[1]. This verse was revealed concerning any man under whom is an orphan girl for whom he is both guardian and inheritor, while she has money and with no one to argue in her favor. This guardian is enjoined not to marry her for her money, nor is he to abuse her.
[2]. Although it is their money, Allāh refers to it in the collective sense, reminding us that all wealth is provided by Him for the maintenance of the community as well as of individual members.The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "Allâh has forbidden for you: (a) To be undutiful to your mothers 'and fathers', (b) to bury your daughters alive, (c) not to pay the rights of the others, and (d) to beg of people . And Allâh has hated for you: (a) that you talk too much, (b) to ask insignificant questions (in disputed religious matters) and (c) to waste the wealth by extravagance with lack of wisdom and thinking.
[3]. By willing away more than a third of the heritage.
[4]. I.e., the penalty later revealed in Surah 24:2
[5]. Shaming a sinner after they have repented is among the worst actions, as it might push them back into sin. Instead, encourage and support them, remembering that Allāh loves those who repent.
[6]. The reason behind this Verses' revelation had to do with pagan practice during the age of ignorance whereby: “When a man dies, his close male relatives claimed more of a right to his wife than her own family. If they wished, they could marry her ˹to one of them˺, or marry her off to anybody, or hold her back from marriage”. The fact of the matter is that these women hate what is being done to them and are forced into it, against their will.
[7]. Abstaining from such marriages to bond-maids who are not yet well mannered and freed.
[8]. The laws of those who came before you is the most laudable course that earlier honouarble Prophets of Allāh such as Moses and Jesus and their rightly-guided followers took in life.
[9]. Those who are sinful try hard to make the believers follow their path and relinquish that of Allah’s, so that they will stand on an equal, immoral, footing.
[10]. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "He who commits suicide by choking shall keep on choking himself in the Hellfire, and he who commits suicide by stabbing himself shall keep on stabbing himself in the Hellfire."
[12]. Every sin is an offense against Allāh. Yet, Allāh makes a distinction between two types of sins. The most serious and grave sins, which is called deadly sins. By their very grave nature, a deadly sin turns man away from his Creator, Allāh. The second type of sin, minor sin, that of less grave matter. However, minor sin damages our relationship with Allāh. A person who frequently indulges in minor sin is very likely to collapse into major sin if they persist in their evil ways. In order for a sin to be deadly, it must meet three conditions:
Deadly sin is a sin of grave matter.
Deadly sin is committed with full knowledge of the sinner. Deadly sin is committed with deliberate consent of the sinner. The Qur’an and the Sunnah gives us a list of grave sins that anyone who commits will be subject to the punishment of Allāh, which are these; Idolatry, murder, adultery, fornication, Sodomy and homosexual relations, taking advantage of the poor, defrauding the workingman of his wages, stealing, lasciviousness, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, drunkenness, revellings and such like. We should know that neither idolaters, nor adulterers, nor fornicators, nor the effeminate, nor liers, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards nor railers, nor extortioners shall enter Paradise unless they repent. The Qur'an and Sunnah also tells us that the sins of anger, blasphemy, envy, malice, neglect of Friday obligation, sins against faith (heresy), sins against hope (obstinate despair in the hope for salvation and/or presumption that oneself can live without Allāh or be saved by one’s own power) and sins against love (indifference towards charity, ingratitude) also constitute grave matter. These sins not only offend Allāh, but men as well. Thus these sins are called “the sins that cry to heaven for vengeance” and are likewise deadly sins. There are seven vices that spur other sins and further immoral behaviour which are 1. Pride, 2. Greed, 3. Illicit sexual desire, 4. Envy, .5. Drinking alcohol or taking drugs, 6. Anger, and 7. Laziness or idleness. Each of these can be overcome with the seven virtues of (1) Humility, (2) Giving charity, (3) Chastity, (4) Gratitude, (5) Abstinence from alcoholic drink or taking drugs, (6) Patience, and (7) Careful and persistent work or effort.
[13]. Believers are warned against envy and wishing for what others are favoured with of worldly gains.
[14]. Allāh is concerned that men and women should not be taken advantage of, but should receive their just wages. According to Islam, failure to pay promptly is a sin. Allāh hates injustice in financial relationships. Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the importance of paying employees on time and treating them with kindness and respect. He said, "Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries". This emphasizes the importance of paying employees promptly and not delaying their wages.
[15]. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Ask Allāh while you firmly believe that He will respond to you; know that Allāh does not respond to an inattentive and wandering heart”.
[16]. I.e., their chastity and their husband’s wealth and properties.
[17]. Muhammad, God's Messenger ﷺ said, "Do not beat Allah's bondwomen.'' One of the companions (May Allah be pleased with him) came to him complaining: "The women have become very daring towards their husbands,'' He (the Prophet) ﷺ gave permission to beat them 'if necessary and useful but lightly and gently out of love.' Then many women went to the family of the Messenger of Allāh (wives) complaining of their husbands, and he (the Prophet) ﷺ said, "Many women have gone round Muhammad's family complaining of their husbands. Those who do so, that is, those who take to beating their wives, are not the best among you 'and good examples'." This Hadith 'statement of the Prophet' tells us that those who take to beating their wives are not the best people and good example. The decency of manners warrants that one must refrain from beating, as is evident from the conduct of the Prophet ﷺ who neither resorted to beating with his own hand any of his wives nor slaves nor any other. He would avenge those who transgressed the limits of Allāh.
Muhammad, God's Messenger ﷺ , never hit anyone with his hand, nor a woman, nor a servant, except when he was fighting for the Cause of God ”.
Muhammad, the Messenger of God ﷺ also said, "The most perfect man in his faith among the believers is the one whose behaviour is most excellent; and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives.''
Although Islam has permitted man, in inevitable circumstances, to rebuke his wife, in case she is guilty of open indecency and persistence in default, , it has also suggested a very wise course for it in this verse. It has suggested that first of all he should advise and preach her, and if she does not mend her ways by these means, then he should stop sleeping with her, which is a great warning for the sensible wife. If she does not improve even by this method, then he may take recourse to slight beating, but in that he must avoid her head and face. He should take recourse to beating if he thinks that it would work, otherwise it is better to avoid it. He should try to understand that she, too, has feelings and her position is like one of the two wheels of the cart of life. If at all it comes to beating her then he must keep her true status in view before taking recourse to it. He should never loose sight of her importance in conjugal life. It is the responsibility of the wife that during the absence of her husband, besides the guarding of her own chastity, and property of her husband, she should not let in anyone who is not liked by her husband, however closely related that person be to her.
[18]. The Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ) said: "Whoever believes in Allāh and the Last Day, let him treat his neighbour well. Whoever believes in Allāh and the Last Day, let him honor his guest. Whoever believes in Allāh and the Last Day, let him say something good or else remain silent." The Prophet Mohammad ﷺ also said: "Angel Gabriel advised me continuously to take care of the neighbor till I thought that Allāh is to make the neighbor an inheritor."
[19]. I.e., one’s wife or husband or friend.
[20] .This also applies to the strangers and foreigners and alien residents belonging to a foreign country and nation living among you, you must deal with them with kindness and good treatment. You must show them love and mercy. Woe to anyone who withholds justice from the foreigners, the alien residents, the orphans or the widows.
[21]. See Qur’an 5:90 regarding the later total prohibition of drinking alcohol.
[22]. I.e., had carnal relations.
[24]. Those are the Jews who say: “We are the children of Allāh and His beloved ones!”
[25]. By glorifying themselves in such a manner and claiming honour falsely. Do not be wise in your own eyes; rather fear Allāh with reverent awe and obedience to Him and His messenger, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and turn entirely away from evil.
[26]. That is anything worshipped other than Allâh, it may be idols, graves, demons, satan, angels, saints, or any humans.
[27]. Having no menses, stool, urine, etc.
[28]. Believers are instructed to give back what they have been entrusted with to its rightful owners: whole and without delay, and to be trustworthy and fair. They are called to pray for their leaders to be good and honest having strong moral principles, who has no lapses in integrity and are ideal leaders. The ideal leader is a person of justice and complete integrity, who defends the vulnerable, serves the needy, and stands against oppression. Such leaders their time in office is so refreshing, it’s like showers watering the earth, bringing prosperity to the land. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the greatest of all leaders and living example perfectly fulfilled such a role.
[29]. For the sake of your religion as we ordained for the children of Israel.
[30]. The rewards of obeying Allāh and His Messenger are plentiful both in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, not least being raised to the lofty status of Prophets and their worthy companions in Paradise.
[31]. At the beginning they were asked to refrain from fighting, because they were not ready or in possession of the means to prevail, they were asked instead to first engage in a self disciplinary to prevail over their own weaknesses, by keeping up Prayers and dutifully giving out the prescribed alms.
[32]. Throughout His mission, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ acted with a crystal-clear sense of His purpose to guide the people to the right Path. Eventually, all nations of earth would be blessed through his person, as the last and final messenger of God to take out the people from darknesses to light. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ strove hard to free people from all preoccupations except devotion to Allāh 'God', who would also be free from psychological complexities so that they might be capable of finding the spiritual sustenance placed by God in the universe for His devoted servants. Conveying the message of God, instructing the people in the Qur'an and wisdom and guiding them towards purifying their souls from polytheism and all kinds of sins was the mission of Prophet Muhammad.
[33]. Muhammad, God's Messenger ﷺ said, "Whoever obeys me, he obeys Allâh, and whoever disobeys me, he disobeys Allâh, and whoever obeys the ruler I appoint, he obeys me, and whoever disobey him, he disobeys me."
[34]. These are the blabbers, who are only too eager to spread whatever news comes their way aiming to stir up unrest.
[35]. The person who helps others in time of need, will be rewarded handsomely for his good efforts.
[36]. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Whoever meets his brother, let him greet him with the greeting of Islam, that is Asalamu Alaikum 'peace be with you'. If a tree or a wall comes between them, then he meets him again, let him greet with him by Asalamu Alaikum again." This means that when you meet someone, you should greet them with the greeting of Islam. Then, if you become separated briefly, or an object, such as a tree, car, or column comes between the two of you, you should repeat the greeting once you’re reunited.
The same goes for leaving a gathering and returning shortly afterwards. One day the Prophet ﷺ instructed a man to pray again as he hadn’t prayed properly, so the man left the group to pray close by, then returned and gave greeting again.
[37]. Who retreated from the battle of Uhud, some saying, ‘let us slay them’, while others said, ‘no!’.
[38]. Because of his arrogance and persistency in sin.
[39]. Believers are encouraged to honour their pledges.
[40]. Along with your enemies, but Allāh did not will it and turned them away from you.
[41]. Muhammad, God's Messenger ﷺ said, "A faithful believer remains at liberty regarding his religion unless he commits murder by killing somebody."
[42]. Before you label anyone as a disbeliever.
[44]. By preferring to remain among the disbelievers, in an environment where a Muslim is unable to practice his religion freely, although they have the means to emigrate.
[45]. During the travel, the four rakʿah prayers are shortened to two rakʿahs. The tradition of the Prophet and his companions illustrates that fear is not a condition for this allowance, merely travel.
[46]. Believers are enjoined to remember Allāh and mention Him at all times, because it nurtures vigilance of Him in their hearts and draws them nearer to Him. This is even more so in times of trouble and fighting because such remembrance helps boost spiritual strength which is more important than relying on material power alone.
[47]. In the normal prescriped form and at their proper times.
[48]. After the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to the heavens and returning back to Mecca, angel Gabriel came and stood near the door of the Ka’bah ten times in two days. Gabriel came at the starting time of each prayer, while on the other day, he came at the ending time of each prayer. This was done in order to teach Prophet Muhammad and the believers the method of prayer as well as to set the duration of the five obligatory prayers. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Gabriel led me in prayer at the House (i.e., the Ka’bah). He prayed the noon prayer with me at mid-day when the sun had passed the meridian; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when the sun was still bright and when the shadow of everything was as long as itself; he prayed the sunset prayer with me after sunset; he prayed the evening prayer with me when the twilight had ended, and he prayed the dawn prayer with me from the beginning of down while it was still dark to sunrise. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “If anyone oversleeps and misses a Prayer, he should do it as soon as he wakes up or remembers it.”
[49]. I.e., He knows well.
[50]. Muhammad, the Messenger of God ﷺ cursed those who make any tattoo marks on themselves, or who file their teeth or who pluck eyebrows, changing the creation of Allāh, both are cursed the one who does it and the one to whom it is done." Tattoos, plucking the eyebrows and filing the teeth – come under the heading of changing the creation of God. You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves.Tattoos and other types of cuttings in your bodies are not allowed in Islam, in fact you are commanded to abstain from doing so.
[51]. I.e., major sins such as associating anything in worship with Allāh, murder, sexual immorality, theft, taking and giving interest (usury), drinking alcohol, or disobeying the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in religious commandments, etc.
[52]. Salvation and attaining good things in both this life and the life to come is earned through firm, unwavering Belief in Allāh, worshiping Him in accordance with the dictates of Islam and following the prophet Muhammad ﷺ, God's last and final messenger, not through wishful thinking.
[53]. Islam makes no distinction between men and women in matters of faith. Nor is there any distinction in what they are commanded to carry out.
[54]. A believing household has to be built on preserving the dignity and ensuring the full rights of all its parties, lest any lack of respect for these leads to discord and disunion, and where the more helpless members of the family (and society at large) are the most affected. Being the basic building block of a strong, close-knit society, the family’s wholesomeness has to be preserved at all costs.
[55]. A man who has more than one wife will inevitably prefer, in his own heart, one over another. However, men are reminded to be mindful of Allāh and to be moderate and treat their wives on an equal footing. It is mandatory for a man to be absolutely even-handed in securing each wife her given marital rights, or else he will do better taking on only one wife. If a man has more than one wife, he has to treat them equally, whether they are Muslims or from among the People of the Book [i.e., Jewish or Christian]. If he does not treat them equally, then he has disobeyed Allāh and he has to make it up to the one whom he wronged. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Whoever has two wives and leans towards (i.e. favours) one of them (over the other), will come on the Day of Resurrection with half of his body leaning.” What is meant by this “leaning” is favouring in terms of actions; a man will not be taken to task for the inclination of his heart if he treats (his wives) equally in practical terms.
[56]. Wakīl (Al-Wakīl) is one of the most Beautiful Names of Allāh. It means, the Sustainer of the Universe, its Preserver, the Dispenser of its affairs with His Knowledge and Wisdom, and the Witness of everything, Glory be His. This Name entails that Allāh is the Most Trustworthy, the Dependable Advocate of perfect resolution.
[57]. People who are heedless of Allāh are too eager to gain that which is worldly and think not of the life to come. Here, Allāh reminds them that it is with Him that the gains of not only this worldly life but also that of the Hereafter life. All the more reason, then, for them to pay Him heed.
[58]. This reinforces the main principle on which the believing community is built: justice to all.
[59]. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was asked about the grave sins. He said, They are:
a) To join others in worship with Allâh.
b) To be undutiful to one’s parents.
c) To kill a person (which Allâh has forbidden to be killed i.e.murder).
d) And to give a false witness.
[60]. Being the source of all power and honor, Allāh grants them to whom He wills.
[61]. In this world, by participation in their blasphemy, and in the next, where you will share their torment. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.
[62]. This is related to their engagement in the remembrance of Allāh during prayers; they do not mention Allāh with their tongues, their hearts and body parts are not humbled, and their minds are wandering. This is because what is in their hearts is not to please Allāh, but rather to please the people.
[63]. The hypocrites live in a state of perpetual doubt and constant perplexity, so they are always experiencing a state of dilemma.
[64]. Hell is a place of divine judgment on sinners. It has severe degrees of punishment, dependent on a number of factors in one’s life. These factors include the extent to which a person has abandoned himself to sin, the extent of one’s influence on other people towards sin, and the amount of knowledge of the truth that one had and rejected. This is not to say that hell will be less than perfect torment for some, but the Qur'an indicates that some will have a greater capacity for suffering or that some will bear a fiercer measure of the wrath of God upon them.
[65]. Of your repentance, self-discipline and good deeds, rewarding for them abundantly.
[66]. I.e., foul mouthing, being profane, hurling accusations, slandering, backbiting, etc.
[67]. Such a person is allowed to speak out in the court against a wrongdoer.
[68]. This is mainly addressed to the one who is wronged.
[69]. Thinking that such a ‘compromise’ would put them on the road that leads to God’s Pleasure and salvation. Had they really believed in some Messengers of Allāh and listened to them with due care and attention, they would naturally have believed in the rest of the Messengers.
[70]. Whose last is the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
[71]. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "It was said to the children of Israel, ‘Enter the gate (of the town) bowing with humility and say: ‘Repentance’, but they changed the word and entered crawling on their buttocks and said: ‘A wheat grain in the hair’." They said so just to ridicule Allah’s order, as they were disobedient to Him. So Allāh punished them severely, most probably with a plague.
[72]. I.e., another person was made to assume his likeness, so they mistook him for Jesus.
[73]. Before his death," has two interpretations: before Jesus’ death after his descent from the heavens, or a Jew’s or a Christian’s death, at the time of the appearance of the angel of death when he will realize that Jesus was only a human, a prophet, and a messenger of Allāh, and had no share in divinity. Allāh is Divine, not the Messiah.
[74]. Of eternal Bliss for the believers.
[75]. Of grievous Chastisement from God for the deniers.
[76]. Such as attributing divine qualaties to certain creations of Allāh or revering them excessively.The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: ''Do not exaggerate in praising me as Christians praised the son of Mary, for I am only a servant. So, call me the servant of God and His messenger." Out of his concern for pristine monotheism and fear that his followers would lapse into associating partners with Allāh like previous nations, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned Muslims against exaggerating in praising him, as Christians did concerning Jesus by giving him divine attributes and calling him God or the son of God, thus falling into idolatry. The Prophet Muhammad further said, "Describe me as the servant of God and the carrier of His message, just as He, Exalted be He, described me. Do not transgress the limits by raising me to a station of divinity or lordship as the Christians did with regard to Jesus." Divinity is exclusive to Allāh alone.
[77]. The Christians claim that Jesus is the "son of God", "God the son", "God incarnate", or simply; the second "person" in the unholy Trinity. This necessarily reduces God "Allāh" to being one third of the Trinity, as the Qur'an states in 5:73. In truth, nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus make such claims for himself nor, for that matter, is there any mention of the Trinity. In fact, Jesus always spoke of himself as the "son of man, and the servant of God."
[78]. I.e., Paradise.
[79]. This verse relates to siblings from the father's side or from both parents, whereas in Verse 12 in this chapter it concerned those from the mother's side alone.