Al-Hujurat (ٱلْحُجُرَات)

Surah Al-Hujurat (الحُجُرات) is in the 26th Juz or Para of the Holy Quran. It is the 49th surah and consists of 18 ayahs. The word 'hujurat' translates to 'chambers,' 'private chambers,' etc. It consists of guidance and lessons regarding Muslim etiquette and the norms of a proper Muslim community. The 13th verse of this surah is a very famous one. It establishes that all humans came from one male and one female. It also talks about different tribes and ethnicities, which were made so that one may have an identity and recognize their people. Muslim scholars also take this verse to mean that everyone is equal, with only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎ determining the status of any person. This surah was revealed in Madinah in the 9th year of the hijrah. At this point, Muslims were in a fairly strong position. Some of the verses are also linked to the Banu Tamim delegation. They remind people of how to address the beloved Prophet (ﷺ) properly. 

٤٩ - ٱلْحُجُرَات

49 - Al-Hujurat

يٰۗاَيُّہَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تُـقَدِّمُوْا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللہِ وَرَسُوْلِہٖ وَاتَّقُوا اللہَ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ سَمِيْعٌ عَلِيْمٌ۝۱
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la tuqaddimoo bayna yadayi Allahi warasoolihi waittaqoo Allaha inna Allaha sameeAAun AAaleemun

English

Ahmed Ali

O YOU WHO believe, do not forestall the judgements of God and His Apostle, and have fear of God. Verily God hears all and knows everything.

1

يٰۗاَيُّہَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تَرْفَعُوْۗا اَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجْـہَرُوْا لَہٗ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَــہْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ اَنْ تَحْبَطَ اَعْمَالُكُمْ وَاَنْتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُوْنَ۝۲
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la tarfaAAoo aswatakum fawqa sawti alnnabiyyi wala tajharoo lahu bialqawli kajahri baAAdikum libaAAdin an tahbata aAAmalukum waantum la tashAAuroona

English

Ahmed Ali

O you who believe, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, and do not speak loudly to him as you do with one another lest your deeds are nullified unconsciously.

2

اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يَغُضُّوْنَ اَصْوَاتَہُمْ عِنْدَ رَسُوْلِ اللہِ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ الَّذِيْنَ امْتَحَنَ اللہُ قُلُوْبَہُمْ لِلتَّقْوٰى۝۰ۭ لَہُمْ مَّغْفِرَۃٌ وَّاَجْرٌ عَظِيْمٌ۝۳
Inna allatheena yaghuddoona aswatahum AAinda rasooli Allahi olaika allatheena imtahana Allahu quloobahum lilttaqwa lahum maghfiratun waajrun AAatheemun

English

Ahmed Ali

They who speak in a low voice in the presence of God's Apostle, have had their hearts tried by God for reverence. There is forgiveness for them and a great reward.

3

اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يُنَادُوْنَكَ مِنْ وَّرَاۗءِ الْحُـجُرٰتِ اَكْثَرُہُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُوْنَ۝۴
Inna allatheena yunadoonaka min warai alhujurati aktharuhum la yaAAqiloona

English

Ahmed Ali

Many of those who call you from outside the apartments are not considerate.

4

وَلَوْ اَنَّہُمْ صَبَرُوْا حَتّٰى تَخْرُجَ اِلَيْہِمْ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّہُمْ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ۝۵
Walaw annahum sabaroo hatta takhruja ilayhim lakana khayran lahum waAllahu ghafoorun raheemun

English

Ahmed Ali

If they had waited for you to come out it would have been better for them. But God is forgiving and kind.

5

يٰۗاَيُّہَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۗا اِنْ جَاۗءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌۢ بِنَبَاٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوْۗا اَنْ تُصِيْبُوْا قَوْمًۢا بِجَــہَالَۃٍ فَتُصْبِحُوْا عَلٰي مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نٰدِمِيْنَ۝۶
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo in jaakum fasiqun binabain fatabayyanoo an tuseeboo qawman bijahalatin fatusbihoo AAala ma faAAaltum nadimeena

English

Ahmed Ali

O you who believe, if a dissolute person brings some news, verify it first lest you attack a people ignorantly and later regret what you had done.

6

وَاعْلَمُوْۗا اَنَّ فِيْكُمْ رَسُوْلَ اؘ۝۰ۭ لَوْ يُطِيْعُكُمْ فِيْ كَثِيْرٍ مِّنَ الْاَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ وَ لٰكِنَّ اللہَ حَبَّبَ اِلَيْكُمُ الْاِيْمَانَ وَزَيَّنَہٗ فِيْ قُلُوْبِكُمْ وَكَرَّہَ اِلَيْكُمُ الْكُفْرَ وَالْفُسُوْقَ وَالْعِصْيَانَ۝۰ۭ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ ہُمُ الرّٰشِدُوْنَ۝۷ۙ
WaiAAlamoo anna feekum rasoola Allahi law yuteeAAukum fee katheerin mina alamri laAAanittum walakinna Allaha habbaba ilaykumu aleemana wazayyanahu fee quloobikum wakarraha ilaykumu alkufra waalfusooqa waalAAisyana olaika humu alrrashidoona

English

Ahmed Ali

Know that the Apostle of God is among you: If he agreed with you in most matters you would surely come to grief. But God has made faith more desirable to you, and attractive to your hearts, and rendered disbelief and sin and disobedience repugnant. They are those who are well directed

7

فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللہِ وَنِعْمَۃً۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ عَلِيْمٌ حَكِيْمٌ۝۸
Fadlan mina Allahi waniAAmatan waAllahu AAaleemun hakeemun

English

Ahmed Ali

By God's benevolence and His grace. God is all-knowing and all-wise.

8

وَاِنْ طَاۗىِٕفَتٰنِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ اقْتَتَلُوْا فَاَصْلِحُوْا بَيْنَہُمَا۝۰ۚ فَاِنْۢ بَغَتْ اِحْدٰىہُمَا عَلَي الْاُخْرٰى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِيْ تَبْغِيْ حَتّٰى تَفِيْۗءَ اِلٰۗى اَمْرِ اؘ۝۰ۚ فَاِنْ فَاۗءَتْ فَاَصْلِحُوْا بَيْنَہُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ وَاَقْسِطُوْا۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِيْنَ۝۹
Wain taifatani mina almumineena iqtataloo faaslihoo baynahuma fain baghat ihdahuma AAala alokhra faqatiloo allatee tabghee hatta tafeea ila amri Allahi fain faat faaslihoo baynahuma bialAAadli waaqsitoo inna Allaha yuhibbu almuqsiteena

English

Ahmed Ali

If two groups of believers come to fight one another, promote peace between them. Then if one of them turns aggressive against the other, fight against the aggressive party till it returns to God's authority. If it does so, make peace among them equitably and be impartial. Verily God loves those who are just.

9

اِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ اِخْوَۃٌ فَاَصْلِحُوْا بَيْنَ اَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللہَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ۝۱۰ۧ
Innama almuminoona ikhwatun faaslihoo bayna akhawaykum waittaqoo Allaha laAAallakum turhamoona

English

Ahmed Ali

The faithful are surely brothers; so restore friendship among your brothers, and fear God that you may be favoured.

10

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Hujurat

The chapter of surah Hujurat mentions certain norms and protocols that a true Muslim community should follow. These guidelines include the proper way of conduct towards the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Since the Muslim community was growing and needed to establish certain norms, this surah reveals more about how to conduct everyday life. Below is a more detailed discussion of the subject matter in Surah Hujurat:

The Proper Way to Address the Prophet (ﷺ)

The first few verses of this surah focus on how Muslims should practice proper etiquette when in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ). They should respect the privacy of the hujurat or his private chambers (hence the name of the surah). Moreover, they should not raise his voice above his (Verse 2). In the third verse, Allah promises great reward and forgiveness for those who lower their voices in the company of the Prophet Muhammad, i.e., behave with regard and respect for the Prophet. These verses emphasized the importance of the Prophet for Allah and how much he cares about his honor and well-being. It laid out the rule for Muslims of all generations that respect for the Prophet Muhammad is of essence to Allah Subhanahu Watalah and the crux of Islam. 

Muslim Unity

Surah Hujurat also establishes that the Muslim community is a precious asset that we have to preserve. The ties between Muslims are similar to that of brotherhood. The community should maintain principles and agreements to strengthen their unity despite individual differences. Verse 10 of the surah states that all Muslims are one brotherhood so make efforts to establish peace and reconciliation among Muslims. 

Social and Moral Conduct

Verses 11 and 12 of Surah Hujurat warn Muslims against defaming anyone, name-calling, or mocking. They also advise Muslims to think well of others, avoid spying to find flaws, and not engage in ghibah (backbiting). The act of backbiting is described as being similar to consuming one's brother's flesh. 

Not To Believe Rumors and Avoid Suspicion 

Muslims are enjoined not to take action upon just hearing some news. They should verify it from authentic sources and then act. Such a practice will promote peace and discourage quarreling or baseless debates among the people. The 10th verse called the Verse of Brotherhood, especially describes Muslims as being brothers to one another. 

Equality 

Several Quran scholars and commentators have said that verse 13 of this surah declared that all of mankind is equal. While humans may be divided into different races and nations, they are not superior or inferior based on origin, skin color, etc. Only taqwa (God-consciousness) is what will elevate anyone's status before Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎. 

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Al-Hujurat

Several virtues, benefits, and rewards have been linked to the recitation of Surah Al-Hujurat. These include gaining a huge reward from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎, a treatment for epilepsy, protection from the whisperings of Shaytan, and increasing the milk supply of nursing women. However, none of these benefits come directly from a Hadith of the Prophet (ﷺ).

There are also several lessons that we can learn from Surah Hujurat. By reciting and reflecting upon this surah, it's possible to achieve the following benefits:

  • We understand that all humans are equal, except in terms of their faith and taqwa. Therefore, we should stop measuring ourselves and other people in worldly terms and only gain inspiration from people who strive to be closer to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)‎  in everything.

  • We also understand that a Muslim community should be united. To this end, we must strive not to backbite or hurt people in any other way. Backbiting, name-calling, and mocking anyone (Muslim or not) should never be part of a Muslim's behavior.

  • Hearsay is not to be believed without concrete proof or evidence. In this way, rumors, gossip, and baseless allegations should not be part of a Muslim's conversation.

In general, this surah gives us the benefits of learning how to conduct ourselves as a Muslim society. There are certain norms and etiquette that should form our demeanor, especially when dealing with our fellow Muslims.