ‘alimtum fīhim khairaw wa ātụhum mim mālillāhillażī ātākum, wa lā tukrihụ fatayātikum ‘alal-bigā`i in aradna taḥaṣṣunal litabtagụ ‘araḍal ḥayātid-dun-yā, wa might yukrihhunna fa innallāha mim ba’di ikrāhihinna gafụrur raḥīm
Dan orang-orang yang tidak mampu menikah hendaklah menjaga kesucian (dirinya), sampai Allah memberi kemampuan kepada mereka dengan karunia-Nya. Dan jika hamba sahaya yang kamu miliki menginginkan perjanjian (kebebasan), hendaklah kamu buat perjanjian kepada mereka, jika kamu mengetahui ada kebaikan pada mereka, dan berikanlah kepada mereka sebagian dari harta Allah yang dikaruniakan-Nya kepadamu. Dan janganlah kamu paksa hamba sahaya perempuanmu untuk melakukan pelacuran, sedang mereka sendiri menginginkan kesucian, karena kamu hendak mencari keuntungan kehidupan duniawi. Barangsiapa memaksa mereka, maka sungguh, Allah Maha Pengampun, Maha Penyayang (kepada mereka) setelah mereka dipaksa.
34
wa laqad anzalnā ilaikum āyātim mubayyinātiw wa maṡalam minallażīna khalau ming qablikum wa mau’iẓatal lil-muttaqīn
Dan sungguh, Kami telah menurunkan kepada kamu ayat-ayat yang memberi penjelasan, dan contoh-contoh dari orang-orang yang terdahulu sebelum kamu dan sebagai pelajaran bagi orang-orang yang bertakwa.
35
allāhu nụrus-samāwāti wal-arḍ, maṡalu nụrihī kamisykātin fīhā miṣbāḥ, al-miṣbāḥu fī zujājah, az-zujājatu ka`annahā kaukabun durriyyuy yụqadu min syajaratim mubārakatin zaitụnatil lā syarqiyyatiw wa lā garbiyyatiy yakādu zaituhā yuḍī`u walau lam tamsas-hu nār, nụrun ‘alā nụr, yahdillāhu linụrihī might yasyā`, wa yaḍribullāhul-amṡāla lin-nās, wallāhu bikulli syai`in ‘alīm
Allah (pemberi) cahaya (kepada) langit dan bumi. Perumpamaan cahaya-Nya, seperti sebuah lubang yang tidak tembus, yang di dalamnya ada pelita besar. Pelita itu di dalam tabung kaca, (dan) tabung kaca itu bagaikan bintang yang berkilauan, yang dinyalakan dengan minyak dari pohon yang diberkahi, (yaitu) pohon zaitun yang tumbuh tidak di timur dan tidak pula di barat, yang minyaknya (saja) hampir-hampir menerangi, walaupun tidak disentuh api. Cahaya di atas cahaya (berlapis-lapis), Allah memberi petunjuk kepada cahaya-Nya bagi orang yang Dia kehendaki, dan Allah membuat perumpamaan-perumpamaan bagi manusia. Dan Allah Maha Mengetahui segala sesuatu.
36
fī buyụtin ażinallāhu an turfa’a wa yużkara fīhasmuhụ yusabbiḥu lahụ fīhā bil-guduwwi wal-āṣāl
(Cahaya itu) di rumah-rumah yang di sana telah diperintahkan Allah untuk memuliakan dan menyebut nama-Nya, di sana bertasbih (menyucikan) nama-Nya pada waktu pagi dan petang,
37
rijālul lā tul-hīhim tijāratuw wa lā bai’un ‘an żikrillāhi wa iqāmiṣ-ṣalāti wa ītā`iz-zakāti yakhāfụna yauman tataqallabu fīhil qulụbu wal-abṣār
orang yang tidak dilalaikan oleh perdagangan dan jual beli dari mengingat Allah, melaksanakan salat, dan menunaikan zakat. Mereka takut kepada hari ketika hati dan penglihatan menjadi guncang (hari Kiamat),
38
liyajziyahumullāhu aḥsana mā ‘amilụ wa yazīdahum min faḍlih, wallāhu yarzuqu might yasyā`u bigairi ḥisāb
(mereka melakukan itu) agar Allah memberi balasan kepada mereka dengan yang lebih baik daripada apa yang telah mereka kerjakan, dan agar Dia menambah karunia-Nya kepada mereka. Dan Allah memberi rezeki kepada siapa saja yang Dia kehendaki tanpa batas.
39
wallażīna kafarū a’māluhum kasarābim biqī’atiy yaḥsabuhuẓ-ẓam`ānu mā`ā, ḥattā iżā jā`ahụ lam yajid-hu syai`aw wa wajadallāha ‘indahụ fa waffāhu ḥisābah, wallāhu sarī’ul ḥisāb
Dan orang-orang yang kafir, perbuatan mereka seperti fatamorgana di tanah yang datar, yang disangka air oleh orang-orang yang dahaga, tetapi apabila didatangi tidak ada apa pun. Dan didapatinya (ketetapan) Allah baginya. Lalu Allah memberikan kepadanya perhitungan (amal-amal) dengan sempurna, dan Allah sangat cepat perhitungan-Nya,
40
au kaẓulumātin fī baḥril lujjiyyiy yagsyāhu maujum min fauqihī maujum min fauqihī saḥāb, ẓulumātum ba’ḍuhā fauqa ba’ḍ, iżā akhraja yadahụ lam yakad yarāhā, wa mal lam yaj’alillāhu lahụ nụran fa mā lahụ min nụr
atau (keadaan orang-orang kafir) seperti gelap gulita di lautan yang dalam, yang diliputi oleh gelombang demi gelombang, di atasnya ada (lagi) awan gelap. Itulah gelap gulita yang berlapis-lapis. Apabila dia mengeluarkan tangannya hampir tidak dapat melihatnya. Barang siapa tidak diberi cahaya (petunjuk) oleh Allah, maka dia tidak mempunyai cahaya sedikit pun.
41
a lam tara annallāha yusabbiḥu lahụ man fis-samāwāti wal-arḍi waṭ-ṭairu ṣāffāt, kullung qad ‘alima ṣalātahụ wa tasbīḥah, wallāhu ‘alīmum bimā yaf’alụn
Tidakkah engkau (Muhammad) tahu bahwa kepada Allah lah bertasbih apa yang di langit dan di bumi, dan juga burung yang mengembangkan sayapnya. Masing-masing sungguh telah mengetahui (cara) berdoa dan bertasbih. Allah Maha Mengetahui apa yang mereka kerjakan.
42
wa lillāhi mulkus-samāwāti wal-arḍ, wa ilallāhil-maṣīr
Dan milik Allah lah kerajaan langit dan bumi, dan hanya kepada Allah lah kembali (seluruh makhluk).
43
a lam tara annallāha yuzjī saḥāban ṡumma yu`allifu bainahụ ṡumma yaj’aluhụ rukāman fa taral-wadqa yakhruju min khilālih, wa yunazzilu minas-samā`i min jibālin fīhā mim baradin fa yuṣību bihī might yasyā`u wa yaṣrifuhụ ‘am might yasyā`, yakādu sanā barqihī yaż-habu bil-abṣār
Tidakkah engkau melihat bahwa Allah menjadikan awan bergerak perlahan, kemudian mengumpulkannya, lalu dia menjadikannya bertumpuk-tumpuk, lalu engkau lihat hujan ke luar dari celah-celahnya, dan Dia (juga) menurunkan (butiran-butiran) es dari langit, (yaitu) dari (gumpalan-gumpalan awan seperti) gunung-gunung, maka ditimpakan-Nya (butiran-butiran es) itu kepada siapa yang Dia kehendaki dan dihindarkan-Nya dari siapa yang Dia kehendaki. Kilauan kilatnya hampir-hampir menghilangkan penglihatan.
44
yuqallibullāhul-laila wan-nahār, inna fī żālika la’ibratal li`ulil-abṣār
Allah mempergantikan malam dan siang. Sungguh pada yang demikian itu, pasti terdapat pelajaran bagi orang-orang yang mempunyai penglihatan (yang tajam).
45
wallāhu khalaqa kulla dābbatim mim mā`, fa min-hum might yamsyī ‘alā baṭnih, wa min-hum might yamsyī ‘alā rijlaīn, wa min-hum might yamsyī ‘alā arba’, yakhluqullāhu mā yasyā`, innallāha ‘alā kulli syai`ing qadīr
Dan Allah menciptakan semua jenis hewan dari air, maka sebagian ada yang berjalan di atas perutnya dan sebagian berjalan dengan dua kaki, sedang sebagian (yang lain) berjalan dengan empat kaki. Allah menciptakan apa yang Dia kehendaki. Sungguh, Allah Mahakuasa atas segala sesuatu.
46
laqad anzalnā āyātim mubayyināt, wallāhu yahdī might yasyā`u ilā ṣirāṭim mustaqīm
Sungguh, Kami telah menurunkan ayat-ayat yang memberi penjelasan. Dan Allah memberi petunjuk siapa yang Dia kehendaki ke jalan yang lurus.
47
wa yaqụlụna āmannā billāhi wa bir-rasụli wa aṭa’nā ṡumma yatawallā farīqum min-hum mim ba’di żālik, wa mā ulā`ika bil-mu`minīn
Dan mereka (orang-orang munafik) berkata, “Kami telah beriman kepada Allah dan Rasul (Muhammad), dan kami menaati (keduanya).” Kemudian sebagian dari mereka berpaling setelah itu. Mereka itu bukanlah orang-orang beriman.
48
wa iżā du’ū ilallāhi wa rasụlihī liyaḥkuma bainahum iżā farīqum min-hum mu’riḍụn
Dan apabila mereka diajak kepada Allah dan Rasul-Nya, agar (Rasul) memutuskan perkara di antara mereka, tiba-tiba sebagian dari mereka menolak (untuk datang).
49
wa iy yakul lahumul-ḥaqqu ya`tū ilaihi muż’inīn
Tetapi, jika kebenaran dipihak mereka, mereka datang kepadanya (Rasul) dengan patuh.
50
a fī qulụbihim maraḍun amirtābū am yakhāfụna ay yaḥīfallāhu ‘alaihim wa rasụluh, bal ulā`ika humuẓ-ẓālimụn
Apakah (ketidakhadiran mereka karena) dalam hati mereka ada penyakit, atau (karena) mereka ragu-ragu ataukah (karena) takut kalau-kalau Allah dan Rasul-Nya berlaku zalim kepada mereka? Sebenarnya, mereka itulah orang-orang yang zalim.
51
innamā kāna qaulal-mu`minīna iżā du’ū ilallāhi wa rasụlihī liyaḥkuma bainahum ay yaqụlụ sami’nā wa aṭa’nā, wa ulā`ika humul-mufliḥụn
Hanya ucapan orang-orang mukmin, yang apabila mereka diajak kepada Allah dan Rasul-Nya agar Rasul memutuskan (perkara) di antara mereka, mereka berkata, “Kami mendengar, dan kami taat.” Dan mereka itulah orang-orang yang beruntung.
52
wa might yuṭi’illāha wa rasụlahụ wa yakhsyallāha wa yattaq-hi fa ulā`ika humul-fā`izụn
Dan barangsiapa taat kepada Allah dan Rasul-Nya serta takut kepada Allah dan bertakwa kepada-Nya, mereka itulah orang-orang yang mendapat kemenangan.
53
wa aqsamụ billāhi jahda aimānihim la`in amartahum layakhrujunn, qul lā tuqsimụ, ṭā’atum ma’rụfah, innallāha khabīrum bimā ta’malụn
Dan mereka bersumpah dengan (nama) Allah dengan sumpah sungguh-sungguh, bahwa jika engkau suruh mereka berperang, pastilah mereka akan pergi. Katakanlah (Muhammad), “Janganlah kamu bersumpah, (karena yang diminta) adalah ketaatan yang baik. Sungguh, Allah Mahateliti terhadap apa yang kamu kerjakan.”
54
qul aṭī’ullāha wa aṭī’ur-rasụl, fa in tawallau fa innamā ‘alaihi mā ḥummila wa ‘alaikum mā ḥummiltum, wa in tuṭī’ụhu tahtadụ, wa mā ‘alar-rasụli illal-balāgul-mubīn
Katakanlah, “Taatlah kepada Allah dan taatlah kepada Rasul; jika kamu berpaling, maka sesungguhnya kewajiban Rasul (Muhammad) itu hanyalah apa yang dibebankan kepadanya, dan kewajiban kamu hanyalah apa yang dibebankan kepadamu. Jika kamu taat kepadanya, niscaya kamu mendapat petunjuk. Kewajiban Rasul hanyalah menyampaikan (amanat Allah) dengan jelas.”
55
wa’adallāhullażīna āmanụ mingkum wa ‘amiluṣ-ṣāliḥāti layastakhlifannahum fil-arḍi kamastakhlafallażīna ming qablihim wa layumakkinanna lahum dīnahumullażirtaḍā lahum wa layubaddilannahum mim ba’di khaufihim amnā, ya’budụnanī lā yusyrikụna bī syai`ā, wa mang kafara ba’da żālika fa ulā`ika humul-fāsiqụn
Allah telah menjanjikan kepada orang-orang di antara kamu yang beriman dan yang mengerjakan kebajikan, bahwa Dia sungguh akan menjadikan mereka berkuasa di bumi sebagaimana Dia telah menjadikan orang-orang sebelum mereka berkuasa, dan sungguh Dia akan meneguhkan bagi mereka dengan agama yang telah Dia ridai. Dan Dia benar-benar mengubah (keadaan) mereka, setelah berada dalam ketakutan menjadi aman sentosa. Mereka (tetap) menyembah-Ku dengan tidak mempersekutukan-Ku dengan sesuatu pun. Tetapi barangsiapa (tetap) kafir setelah (janji) itu, maka mereka itulah orang-orang yang fasik.
56
wa aqīmuṣ-ṣalāta wa ātuz-zakāta wa aṭī’ur-rasụla la’allakum tur-ḥamụn
Dan laksanakanlah salat, tunaikanlah zakat dan taatlah kepada Rasul (Muhammad), agar kamu diberi rahmat.
57
lā taḥsabannallażīna kafarụ mu’jizīna fil-arḍ, wa ma`wāhumun-nār, wa labi`sal-maṣīr
Janganlah engkau mengira bahwa orang-orang yang kafir itu dapat luput dari siksaan Allah di bumi; sedang tempat kembali mereka (di akhirat) adalah neraka. Dan itulah seburuk-buruk tempat kembali.
58
yā ayyuhallażīna āmanụ liyasta`żingkumullażīna malakat aimānukum wallażīna lam yablugul-ḥuluma mingkum ṡalāṡa marrāt, ming qabli ṣalātil-fajri wa ḥīna taḍa’ụna ṡiyābakum minaẓ-ẓahīrati wa mim ba’di ṣalātil-‘isyā`, ṡalāṡu ‘aurātil lakum, laisa ‘alaikum wa lā ‘alaihim junāḥum ba’dahunn, ṭawwāfụna ‘alaikum ba’ḍukum ‘alā ba’ḍ, każālika yubayyinullāhu lakumul-āyāt, wallāhu ‘alīmun ḥakīm
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Hendaklah hamba sahaya (laki-laki dan perempuan) yang kamu miliki, dan orang-orang yang belum balig (dewasa) di antara kamu, meminta izin kepada kamu pada tiga kali (kesempatan), yaitu sebelum salat Subuh, ketika kamu menanggalkan pakaian (luar)mu di tengah hari dan setelah salat Isya. (Itulah) tiga aurat (waktu) bagi kamu. Tidak ada dosa bagimu dan tidak (pula) bagi mereka selain dari (tiga waktu) itu, mereka keluar masuk melayani kamu, sebagian kamu atas sebagian yang lain. Demikianlah Allah menjelaskan ayat-ayat itu kepadamu. Dan Allah Maha Mengetahui, Mahabijaksana.
59
wa iżā balagal-aṭfālu mingkumul-ḥuluma falyasta`żinụ kamasta`żanallażīna ming qablihim, każālika yubayyinullāhu lakum āyātih, wallāhu ‘alīmun ḥakīm
Dan apabila anak-anakmu telah sampai umur dewasa, maka hendaklah mereka (juga) meminta izin, seperti orang-orang yang lebih dewasa meminta izin. Demikianlah Allah menjelaskan ayat-ayat-Nya kepadamu. Allah Maha Mengetahui, Mahabijaksana.
60
wal-qawā’idu minan-nisā`illātī lā yarjụna nikāḥan fa laisa ‘alaihinna junāḥun ay yaḍa’na ṡiyābahunna gaira mutabarrijātim bizīnah, wa ay yasta’fifna khairul lahunn, wallāhu samī’un ‘alīm
Dan para perempuan tua yang telah berhenti (dari haid dan mengandung) yang tidak ingin menikah (lagi), maka tidak ada dosa menanggalkan pakaian (luar) mereka dengan tidak (bermaksud) menampakkan perhiasan; tetapi memelihara kehormatan adalah lebih baik bagi mereka. Allah Maha Mendengar, Maha Mengetahui.
61
laisa ‘alal-a’mā ḥarajuw wa lā ‘alal-a’raji ḥarajuw wa lā ‘alal-marīḍi ḥarajuw wa lā ‘alā anfusikum an ta`kulụ mim buyụtikum au buyụti ābā`ikum au buyụti ummahātikum au buyụti ikhwānikum au buyụti akhawātikum au buyụti a’māmikum au buyụti ‘ammātikum au buyụti akhwālikum au buyụti khālātikum au mā malaktum mafātiḥahū au ṣadīqikum, laisa ‘alaikum junāḥun an ta`kulụ jamī’an au asytātā, fa iżā dakhaltum buyụtan fa sallimụ ‘alā anfusikum taḥiyyatam min ‘indillāhi mubārakatan ṭayyibah, każālika yubayyinullāhu lakumul-āyāti la’allakum ta’qilụn
Tidak ada halangan bagi orang buta, tidak (pula) bagi orang pincang, tidak (pula) bagi orang sakit, dan tidak (pula) bagi dirimu, makan (bersama-sama mereka) di rumah kamu atau di rumah bapak-bapakmu, di rumah ibu-ibumu, di rumah saudara-saudaramu yang laki-laki, di rumah saudara-saudaramu yang perempuan, di rumah saudara-saudara bapakmu yang laki-laki, di rumah saudara-saudara bapakmu yang perempuan, di rumah saudara-saudara ibumu yang laki-laki, di rumah saudara-saudara ibumu yang perempuan, (di rumah) yang kamu miliki kuncinya atau (di rumah) kawan-kawanmu. Tidak ada halangan bagi kamu makan bersama-sama mereka atau sendiri-sendiri. Apabila kamu memasuki rumah-rumah hendaklah kamu memberi salam (kepada penghuninya, yang berarti memberi salam) kepada dirimu sendiri, dengan salam yang penuh berkah dan baik dari sisi Allah. Demikianlah Allah menjelaskan ayat-ayat(-Nya) bagimu, agar kamu mengerti.
62
innamal-mu`minụnallażīna āmanụ billāhi wa rasụlihī wa iżā kānụ ma’ahụ ‘alā amrin jāmi’il lam yaż-habụ ḥattā yasta`żinụh, innallażīna yasta`żinụnaka ulā`ikallażīna yu`minụna billāhi wa rasụlih, fa iżasta`żanụka liba’ḍi sya`nihim fa`żal liman syi`ta min-hum wastagfir lahumullāh, innallāha gafụrur raḥīm
(Yang disebut) orang mukmin hanyalah orang yang beriman kepada Allah dan Rasul-Nya (Muhammad), dan apabila mereka berada bersama-sama dengan dia (Muhammad) dalam suatu urusan bersama, mereka tidak meninggalkan (Rasulullah) sebelum meminta izin kepadanya. Sungguh orang-orang yang meminta izin kepadamu (Muhammad), mereka itulah orang-orang yang (benar-benar) beriman kepada Allah dan Rasul-nya. Maka apabila mereka meminta izin kepadamu karena suatu keperluan, berilah izin kepada siapa yang engkau kehendaki di antara mereka, dan mohonkanlah ampunan untuk mereka kepada Allah. Sungguh, Allah Maha Pengampun, Maha Penyayang.
63
lā taj’alụ du’ā`ar-rasụli bainakum kadu’ā`i ba’ḍikum ba’ḍā, qad ya’lamullāhullażīna yatasallalụna mingkum liwāżā, falyaḥżarillażīna yukhālifụna ‘an amrihī an tuṣībahum fitnatun au yuṣībahum ‘ażābun alīm
Janganlah kamu jadikan panggilan Rasul (Muhammad) di antara kamu seperti panggilan sebagian kamu kepada sebagian (yang lain). Sungguh, Allah mengetahui orang-orang yang keluar (secara) sembunyi-sembunyi di antara kamu dengan berlindung (kepada kawannya), maka hendaklah orang-orang yang menyalahi perintah Rasul-Nya takut akan mendapat cobaan atau ditimpa azab yang pedih.
64
alā inna lillāhi mā fis-samāwāti wal-arḍ, qad ya’lamu mā antum ‘alaīh, wa yauma yurja’ụna ilaihi fa yunabbi`uhum bimā ‘amilụ, wallāhu bikulli syai`in ‘alīm
Ketahuilah, sesungguhnya milik Allah lah apa yang ada di langit dan di bumi. Dia mengetahui keadaan kamu sekarang. Dan (mengetahui pula) hari (ketika mereka) dikembalikan kepada-Nya, lalu diterangkan-Nya kepada mereka apa yang telah mereka kerjakan. Dan Allah Maha Mengetahui segala sesuatu.
Name
This Surah takes its name, An Nur, from verse 35.
Period of Revelation
The consensus of opinion is that it was sent down after the Campaign against Bani al-Mustaliq and this is confirmed by vv. 11-20 that deal with the incident of the “Slander”, which occurred during that Campaign. But there is a difference of opinion as to whether this Campaign took place in 5 A. H. before the Battle of the Trench or in 6 A. H. after it. It is important to decide this issue in order to determine whether this Surah was sent down earlier or Surah Al- Ahzab(XXXIII), which is the only other Surah containing the Commandments about the observance of purdah (viel) by women. Surah Al-Ahzab was most probably sent down on the occasion of the Battle of the Trench. However, if this battle had occurred earlier, it would mean that the initial instructions in connection with the Commandments of purdah were sent down in Surah Al-Ahzab and they were complemented later by the Commandments revealed in this Surah. On the other hand, if the Campaign against Bani al-Mustaliq occurred earlier, the chronological order of the Commandments would be reversed, and it would become difficult to fully understand the implications of the Commandments of this surah.
According to Ibn Sa’d, the Campaign against Bani al Mustaliq took place in Shaban 5 A. H. and the Battle of the Trench in Zil- Qa’dah the same year. This opinion is based on narrations from Hadarat Ayesha about the events connected with the “Slander” in which she refers to a dispute between Hadrat Sa’d bin Ubadah and Hadrat Sa’d bin Mu’az, who according to authentic traditions died during the Campaign against Bani Quraizah, which took place immediately after the Battle of the Trench. It is, therefore, evident that he could not be present in 6 A. H. to take part in a dispute about the “Slander”.
According to Muhammad bin Ishaq , the Battle of the Trench took place in Shawwal 5 A. H. and the Campaign against Bani al-Mustaliq in Sha’ban 6 A. H. This opinion is supported by many authentic traditions from Hadrat Ayesha and others. According to these traditions, (1) the Commandments about purdah had been sent down in Surah Al-Ahzab before the incident of the “Slander”, (2) the Holy Prophet had married Hadrat Zainab in Zil-Qa’dah 5 A. H. after the Battle of the Trench, (3) Hamnah, sister of Hadrat Zainab, had taken a leading part in spreading the “Slander”, just because Hadrat Ayesha was a rival of her sister.
Now let us consider the two opinions a little more closely. The only argument in favor of the first opinion is the mention of the presence of Hadrat Sa’d bin Mu’az in a dispute connected with the incident of the “Slander”. But this argument is weakened by some other narrations from Hadrat Ayesha, in which she mentions Hadrat Usaid bin Hudair instead of Hadrat Sa’d bin Mu’az in this dispute. It may, therefore, be assumed that there has been some confusion regarding the two names in reporting the traditions. Moreover, if we accept the first opinion, just because of the mention of the name of Hadrat Sa’d bin Mu’az in some traditions, we encounter other difficulties that cannot be resolved in any other way. In that case, we shall have to acknowledge that the revelation of the Commandments of purdah and the Holy Prophet’s marriage with Hadrat Zainab had taken place even earlier than the Battle of the Trench. But we learn from the Qur’an and various authentic narrations that both these events happened after that Battle and the Campaign against Bani Quraizah. That is why Ibn Hazm, Ibn Qayyim and some other eminent scholars have held the opinion of Muhammad bin Ishaq as correct, and we also hold it to be so. Thus, we conclude that Surah Al Ahzab was sent down earlier than Surah An-Nur, which was revealed in the latter half of 6 A. H. several months after Surah Al Ahzab.
Historical Background
Now let us review the circumstances existing at the time of the revelation of this surah. It should be kept in mind that the incident of the “Slander”, which was the occasion of its revelation, was closely connected with the conflict between Islam and the disbelievers.
After the victory at Badr, the Islamic movement began to gain strength, that by the time of the Battle of the Trench, it had become so strong that the combined forces of the enemy (numbering over ten thousand) failed to crush it, and ended the siege of Al Madinah after one month. It became apparent to both parties that the war of aggression which the Disbelievers had been waging for several years, had come to an end. The Holy Prophet himself declared: “After this year, the Quraish will not be able to attack you; now you will take the offensive.”
When the disbelievers realized that they could not defeat Islam on the battlefield, they chose the moral front to carry on the conflict. It cannot be said with certainty whether this change of tactics was the outcome of deliberate consultations, or it was the inevitable result of the humiliating retreat in the Battle of the Trench, for which all the available forces of the enemy had been concentrated:They knew it well that the rise of Islam was not due to the numerical strength of the Muslims nor to their superior arms and ammunition nor to their greater material resources; nay, the Muslims were fighting against fearful odds on all these fronts. They owed their success to their moral superiority. Their enemies realized that the pure and noble qualities of the Holy Prophet and his followers were capturing the hearts and minds of people, and were also binding them together into a highly disciplined community. As a result of this, they were defeating the mushriks and the Jews both on the peace and on the war front, because they lacked discipline and character.
Under the above mentioned circumstances, the wicked designs of the disbelievers led them to start a campaign of vilification against the Holy Prophet and the Muslims in order to destroy the bulwark of morale that was helping them to defeat their enemies. Therefore the strategy was to attain the assistance of the hypocrites to spread slanders against the Holy Prophet and his followers so that the mushriks and the Jews could exploit these to sow the seeds of discord among the Muslims and undermine their discipline.
The first opportunity for the use of the new strategy was afforded in Zil-Qa’dah 5 A. H. when the Holy Prophet married Hadrat Zainab (daughter of Jahsh), who was the divorced wife of his adopted son, Zaid bin Harithah. The Holy Prophet had arranged this marriage in order to put an end to the custom of ignorance, which had given the same status to the adopted son that was the right only of the son from one’s own loins. The hypocrites, however, considered it a golden opportunity to vilify the Holy Prophet from inside the community, and the Jews and the mushriks exploited it from outside to ruin his high reputation by malicious slander. For this purpose fantastic stories were concocted and spread to this effect: “One day Muhammad (Allah’s peace be upon him) happened to see the wife of his adopted son and fell in love with her; he maneuvered her divorce and married her.” Though this was an absurd fiction it was spread with such skill, cunning and artfulness that it succeeded in its purpose; so much so that some Muslim traditionalists and commentators also have cited some parts of it in their writings, and the orientalists have exploited these fully to vilify the Holy Prophet. As a matter of fact, Hadrat Zainab was never a stranger to the Holy Prophet that he should see her by chance and fall in love with her at first sight. For she was his first cousin, being the daughter of his real paternal aunt, Umaimah, daughter of Abdul Muttalib. He had known her from her childhood to her youth. A year before this incident, he himself had persuaded her to marry Hadarat Zaid in order to demonstrate practically that the Quraish and the liberated slaves were equal as human being. As she never reconciled herself to her marriage with a liberated slave, they could not pull on together for long, which inevitably led to her divorce. The above mentioned facts were well known to all, yet the slanderers succeeded in their false propaganda with the result that even today there are people who exploit these things to defame Islam.
The second slander was made on the honor of Hadrat Ayesha, a wife of the Holy Prophet, in connection with an incident which occurred while he was returning from the Campaign against Bani al-Mustaliq. As this attack was even severer than the first one and was the main background of this Surah, we shall deal with it in greater detail.
One or the leading protagonist of this slander was the hypocrite Abdullah bin Ubayy, who played the part of a villain in this attack. He belonged to the clan of Khazraj and was one of the most important chiefs of Al-Madinah. The people had even intended to make him their king before the Holy Prophet’s migration there, but the scheme had to be dropped because of the changed circumstances. Though he had embraced Islam, he remained at heart a hypocrite and his hypocrisy was so manifest that he was called the “Chief of the Hypocrites”. He never lost any opportunity to slander Islam in order to take his revenge.
Now the main theme. When in Sha’ban 6 A. H. the Holy Prophet learned that the people of Bani al-Mustaliq were making preparations for a war against the Muslims and were trying to muster other clans for this purpose, he forestalled and took the enemy by surprise. After capturing the people of the clan and their belongings, the Holy Prophet made a halt near Muraisi, a spring in their territory.
One day a dispute concerning sharing water from the spring started between a servant of Hadrat Umar and an ally of the clan of Khazraj, which developed into a quarrel between the Muhajirs(immigrants) and the Ansar(Muslims of Madinah), but was soon settled. This, however, did not suit the strategy of Abdullah bin Ubayy, who also had joined the expedition with a large number of hypocrites. So he began to incite the Ansar, saying, “You yourselves brought these people of the Quraish from Makkah and made them partners in your wealth and property and now they have become your rivals and want domination over you. If even now if you withdraw your support from them, they shall be forced to leave your city.” Then he swore and declared, “As soon as we reach back Al-Madinah, the respectable people will turn out the degraded people from the city.”
When the Holy Prophet came to know of this, he ordered the people to set off immediately and march back to Al-Madinah. The forced march continued up to noon the next day without a halt on the way so that the people became exhausted and had no time for idle talk.
Through this wise judgment and quick action, the Holy Prophet averted the undesirable consequences of mischief maker Abdullah bin Ubayy, who later found another opportunity for doing far more serious and greater damage by engineering a “Slander” against Hadrat Ayesha, which nearly propelled the young Muslim Community into civil war. If the Holy Prophet and his sincere and devoted followers had not shown wisdom, forbearance and marvelous discipline in dealing with it. In order to understand the events that led to the incident of the “Slander”, we cite the story in Hadrat ‘Ayesha’s own words. She says :
“Whenever the Holy Prophet went out on a journey, he decided by lots as to which of his wives should accompany him. Accordingly, it was decided that I should accompany him during the expedition to Bani al Mustaliq. On the return journey, the Holy Prophet halted for the night at a place which was the last stage on the way back to Al- Madinah. It was still night, when they began to make preparations for the march. So I went outside the camp to ease myself. When I returned and came near my halting place, I noticed that my necklace had fallen down somewhere. I went back in search for it but in the meantime the caravan moved off and I was left behind all alone. The four carriers of the litter had placed it on my camel without noticing that it was empty. This happened because of my light weight due to lack of food in those days. I wrapped myself in my sheet and lay down in the hope that when it would be found that I had been left behind, a search party would come back to pick me up. In the meantime I fell asleep. In the morning, when Safwan bin Mu’attal Sulami passed that way, he saw me and recognized me for he had seen me several times before the Commandment about purdah had been sent down. No sooner did he see me than he stopped his camel and cried out spontaneously : “How sad! The wife of the Holy Prophet has been left here!” At this I woke up all of a sudden and covered my face with my sheet. Without uttering another word, he made his camel kneel by me and stood aside, while I climbed on to the camel back. He led the camel by the nose-string and we overtook the caravan at about noon, when it had just halted and nobody had yet noticed that I had been left behind. I learnt later that this incident had been used to slander me and Abdullah bin Ubayy was foremost among the slanderers.(According to other narrations, when Hadrat Ayesha reached the camp on the camel, led by Safwan, and it was known that she had been left behind, Abdullah bin Ubayy cried out, ‘By God, she could not have remained chaste. Look, there comes the wife of your Prophet openly on the camel led by the person with whom she passed the night.’)
“When I reached Al-Madinah, I fell ill and stayed in bed for more than a month. Though I was quite unaware of it, the news of the “Slander” was spreading like a scandal in the city, and had also reached the Holy Prophet. Anyhow, I noticed that he did not seem as concerned about my illness as he used to be. He would come by, but without addressing me directly would inquire from others how I was and leave the house. Therefore it troubled my mind that something had gone wrong somewhere. So I took leave of him and went to my mother’s house for better nursing.
“While I was there, one night I went out of the city to ease myself in the company of Mistah’s mother, who was a first cousin of my mother. As she was walking along she stumbled over something and cried out spontaneously, ‘May Mistah perish!’ To this I retorted, ‘What a good mother you are that you curse your own son — the son who took part in the Battle of Badr.’ She replied, ‘My dear daughter, are you not aware of his scandal mongering?’ Then she told me everything about the campaign of the “Slander”.(Besides the hypocrites, some true Muslims also had been involved in this campaign, and among them who took leading part in it, were Mistah, Hassan bin Thabit, the famous poet of Islam, and Hamnah, daughter of Jahsh and sister of Hadrat Zainab). Hearing this horrible story, my blood curdled, and I immediately returned home, and passed the rest of the night crying over it.
“During my absence the Holy Prophet took counsel with Ali and Usamah bin Zaid about this matter. Usamah said good words about me to this effect:’O Messenger of Allah, we have found nothing but good in your wife. All that is being spread about her is a lie and calumny.’ As regards Ali, he said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, there is no dearth of women; you may, if you like, marry another wife. If, however, you would like to investigate the matter, you may send for her maid servant and inquire into it through her.’ Accordingly, the maid servant was sent for and questioned. She replied, ‘I declare on oath by Allah, Who has sent you with the Truth, that I have never seen any evil in her, except that she falls asleep when I tell her to look after the kneaded dough in my absence and a goat comes and eats it.’
“On that same day the Holy Prophet addressed the people from the pulpit, saying:’O Muslims, who from among you will defend my honor against the person who has transgressed all bounds in doing harm to me by slandering my wife. By God, I have made a thorough inquiry and found nothing wrong with her nor with the man, whose name has been linked with the “Slander”. At this Usaid bin Hudair (or Sa’d bin Mauz) according to other narrations) stood up and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, if that person belongs to our clan, we will kill him by ourselves, but if he belongs to the Khazraj clan, we will kill him if you order us to do so.’ Hearing this Sa’d bin ‘Ubadah, chief of the Khazraj clan, stood up and said, ‘You lie you can never kill him. You are saying this just because the person belongs to our clan of Khazraj. Had he belonged to your clan, you would never have said so.’ Hadrat Usaid retorted, ‘You are a hypocrite: that is why you are defending a hypocrite.’ At this, there was a general turmoil in the mosque, which would have developed into a riot, even though the Holy Prophet was present there the whole time. But he cooled down their anger and came down from the pulpit.”
The remaining details of the incident will be cited along with our commentary on the Text, which honorably absolved Hadrat Aishah from the blame. But here we would only want to point out the enormity of the mischief that was engineered by Abdullah bin Ubayy: (1) It implied an attack on the honor of the Holy Prophet and Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq.(2) He meant to undermine the high moral superiority which was the greatest asset of the Islamic Movement (3) He intended to ignite civil war between the Muhajirs and the Ansar, and between Aus and Khazraj, the two clans of the Ansar.
Theme and Topics
This Surah and vv. 28-73 of Surah Al-Ahzab(of which this is the sequel) were sent down to strengthen the moral front, which at that time was the main target of the attack, vv. 28-73 of Al-Ahzab were sent down concerning the Holy Prophet’s marriage with Hadrat Zainab, and on the occasion of the second attack (the “Slander” about Hadrat Aishah), Surah An-Nur was sent down to repair the cracks that had appeared in the unity of the Muslim Community. If we keep this in view during the study of the two Surahs, we shall understand the wisdom that underlies the Commandments about purdah. Allah sent the following instructions to strengthen and safeguard the moral front, and to counteract the storm of propaganda that was raised on the occasion of the marriage of Hazrat Zainab:
- The wives of the Holy Prophet were enjoined to remain within their private quarters, to avoid display of adornments and to be cautious in their talk with other persons (vv. 32, 33).
- The other Muslims were forbidden to enter the private rooms of the Holy Prophet and instructed to ask whatever they wanted from behind the curtain.(v. 53).
- A line of demarcation was drawn between the mahram and the non-mahram relatives. Only the former were allowed to enter the private rooms of those wives of the Holy Prophet with whom they were so closely related as to prohibit marriage with them.(v. 55).
- The Muslims were told that the wives of the Prophet were prohibited for them just like their own real mothers; therefore every Muslim should regard them with the purest of intentions.(vv. 53, 54).
- The Muslims were warned that they would invite the curse and scourge of Allah if they offended the Holy Prophet. Likewise it was a heinous sin to attack the honor of or slander any Muslim man or woman.(vv. 57, 58).
- All the Muslim women were enjoined to cover their faces with their sheets if and when they had to go out of their houses.(v. 59).
On the occasion of the second attack, this Surah was sent down to keep pure and strengthen the moral fiber of the Muslim society, which had been shaken by the enormity of the slander. We give below a summary of the Commandments and instructions in their chronological order so that one may understand how the Qur’an makes use of the psychological occasion to reform the Community by the adoption of legal, moral and social measures.
- Fornication which had already been declared to be a social crime (IV: 15,16) was now made a criminal offense and was to be punished with a hundred lashes.
- It was enjoined to boycott the adulterous men and women and the Muslims were forbidden to have any marriage relations with them.
- The one, who accused the other of adultery but failed to produce four witnesses, was to be punished with eighty lashes.
- The Law of Li’an was prescribed to decide the charge of adultery against his own fife by a husband.
- The Muslims were enjoined to learn a lesson from the incident of the “Slander” about Hadrat Aishah, as if to say, “You should be very cautious in regard to charges of adultery against the people of good reputation, and should not spread these; nay, you should refute and suppress them immediately.” In this connection, a general principle was enunciated that the proper spouse for a pure man is a pure woman, for he cannot pull on with a wicked woman for long, and the same is the case with a pure woman, as if to say, “When you knew that the Holy Prophet was a pure man, nay, the purest of all human beings, how could you believe that he had experienced happiness with a wicked woman and exalted her as the most beloved of his wives? For it was obvious that an adulterous woman could not have been able to deceive, with her affected behavior, a pure man like the Holy Prophet. You ought also to have considered the fact that the accuser was a mean person while the accused was a pure woman. This should have been enough to convince you that the accusation was not worth your consideration; nay, it was not even conceivable.
- Those who spread news and evil rumors and propagate wickedness in the Muslim Community, deserve punishment and not encouragement.
- A general principle was laid down that relations in the Muslim Community should be based on good faith and not on suspicion: everyone should be treated as innocent unless he is proved to be guilty and vice versa.
- The people were forbidden to enter the houses of others uninvited and were instructed to request permission.
- Both men and women were instructed to lower their gaze and forbidden to cast glances or make eyes at each other.
- Women were enjoined to cover their heads and breasts even inside their houses.
- Women were forbidden to appear with make-up before other men except their servants or such relatives with whom their marriage is prohibited.
- They were enjoined to hide their make-ups when they went out of their houses, and even forbidden to put on jingling ornaments, while they moved out of their houses.
- Marriage was encouraged and enjoined even for slaves and slave girls, for unmarried people help spread indecency.
- The institution of slavery was discouraged and the owners and other people were enjoined to give financial help to the slaves to earn their freedom under the law of Mukatabat.
- Prostitution by slave girls was forbidden in the first instance, for prostitution in Arabia was confined to this class alone. This in fact implied the legal prohibition of prostitution.
- Sanctity of privacy in home life was enjoined even for servants and under age children including one’s own. They were enjoined not to enter the private rooms of any man or woman without permission; especially in the morning, at noon and at night.
- Old women were given the concession that they could set aside their head covers within their houses but should refrain from display of adornments. Even they were told that it was better for them to keep themselves covered with head wrappers.
- The blind, lame, crippled and sick persons were allowed to take any article of food from the houses of other people without permission, for it was not to be treated like theft and cheating, which are cognizable offenses.
- On the other hand, the Muslims were encouraged to develop mutual relationships by taking their meals together, and the nearest relatives and intimate friends were allowed to take their meals in each other’s house without any formal invitation. This was to produce mutual affection and sincere relationships between them to counteract any future mischief. Side by side with these instructions, clear signs of the Believers and the hypocrites were stated to enable every Muslim to discriminate between the two. At the same time the Community was bound together by adopting disciplinary measures in order to make it stronger and firmer than it was at the time so as to discourage the enemies from creating mischief.
Above all, the most conspicuous aspect about this discourse is that it is free from the bitterness which inevitably follows such shameful and absurd attacks. Instead of showing any wrath at this provocation, the discourse prescribes some laws and regulations and enjoins reformative commandments and issues wise instructions that were required at the time for the education and training of the Community. Incidentally, this teaches us how to deal with such provocative mischiefs coolly, wisely and generously. At the same time, it is a clear proof that these are not the word of Prophet Muhammad (Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) but of the Creator who is observing all human conditions and affairs, and guiding his creation.without any personal prejudices, feelings and leanings. Had this been the word of the Holy Prophet; there would have been at least some tinge of natural bitterness in spite of his great generosity and forbearance, for it is but human that a noble man naturally become enraged when his own honor is attacked in this mean manner.