Al-Mujadila (ٱلْمُجَادِلَة)

Al-Mujadila is the 58th surah or chapter of the blessed Quran. Positioned in juzz number 28, it has 3 rukus and a total of 22 verses. It was revealed to the Prophet (ﷺ) in Madina and, hence, is a Madni surah. Al Mujadila translates to "The Pleading Woman" or "She Who Disputes/Pleads." The surah sheds light upon the legality of the pre-Islamic era method of divorce (which was called zihar). The name "she who pleads" refers to the woman who pleaded with the Prophet (ﷺ) regarding the unjustness of the method of zihar. The first verses of the surah officially deemed zihar "outlawed" and prescribed a solution for previous cases of the process. 

A woman who was named Khaula had reached out to the Prophet (ﷺ). Her husband had divorced her using the pre-Islamic Arabic method of divorce (zihar), which required a man to say, "You are to me like my mother", and the husband would be free to remarry and released from any duty towards his wife while the wife could not remarry another man. Khaula pleaded with the Prophet (ﷺ) to abolish the practice as it was highly unjust. Allah listened to her plea and sent down this surah, which abolished the old system and inscribed the new system of divorce, which is just. 

Al-Mujadila also discusses matters of public assemblies and associated manners for them. The last section of the surah defines and addresses Hizb Allah and Hizb al-Shaytaan. The surah promises rewards for those who are obedient and steadfast in their faith whereas punishment for those who forget their Lord and transgress to the path of evil.

٥٨ - ٱلْمُجَادِلَة

58 - Al-Mujadila

قَدْسَمِعَ اللہُ قَوْلَ الَّتِيْ تُجَادِلُكَ فِيْ زَوْجِہَا وَ تَشْـتَكِيْۗ اِلَى اؘ۝۰ۤۖ وَاللہُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَا۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ سَمِيْعٌۢ بَصِيْرٌ۝۱
Qad samiAAa Allahu qawla allatee tujadiluka fee zawjiha watashtakee ila Allahi waAllahu yasmaAAu tahawurakuma inna Allaha sameeAAun baseerun

English

Ahmed Ali

GOD CERTAINLY HEARD what the woman who argued with you about her husband, said, and complained to God; and God heard your interrogation. Verily God hears all, and sees everything.

1

جزء

٢٨

اَلَّذِيْنَ يُظٰہِرُوْنَ مِنْكُمْ مِّنْ نِّسَاۗىِٕــہِمْ مَّا ہُنَّ اُمَّہٰتِہِمْ۝۰ۭ اِنْ اُمَّہٰتُہُمْ اِلَّا اڿ وَلَدْنَہُمْ۝۰ۭ وَاِنَّہُمْ لَيَقُوْلُوْنَ مُنْكَرًا مِّنَ الْقَوْلِ وَزُوْرًا۝۰ۭ وَ اِنَّ اللہَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُوْرٌ۝۲
Allatheena yuthahiroona minkum min nisaihim ma hunna ommahatihim in ommahatuhum illa allaee waladnahum wainnahum layaqooloona munkaran mina alqawli wazooran wainna Allaha laAAafuwwun ghafoorun

English

Ahmed Ali

Those of you who divorce your wives by calling them 'mothers,' cannot (make them) their mothers. Their mothers are only those who gave birth to them. They surely utter what is unseemly and a lie. But God is forbearing and forgiving.

2

وَالَّذِيْنَ يُظٰہِرُوْنَ مِنْ نِّسَاۗىِٕہِمْ ثُمَّ يَعُوْدُوْنَ لِمَا قَالُوْا فَتَحْرِيْرُ رَقَبَۃٍ مِّنْ قَبْلِ اَنْ يَّـتَـمَاۗسَّا۝۰ۭ ذٰلِكُمْ تُوْعَظُوْنَ بِہٖ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِيْرٌ۝۳
Waallatheena yuthahiroona min nisaihim thumma yaAAoodoona lima qaloo fatahreeru raqabatin min qabli an yatamassa thalikum tooAAathoona bihi waAllahu bima taAAmaloona khabeerun

English

Ahmed Ali

Those who call their wives their mothers then revoke what they had said, should free a slave before having physical contact (with them). This is to warn you, as God is aware of what you do.

3

فَمَنْ لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَہْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ اَنْ يَّتَمَـاۗسَّا۝۰ۚ فَمَنْ لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَاِطْعَامُ سِـتِّيْنَ مِسْكِيْنًا۝۰ۭ ذٰلِكَ لِتُؤْمِنُوْا بِاللہِ وَرَسُوْلِہٖ۝۰ۭ وَتِلْكَ حُدُوْدُ اؘ۝۰ۭ وَلِلْكٰفِرِيْنَ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌ۝۴
Faman lam yajid fasiyamu shahrayni mutatabiAAayni min qabli an yatamassa faman lam yastatiAA faitAAamu sitteena miskeenan thalika lituminoo biAllahi warasoolihi watilka hudoodu Allahi walilkafireena AAathabun aleemun

English

Ahmed Ali

If one does not have the means (of doing so) then he should fast for two months continuously before he has physical contact; but any one who is unable to do so, should feed sixty needy persons. This (is enjoined) so that you may be faithful to God and His Apostle. These are the limits set by God. As for the unbelievers, there is painful punishment for them.

4

اِنَّ الَّذِيْنَ يُحَاۗدُّوْنَ اللہَ وَرَسُوْلَہٗ كُبِتُوْا كَـمَا كُبِتَ الَّذِيْنَ مِنْ قَبْلِہِمْ وَقَدْ اَنْزَلْنَاۗ اٰيٰتٍؚبَيِّنٰتٍ۝۰ۭ وَ لِلْكٰفِرِيْنَ عَذَابٌ مُّہِيْنٌ۝۵ۚ
Inna allatheena yuhaddoona Allaha warasoolahu kubitoo kama kubita allatheena min qablihim waqad anzalna ayatin bayyinatin walilkafireena AAathabun muheenun

English

Ahmed Ali

Those who oppose God will be disgraced, as those before them were. We have sent down very clear signs. For unbelievers there is a shameful punishment.

5

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُہُمُ اللہُ جَمِيْعًا فَيُنَبِّئُہُمْ بِمَا عَمِلُوْا۝۰ۭ اَحْصٰىہُ اللہُ وَنَسُوْہُ۝۰ۭ وَاللہُ عَلٰي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَہِيْدٌ۝۶ۧ
Yawma yabAAathuhumu Allahu jameeAAan fayunabbiohum bima AAamiloo ahsahu Allahu wanasoohu waAllahu AAala kulli shayin shaheedun

English

Ahmed Ali

On the day when God will raise them up together, He will tell them what they did. God takes account of it although they forget, for all things are evident to God.

6

اَلَمْ تَرَ اَنَّ اللہَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِي الْاَرْضِ۝۰ۭ مَا يَكُوْنُ مِنْ نَّجْوٰى ثَلٰثَۃٍ اِلَّا ہُوَرَابِعُہُمْ وَلَا خَمْسَۃٍ اِلَّا ہُوَسَادِسُہُمْ وَلَاۗ اَدْنٰى مِنْ ذٰلِكَ وَلَاۗ اَكْثَرَ اِلَّا ہُوَمَعَہُمْ اَيْنَ مَا كَانُوْا۝۰ۚ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُہُمْ بِمَا عَمِلُوْا يَوْمَ الْقِيٰمَۃِ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ اللہَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ۝۷
Alam tara anna Allaha yaAAlamu ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi ma yakoonu min najwa thalathatin illa huwa rabiAAuhum wala khamsatin illa huwa sadisuhum wala adna min thalika wala akthara illa huwa maAAahum ayna ma kanoo thumma yunabbiohum bima AAamiloo yawma alqiyamati inna Allaha bikulli shayin AAaleemun

English

Ahmed Ali

Have you not considered that God knows whatever is in the heavens and the earth? No three persons confer secretly but He is the fourth among them, and no five but He is the sixth; and neither fewer nor more but He is with them wheresoever they be. And on the Day of Judgement He will announce their deeds to them. Verily God has knowledge of everything.

7

اَلَمْ تَرَ اِلَى الَّذِيْنَ نُہُوْا عَنِ النَّجْوٰى ثُمَّ يَعُوْدُوْنَ لِمَا نُہُوْا عَنْہُ وَيَتَنٰجَوْنَ بِالْاِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ الرَّسُوْلِ۝۰ۡوَاِذَا جَاۗءُوْكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِہِ اؙ۝۰ۙ وَيَقُوْلُوْنَ فِيْۗ اَنْفُسِہِمْ لَوْلَا يُعَذِّبُنَا اللہُ بِمَا نَقُوْلُ۝۰ۭ حَسْبُہُمْ جَہَنَّمُ۝۰ۚ يَصْلَوْنَہَا۝۰ۚ فَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيْرُ۝۸
Alam tara ila allatheena nuhoo AAani alnnajwa thumma yaAAoodoona lima nuhoo AAanhu wayatanajawna bialithmi waalAAudwani wamaAAsiyati alrrasooli waitha jaooka hayyawka bima lam yuhayyika bihi Allahu wayaqooloona fee anfusihim lawla yuAAaththibuna Allahu bima naqoolu hasbuhum jahannamu yaslawnaha fabisa almaseeru

English

Ahmed Ali

Have you not considered those who were forbidden to conspire, but reverted after a time to what was forbidden them, and conspired evil, rebellion and disobedience to the Prophet? Yet when they come to you they greet you with a greeting even God does not greet you with; and say to themselves, "Why doesn't God punish us for what we say?" Hell is sufficient for them, in which they will be burnt: And what an evil consequence!

8

يٰۗاَيُّہَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْۗا اِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَـنَاجَوْا بِالْاِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ الرَّسُوْلِ وَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوٰى۝۰ۭ وَاتَّقُوا اللہَ الَّذِيْۗ اِلَيْہِ تُحْشَرُوْنَ۝۹
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo itha tanajaytum fala tatanajaw bialithmi waalAAudwani wamaAAsiyati alrrasooli watanajaw bialbirri waalttaqwa waittaqoo Allaha allathee ilayhi tuhsharoona

English

Ahmed Ali

O you who believe, when you converse privately, do not talk of iniquity, rebellion, and disobedience to the Prophet, but talk of goodness and piety, and fear God before whom you will be gathered.

9

اِنَّمَا النَّجْوٰى مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا وَلَيْسَ بِضَاۗرِّہِمْ شَـيْـــــًٔا اِلَّا بِـاِذْنِ اؘ۝۰ۭ وَعَلَي اللہِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ۝۱۰
Innama alnnajwa mina alshshaytani liyahzuna allatheena amanoo walaysa bidarrihim shayan illa biithni Allahi waAAala Allahi falyatawakkali almuminoona

English

Ahmed Ali

Surely scheming is the work of Satan that he may cause the faithful grief; but he cannot harm them unless God dispense. So in God should the believers place their trust.

10

Subject Matter and Theme of Al-Mujadila (الْمُجَادِلَة)

Surah Al-Mujadila is centered around prescribing solutions to the believers in regard to the issues that plagued them at the time. They are first advised not to indulge in practices of ignorance, such as zihar when they accept Islam. Zihar was an unjust practice in which a man had the right to divorce his wife by saying she looked like his mother and immediately cutting off ties with the woman with no responsibilities toward her. This surah discusses individual rights, the rights of women, and social justice. Islam is the religion for men and women. It is the religion that promotes equitable treatment for all and thus abolishes laws and customs that allow the exploitation of one faction of the society. The surah emphasizes the need to let go of the old, pagan customs and embrace the laws of Allah. 

From verses 7-10, Allah addresses the hypocrites about their private meetings and assemblies they hold during which they conspire against the Prophet (ﷺ). Muslims are consoled in regard to the hypocrites. Allah addresses them to go on about their mission and not mind the hypocrites as they cannot do them any harm. Allah also reminds the believers that true Muslims whenever they meet, do not talk about sins, transgressions, and disobediences but instead of goodness.

Muslims are also taught regarding social manners they should practice when in public assemblies. Allah instructs them not to act in a way that is narrow-minded and to be more welcoming towards newcomers (such as by making more ways for them to fit in). Allah also highlights how the Muslims who befriend the hypocrites or those who are enemies of Islam and do not hesitate to put their own interests first by harming their own faith and think their faith will provide them with a cover are wrong. In fact, they belong to the party of the Shaytaan, no matter how hard they try to convince the believers otherwise with their fake oaths. On the other hand, those who leave behind every worldly desire and being for the love of Allah and His Prophet (ﷺ) are surely true Muslims who will be rewarded. 

Benefits and Virtues of Al-Mujadila (الْمُجَادِلَة)

Al-Mujadila is an important surah that outlawed the custom of zihar and reinstated the rights of women. The surah warned the husbands about their wives were not their mothers and that only those who gave birth to them could be considered their mothers. Moreover, it also enforced strict punishment on those who verbally abused their wives through the custom of zihar. The surah says:

"Those of you who say such a thing to their wives, then go back on what they have said, must free a slave before the couple may touch one another again––this is what you are commanded to do, and God is fully aware of what you do––but anyone who does not have the means should fast continuously for two months before they touch each other, and anyone unable to do this should feed sixty needy people. This is so that you may [truly] have faith in God and His Messenger."

Surah Al-Mujadila also teaches us the importance of one's words. Through outlawing the custom of zihar, Muslims were also taught to be careful of the words they said to their wives and also to treat them kindly. 

Other virtues of the surah include: 

  • Creating and emphasizing a moral code that strengthens familial ties and community. 

  • It instils social awareness amongst all and the sense to behave in a moral way that does not harm others. 

  • Some scholars argue that reciting this surah when there is a dispute among family, especially between man and wife, could help take matters towards resolution. 

Finally, as with all of the Quran, reciting Surah Al-Mujadila is rewarded by Allah Azzawajal. Allah increases the good deeds of an individual tenfold for every word they recite of the Quran.