Surah Al-Hujurat (Arabic text: الحجرات) is the 49th chapter of the noble Qur’an. According to most scholars of the Islamic tradition, the chapter was revealed in the late Medinan period, therefore, it is a Medinan surah.
It is most likely revealed in 630 CE (or 9 AH), after the Conquest of Makkah and when most of the Madinah was under the rule of our beloved Prophet Mohammad (ﷺ)
The surah titled AL HUJURAT meaning in English is “The Private Chambers” and it consists of 18 verses. And the most significant ayat of this surah is al hujurat ayat 13
Background of Surah Al Hujurat
- After the conquest of Makkah, many desert Arab tribes (Bedouins) sent ambassadors to the Prophet (ﷺ) to make allegiance and accept Islam.
- The Bedouins appeared rough in their manner of dress and speech.
- They spoke loudly and in a manner which was disrespectful to our beloved Prophet(ﷺ).Their approach to the Him displeased Allah.
- The Surah was revealed to reproof them and to teach general code of mannerism for Muslims and for all people.
- Especially Al Hujurat ayat 13 states the basic code of conduct of manners.
Lessons learn from Surah Al Hujurat
Lessons learnt from this Surah can be divided into three main parts.
Part 1 – Allah & the Messenger
The first part marks the fact that respect should be given to our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ() and our thoughts and oppinions should be according to the commands of Allah and His last messenger
Part 2 – Moral Values
.The second part deals with the moral values that a believer should be possessing.
He should always be ready to make peace between people with justice and equity. He should avoid making false assumptions about others and never spy on his own people.
He should stay away from backbiting and slandering
Part 3 – Taqwa
.The last part which is mostly given emphasis in surat Al Hujurat ayat 13 addresses the fact that a Muslim attains Iman when he has pure faith and Taqwa in his heart.
He does not recite duas from his tongue but his heart also bows in front of the Creator. We will further elaborate learnings from this Surah.
Allah is the omnipotent
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تُقَدِّمُوۡا بَيۡنَ يَدَىِ اللّٰهِ وَرَسُوۡلِهٖ وَ اتَّقُوۡا اللّٰهَؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ ﴿۱﴾
O ye who believe! Be not forward in the presence of Allah and His messenger, and keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower. ﴾49:1)
In the above mentioned ayat Allah has clearly set this rule for all the human beings other than HIS beloved Prophetﷺ and HE HIMSELF that no one can live a life without regarding Allah and his last messenger to the utmost.
No joy of life is equal to the honour that Allah the Almighty has given to the purest in all humans.
The most important element for the believer is to have faith in the Oneness of Allah SWT and the completeness of His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
The believer dedicates his life in order to obey Allah. His wishes are modified only according to the commandments of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺteachings.
He should always put forward what Allah has stated for mankind and make his own opinions and principles according to the teachings given by Hazrat Mohammad (ﷺ) In every matter, the word of Allah SWT, which is the Quran, and His Prophetﷺ , sunnah, should be given utmost importance.
Prophet(ﷺ) is the best among all
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا لَا تَرۡفَعُوۡۤا اَصۡوَاتَكُمۡ فَوۡقَ صَوۡتِ النَّبِىِّ وَلَا تَجۡهَرُوۡا لَهٗ بِالۡقَوۡلِ كَجَهۡرِ بَعۡضِكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ اَنۡ تَحۡبَطَ اَعۡمَالُكُمۡ وَاَنۡـتُمۡ لَا تَشۡعُرُوۡنَ ﴿۲﴾
O ye who believe! Lift not up your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor shout when speaking to him as ye shout one to another, lest your works be rendered vain while ye perceive not. ﴾49:2)
Same teachings of mannerism continue in the above mentioned verse. Those lucky ones who had opportunities to sit and be aware of the presence of the last messenger of Allah were well informed about the etiquettes they should follow in those pious gatherings.
The Prophet ﷺ should not be treated or looked at as a common man. His regards, honours and words are always the best among all.
Al Hujurat states about how a common man should always keep his voice low and while speaking in front of him should be polite with his words and tone also. And not only words, actions and opinions should be regarded too.
Please Mohammad (ﷺ) & Allah will be pleased
اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يَغُضُّوۡنَ اَصۡوَاتَهُمۡ عِنۡدَ رَسُوۡلِ اللّٰهِ اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ الَّذِيۡنَ امۡتَحَنَ اللّٰهُ قُلُوۡبَهُمۡ لِلتَّقۡوٰىؕ لَهُمۡ مَّغۡفِرَةٌ وَّاَجۡرٌ عَظِيۡمٌ ﴿۳﴾
Lo! they who subdue their voices in the presence of the messenger of Allah, those are they whose hearts Allah hath proven unto righteousness. There will be forgiveness and immense reward. ﴾49:3)
Allah pleases with us as we give more and more respect and love to His last and beloved Prophetﷺ . People like us who don’t live in that era of time should always keep their regards high.
Even today while quoting his words or sending durood our heart should be filled with immense love and honour. Surah Al Hujurat sets rules for us to obey and be polite with our manners.
Good manners are the key
اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يُنَادُوۡنَكَ مِنۡ وَّرَآءِ الۡحُجُرٰتِ اَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
Lo! those who call thee from behind the private apartments, most of them have no sense. (49:4)
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنۡ جَآءَكُمۡ فَاسِقٌ ۢ بِنَبَاٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوۡۤا اَنۡ تُصِيۡبُوۡا قَوۡمًا ۢ بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصۡبِحُوۡا عَلٰى مَا فَعَلۡتُمۡ نٰدِمِيۡنَ ﴿۶
O ye who believe! If an evil-liver brings you tidings, verify it, lest ye smite some folk in ignorance and afterward repent of what ye did. ﴾49:5)
In this surah, we also learn to have patience and good manners. Islam was being spread to the different parts of the world therefore many people did not have the proper training in good manners and etiquette. People from far away used to come to meet the Prophet and call for his name aloud.
This act was strictly prohibited by Allah SWT and stated impolite.. It was always advised not to make haste and wait with patience for appearance. In the present times, we should never take his name and mention his name casually in front of anyone.
His name should always be taken with respect and honour. These etiquettes are applied in our daily life also. We should not bother a man or woman with our bad or ill acts.
While talking to fellow beings we should portray a good example . with our behaviour and code of conduct we should set a good example of being a muslim and a follower of Hazrat Mohammad (ﷺ)
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنۡ جَآءَكُمۡ فَاسِقٌ ۢ بِنَبَاٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوۡۤا اَنۡ تُصِيۡبُوۡا قَوۡمًا ۢ بِجَهَالَةٍ
فَتُصۡبِحُوۡا عَلٰى مَا فَعَلۡتُمۡ نٰدِمِيۡنَ ﴿۶﴾
O ye who believe! If an evil-liver brings you tidings, verify it, lest ye smite some folk in ignorance and afterward repent of what ye did. ﴾49:6)
A very important human characteristic is mentioned to us in the above verse. This belongs to every part of life.
One should never blindly believe when news comes its way, its our own responsibility to look for the authenticity of the topic. It might hurt someone badly. It might ruin someone’s image completely.
Our creator has immense love for each of us. He is the one with all the glory and power. Allah has ordered us to live a life in which we do not believe in everything we hear or see. This is the basic favour to mankind.
We should verify it before making up our mind. Many a time, the rumour that has been travelled through someone who is a liar or false storyteller, can give rise to dreadful consequences.
Therefore, it is advised to examine the matter before acting upon it or narrating it to others.
Al Hujurat Ayat 13
Allah SWT mentioned in the noble quran,
يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اِنَّا خَلَقۡنٰكُمۡ مِّنۡ ذَكَرٍ وَّاُنۡثٰى وَجَعَلۡنٰكُمۡ شُعُوۡبًا وَّقَبَآٮِٕلَ لِتَعَارَفُوۡاؕ اِنَّ اَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ اَتۡقٰٮكُمۡؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِيۡمٌ خَبِيۡرٌ ﴿۱۳
Human beings, We created you all from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Verily the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most God-fearing of you.Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.(49:13)
Allah is addressing people in this verse, and by people He meant each of us breathing in this world. He has created all of us from male and female, a man and a woman. Which means we are one big family. We all are the same.
Change of skin colour, change in area we live in, customs , traditions, nothing makes us different in the eyes of Allah but only how well we can protect ourselves from the sinful acts. How good we can shape our souls in accordance with the Taqwa in our hearts.
You can never be one person better than another, one family better than another or one nation better than another.We all are equal. وَجَعَلۡنٰكُمۡ Allah says “we are the one who created you” Allah made us equally and than distributed us in different nations and tribes. Big or small populations and tribes.
So that you can recognise one another. And be aware of the beautification Allah has made you with. So that you all have different identities in knowing each other.
So you all have different personalities and you will better understand each other’s diversity of custom, culture, traditions. Just like you understand different kinds of flowers, different kinds of rocks and stars, water, climates and you appreciate everything created by the Allah almighty, the best creator among all.
By this diversity you enjoy each other. In this al hujurat ayat 13 which is under discussion, Allah has given us a beautiful, artistic and colourful world to live in. and recognise his Abilities, His wisdom, His art.
Since we all are made by one man and woman and it is our belief that we all belong to Allah we can distinguish between each other but cannot disregard each other. We are created by the best of all so each one of us hold more beauty in ourselves.
No name is bigger or smaller. No tribe, no skin colour is strong or weak. اَكۡرَمَكُمۡ The only basis of superiority and excellence that there is, or can be, between man and man is that of Taqwa.
As regards birth, all male and female are equal, for their Creator is One, their substance of creation is one, and their way of creation is one, and they are descended from the same parents. Moreover, a person’s being born in a particular country, nation, or clan is just accidental.
Therefore, there is no rational ground on account of which one person may be regarded as superior to the other. The real thing that makes one person superior to others is that one should be more God-conscious, a greater avoider of evils, and a follower of the way of piety and righteousness.And Al Hujurat clearly states this code.
Such a man, whether he belongs to any race, any tribe, any nation and any country, is valuable and worthy on account of his personal merit. And the one who is reverse of him in character is in any case an inferior person whether he is black or white, born in the east or the west.
One the occasion of Last sermon given by our holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (ﷺ). We can relate this sermon with the explanation of Al Hujurat ayat 13 also, he mentioned the descrimination among people very clearly and he stated that the islamic principles were completed that day with the final authentic rule of no descrimination.
“O people, be aware: your God is One. No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, and no non-Arab any superiority over an Arab, and no white one has any superiority over a black one, and no black one any superiority over a white one, except on the basis of taqwa (piety).
The most honourable among you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most pious and righteous of you. Say if I have conveyed the Message to you?
And the great congregation of the people responded, saying: Yes, you have, O Messenger of Allah.
Thereupon the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Then let the one who is present convey it to those who are absent.” (Baihaqi).
FAQS
- Where was Surah hujurat revealed ?
According to most scholars of the Islamic tradition, the chapter was revealed in the late Medinan period, therefore, it is a Medinan surah. It is most likely revealed in 630 CE (or 9 AH),
- What are the commands of Allah in surah Al Hujurat?
The first part marks the fact that respect should be given to our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ() and our thoughts and oppinions should be according to the commands of Allah and His last messenger.
The second part deals with the moral values that a believer should be possessing. He should always be ready to make peace between people with justice and equity. He should avoid making false assumptions about others and never spy on his own people.
He should stay away from backbiting and slandering
.The last part which is mostly given emphasis in surat Al Hujurat ayat 13 addresses the fact that a Muslim attains Iman when he has pure faith and Taqwa in his heart.
He does not recite duas from his tongue but his heart also bows in front of the Creator. We will further elaborate learnings from this Surah.
- Does Islam has anti white values?
No! Clearly not. In islam one can only get superior with level of Taqwa he possess in his heart. How much a believer loves Allah and protect himself from sins makes him dearer to Allah SWT than no matter how white or black he/she is.
One the occasion of Last sermon given by our holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (ﷺ). We can relate this sermon with the explanation of Al Hujurat ayat 13 also, he mentioned the descrimination among people very clearly and he stated that the islamic principles were completed that day with the final authentic rule of no descrimination.
“O people, be aware: your God is One. No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, and no non-Arab any superiority over an Arab, and no white one has any superiority over a black one, and no black one any superiority over a white one, except on the basis of taqwa (piety).
The most honourable among you in the sight of Allah is he who is the most pious and righteous of you.”
- What are the significant lessons from al hujurat ayat 13?
We all are the same. Change of skin colour, change in area we live in, customs , traditions, nothing makes us different in the eyes of Allah but only how well we can protect ourselves from the sinful acts. How good we can shape our souls in accordance with the Taqwa in our hearts.
You can never be one person better than another, one family better than another or one nation better than another.No name is bigger or smaller.
No tribe, no skin colour is strong or weak. اَكۡرَمَكُمۡ The only basis of superiority and excellence that there is, or can be, between man and man is that of Taqwa.
DISCLAIMER: The articles and views posted on this blog are the opinions of individual authors only and as such may not reflect the opinions of Pious Couple staff, editors and readers. They are solely meant for educational purposes and not any illegal purpose. The authors/shuyookh are not responsible or liable for the intentional, reckless, or negligent actions of any individual. Any person who posts, quotes, cites, copies or otherwise relies on any article or comment associated in any way with Pious Couple blog bears sole responsibility for his or her actions, choices and words. While constructive criticism and meaningful discussions are welcome; abusive comments, name calling or intolerance towards other religions, race, sex, countries, etc., will not be entertained. Pious Couple reserves all rights to delete/edit any type of comment or discussion that is inappropriate Islamically, morally or otherwise.
