Surah Al Ahzab

Quran Chapter 33

In the name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.

1O Prophet, be aware of God, and don’t obey the unbelievers and the hypocrites. God is All-Knowing, Most Wise.

2Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord, for God is fully aware of what you do.

3And trust in God; and sufficient is God as Disposer of affairs.

4God didn’t place two hearts within any man’s body. He didn’t make your wives, whom you equate with your mothers, your actual mothers. Nor did He make your adopted children, your actual children. These are but words from your mouths. God speaks the truth, and He guides along the path.

5Name them after their fathers; this is more equitable in God’s sight. If you don’t know their fathers, they are your brothers in faith and dependents. There is no blame upon you for the mistakes you make, but only for what your hearts purposely intend. God is Forgiving and Merciful.

6The Prophet is closer to the believers than themselves, and his wives are mothers to them. As decreed by God, blood relatives have greater rights over each other than the believers and the emigrants. However, you are still obligated to treat your friends kindly. This is inscribed in the Scripture.

7We received a solemn oath from the Prophets, including you, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, son of Mary. We received from them a firm covenant.

8He will then question the truthful about their truthfulness, and He prepared a severe punishment for the unbelievers.

9O you who believe, remember God’s favor upon you, when armies advanced against you, and We sent upon them a wind and forces you didn’t see. God is watchful of all your actions.

10When they advanced upon you from above and below, your vision blurred, your hearts reached the throats, and you began to doubt God.

11There, the believers were tested and severely shaken.

12The hypocrites and those with diseased hearts said, “God and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusions.”

13Among them, some said, “O people of Yathrib, you can’t withstand, so retreat.” Meanwhile, others sought permission from the Prophet, saying, “Our homes are exposed,” when they were not. They only intended to flee.

14If they had been invaded from all sides, and they were incited to sedition, they would’ve indulged in it.

15They had previously made a covenant with God that they wouldn’t turn their backs. The covenant with God must be answered for.

16Say, “Fleeing won’t benefit you, if you flee from death or killing. Even then, you would be indulged only a little.”

17Say, “Who can protect you from God if He intends harm or mercy for you?” They will find no ally or helper besides God.

18God knows those among you who discourage others and those who say to their brethren, “Come to us,” yet they seldom engage in battle.

19They are reluctant to support you. When danger looms, you see them staring at you, their eyes rolling, as if they are on the verge of death. Yet, when the threat subsides, they lash you with sharp tongues, greedy for the good. These were never believers, so God nullified their deeds, a task effortless for God.

20They assumed that the Confederates wouldn’t retreat. If the Confederates were to return, they would wish they were amongst the Bedouins in the desert, seeking news about you. If they were with you, they would hardly engage in battle.

21In God’s Messenger, you have an excellent example for those who hope for God and the Last Day and remember God often.

22Upon seeing the Confederate forces, the believers said, “This is what God and His Messenger promised us; truly, God and His Messenger spoke the truth.” It only increased them in faith and submission.

23Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with God. Some of them have met their obligations, and some are still waiting, unwavering in their commitment.

24That God may reward the truthful for their truthfulness, and He may punish the hypocrites if He wills or accept their repentance. God is Forgiving, Most Merciful.

25And God repulsed those who disbelieved, in their rage; they gained no advantage. God was sufficient for the believers in battle. God is Powerful, Most Dignified.

26He brought down those who supported them among the People of the Scripture from their fortresses, and He cast terror into their hearts. You killed some and took others as captives.

27He let you inherit their lands, their houses, their wealth, and lands you had not trodden. God has power over all things.

28O Prophet, tell your wives, “If you desire the worldly life and its glitter, then come; I will provide for you and release you honorably.

29But if you wish for God and His Messenger and the Home of the Hereafter, then indeed, God has prepared for those who do good among you an immense reward.

30O wives of the Prophet, those who commit a clear immorality among you, doubled will be her suffering, and that is easy for God.

31And whoever of you devoutly obeys God and His messenger and does good, We will give her her reward twice over, and We have prepared for her a noble provision.

32O wives of the Prophet, you are unlike any other women if you uphold righteousness. Therefore, don’t be seductive in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should desire, but speak with appropriate speech.

33Settle in your homes, and don’t flaunt your beauty, as in the former days of ignorance. Establish prayer, give the purifying charity, and obey God and His Messenger. God intends to remove all impurities from you, O People of the Household, and to purify you thoroughly.

34Be mindful of what’s recited in your homes of God’s verses and wisdom. God is always Kind and Well-Informed.

35The submissive men and women, the believing men and women, the devout men and women, the honest men and women, the patient men and women, the humble men and women, the charitable men and women, the fasting men and women, the men and women who guard their chastity, and the men and women who frequently remember God—for them, God has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.

36Believers, both men and women, have no right to question the decisions made by God and His Messenger. Those who disobey God and His Messenger have deviated into clear error.

37You said to the one whom God had favored and you had favored, “Keep your wife and fear God,” while concealing within yourself what God was going to reveal. You feared people, but it is more appropriate that you fear God. Then, when Zaid had dissolved his marriage with her, We wedded her to you, so that there would be no fault in believers marrying the divorced wives of their adopted sons. God’s command is always fulfilled.

38The Prophet is not liable for what God has ordained for him. This is God’s established way with those who came before. The command of God is a destiny determined.

39Those who convey God’s messages, fear Him, and fear none but God. God is sufficient as a Reckoner.

40Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is God’s Messenger and the Prophets’ seal. God has full knowledge of all things.

41O you who believe, remember God with much remembrance.

42And praise Him morning and evening.

43It is He who reaches out to you, and His angels, to bring you from darkness into light. He is ever Merciful to the believers.

44Their greeting on the Day they meet Him will be “Peace,” and He prepared for them a generous reward.

45O Prophet, We sent you as a witness, a bearer of good news, and a warner.

46Inviting to God by His permission, and as a luminous lamp.

47Give the believers the good news of God’s abundant grace.

48Don’t obey the unbelievers and the hypocrites; dismiss their annoyances, and rely on God. God is sufficient as a Protector.

49O you who believe, when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them, you have no obligation to observe a waiting period for them. Provide for them, and release them graciously.

50O Prophet, We’ve made lawful for you your wives to whom you’ve given their due compensation, and what your right hand possesses from what God has granted you. Also, the daughters of your paternal uncle, and the daughters of your paternal aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncle, and the daughters of your maternal aunts who migrated with you. Additionally, a believing woman who offered herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet desires to marry her—exclusively for you, not for the other believers. We certainly know what We ordained for them regarding their wives and those their right hands possess, so that there may be no discomfort for you. God is Forgiving and Merciful.

51You may postpone any of those you wish, and you may receive anyone you wish. There is no blame on you if you invite one whose turn you had previously set aside. This is more appropriate, so that they may be comforted, not saddened, and may all be pleased with what you give them. God knows what’s in your hearts. God is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.

52No women are lawful for you after this, nor can you exchange them for other wives, even if their beauty captivates you, except what your right hand possesses. God is watchful over everything.

53O you who believe, don’t enter the Prophet’s homes for a meal, unless you are invited, and don’t wait for its preparation. But if you are invited, then enter. And when you have eaten, then disperse, not lingering for conversation. This behavior may cause the Prophet discomfort, and he would be shy to dismiss you, but God is not shy of the truth. When you ask his wives for something, do so from behind a partition. This is purer for your hearts and theirs. It is not suitable for you to offend God’s Messenger, nor should you ever marry his wives after him. Indeed, this would be a grave offense in God’s sight.

54Whether you reveal something or conceal it, God is always aware of everything.

55There is no blame on them regarding their fathers, sons, brothers, brothers’ sons, sisters’ sons, their women, or those under their protection. So let them fear God. God is a witness to everything.

56God and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, invoke blessings and peace upon him.

57Those who insult God and His Messenger, God has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter, and He prepared for them a humiliating punishment.

58Those who harm believing men and women undeservedly, bear on themselves the guilt of slander and a manifest sin.

59O Prophet, instruct your wives, daughters, and the believers’ women to lengthen their garments, so they may be recognized and not be harassed. God is ever Forgiving, Most Merciful.

60If the hypocrites, those in whose hearts is sickness, and those who spread malicious rumors in the city don’t cease, We will incite you against them; then they won’t be your neighbors therein except for a little while.

61Cursed they are. Wherever they are found, they are to be apprehended and executed promptly.

62This has been God’s established way with those who passed before. You will find no alteration in God’s way.

63People ask you concerning the Hour. Say, “Knowledge of it is only with God. And what will make you know? Perhaps the Hour is near.”

64God has cursed the unbelievers and prepared for them a blazing Fire.

65There, they will remain forever, devoid of any protector or helper.

66On the Day when their faces are flipped in the Fire, they will cry out, “Oh, how we wish we had obeyed God and the Messenger.”

67And they will say, “Our Lord, we obeyed our leaders and great ones, but they led us astray from the path.

68Our Lord, give them double the punishment and curse them severely.”

69O you who believe, don’t be like those who hurt Moses, yet God absolved him of what they said. And he was distinguished in God’s sight.

70O you who have faith, revere God, and always speak with straightforward words.

71He will correct your actions and forgive your sins. Whoever obeys God and His Messenger has achieved a magnificent triumph.

72We presented the trust to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, fearing its consequences. However, man undertook it, being inherently unjust and ignorant.

73God will punish the hypocritical men and women, and the polytheistic men and women. And God pardons the believing men and women. God is always Forgiving, Most Merciful.