Translation of the Meanings Surah Al-Hujurāt - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - Encyclopedia of the Noble Quran

Al-Hujurāt

1 : 49

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تُقَدِّمُواْ بَيۡنَ يَدَيِ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٞ

1. O believers, do not proceed (in any matter) ahead of Allāh and His messenger ^[1]. Fear Allāh (and shun evil). Indeed Allāh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

[1]. Rather, seek for decree and command from Allah and His messenger, the Prophet Muhammad, showing complete obedience to them.

2 : 49

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَرۡفَعُوٓاْ أَصۡوَٰتَكُمۡ فَوۡقَ صَوۡتِ ٱلنَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجۡهَرُواْ لَهُۥ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ كَجَهۡرِ بَعۡضِكُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ أَن تَحۡبَطَ أَعۡمَٰلُكُمۡ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَشۡعُرُونَ

2. O believers, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet (Muhammad), and do not speak loudly to him as you speak loudly with one another ^[2], lest your 'good' deeds become nullified, while you do not perceive.

[2]. Let all things be done decently and in order. Whosoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles. One must to obey rulers in whatever is good, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no noisy, but gentle, show respect for old people and honor them, showing all meekness unto all men. In this way you show respect for Allāh.
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is out of glorification of Allāh, Almighty, to honor the grey-haired (old) believer, and the bearer of the Qur'an who neither exaggerates concerning it nor neglects it, and to honor the just ruler.”  

3 : 49

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصۡوَٰتَهُمۡ عِندَ رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱمۡتَحَنَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمۡ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰۚ لَهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٞ وَأَجۡرٌ عَظِيمٌ

3. Indeed, those who lower their voices in the presence of Allah’s Messenger are the ones whose hearts Allāh has tested for righteousness. For them is forgiveness and a great reward.

4 : 49

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنَادُونَكَ مِن وَرَآءِ ٱلۡحُجُرَٰتِ أَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا يَعۡقِلُونَ

4. Indeed, those who call you (O Muhammad), from behind (your) private chambers - most of them have no sense ^[3].

[3]. Love is not only about nice words of affirmation, gifts, financial provision, etc, but also about intense open rebuke when necessary. Offences will come between people who dwell in love. And when it’s one-time, or second, it can and should be forgiven and overlooked with a conscious decision. Nevertheless, when such an act becomes repetitive, it doesn’t only require forgiveness but also open rebuke. Why? Because if that person doesn’t get confronted with his fault, he will keep doing it and think nothing is wrong with his attitude. We all have character flaws, weaknesses and shortcomings. But as people who dwell in love for one another just as Allāh commanded us, we must be bold enough to rebuke offenders openly. That doesn’t mean we should call out the offender before multitudes to correct the person. No. When you’re offended, Prophet Muhammad taught in his teachings that you should and tell that person his fault. If he doesn’t accept it, include others too.
Forgiveness is significant, but open rebuke is necessary for permanent attitudinal change. Some people won’t change their wrong character if they don’t get rebuked for consistent wrongdoing. So speak the truth in love. Do it as a way of helping that person to change to be good Muslim , not to vent your anger on him. The former will end up glorifying Allāh, but the latter merely displays selfishness. Walk in love with one another.

5 : 49

وَلَوۡ أَنَّهُمۡ صَبَرُواْ حَتَّىٰ تَخۡرُجَ إِلَيۡهِمۡ لَكَانَ خَيۡرٗا لَّهُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٞ

5. If they had been patient until you come out to them, it would have been better for them. Allāh is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

6 : 49

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِن جَآءَكُمۡ فَاسِقُۢ بِنَبَإٖ فَتَبَيَّنُوٓاْ أَن تُصِيبُواْ قَوۡمَۢا بِجَهَٰلَةٖ فَتُصۡبِحُواْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلۡتُمۡ نَٰدِمِينَ

6. O believers, if a wicked person comes to you with any news, investigate it, lest you harm a people out of ignorance, then become regretful for what you have done.

7 : 49

وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ فِيكُمۡ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِۚ لَوۡ يُطِيعُكُمۡ فِي كَثِيرٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡرِ لَعَنِتُّمۡ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡإِيمَٰنَ وَزَيَّنَهُۥ فِي قُلُوبِكُمۡ وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡكُفۡرَ وَٱلۡفُسُوقَ وَٱلۡعِصۡيَانَۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلرَّٰشِدُونَ

7. Know that among you is God's messenger (Muhammad). If he were to obey you in much of the affair, you would suffer hardship. But Allāh has endeared Faith to you, and made it pleasing to your hearts. He has made ingratitude, mischief, and disobedience hateful to you. These are the rightly guided -

8 : 49

فَضۡلٗا مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَنِعۡمَةٗۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٞ

8. (It is) as bounty from Allah and blessing. Allāh is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

9 : 49

وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱقۡتَتَلُواْ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَهُمَاۖ فَإِنۢ بَغَتۡ إِحۡدَىٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلۡأُخۡرَىٰ فَقَٰتِلُواْ ٱلَّتِي تَبۡغِي حَتَّىٰ تَفِيٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمۡرِ ٱللَّهِۚ فَإِن فَآءَتۡ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَهُمَا بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَأَقۡسِطُوٓاْۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُقۡسِطِينَ

9. If two parties of believers fight each other, then make peace among them ^[4]. If one of them rebels against the other, fight against the rebellious one until it complies with the Command of Allāh. If it complies (and ceases its outrage) make peace among them justly, and be equitable. For Allāh loves those who are fair and just.

[4]. Cooperating with fellow believers to pray and serve others as Allāh leads and empowers us accomplishes much more than we could ever do on our own. It has been said, “Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean.”Through Allah's empowering and His guidance, we can work together to restore peace in the world and advance the message of Islam, for His honor rather than our own.

10 : 49

إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِخۡوَةٞ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَ أَخَوَيۡكُمۡۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ

10. The believers are brothers ^[5], so make peace among your brothers. And fear Allāh - that you may receive Mercy.

[5]. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another as the elect of Allāh, righteous and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another.
The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The believer is a mirror to his faithful brother. He protects him against loss and defends him behind his back.”
The believer is a mirror to his brother. If he sees something wrong in him, he should correct it.

11 : 49

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا يَسۡخَرۡ قَوۡمٞ مِّن قَوۡمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُواْ خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ وَلَا نِسَآءٞ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهُنَّۖ وَلَا تَلۡمِزُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ وَلَا تَنَابَزُواْ بِٱلۡأَلۡقَٰبِۖ بِئۡسَ ٱلِٱسۡمُ ٱلۡفُسُوقُ بَعۡدَ ٱلۡإِيمَٰنِۚ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَتُبۡ فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

11. O believers, let not people mock other people ^[6], perhaps those (whom they mock) are better than them, neither women (mock) other women, perhaps those (whom they mock) are better than them. Neither should you defame one another, nor call one another by (offensive) nicknames. Wretched is the name (of) wickedness  after (one has attained) the Faith. Whoever does not repent, then it is these that are the unjust.

[6]. There are seven things that Allāh hates: To look down on others, to tell lies, to shed innocent blood, to devise wicked plans, to walk to evil, to give false witness, and to sow discord among brothers.

12 : 49

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱجۡتَنِبُواْ كَثِيرٗا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعۡضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثۡمٞۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُواْ وَلَا يَغۡتَب بَّعۡضُكُم بَعۡضًاۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمۡ أَن يَأۡكُلَ لَحۡمَ أَخِيهِ مَيۡتٗا فَكَرِهۡتُمُوهُۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٞ رَّحِيمٞ

12. O believers, avoid much suspicion. For some suspicion is a sin. Do not spy or backbite ^[7] one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? So, you would detest it. Fear Allāh (and shun evil). Indeed, Allāh is accepting of repentance, Most Merciful.

[7]. The prophet Muhammad said: "Oh you who have believed with your tongues but faith has not yet entered your hearts, do not back-bite the people. Do not seek to discover their faults, for whoever seeks after their faults, Allāh will seek his faults. And if Allāh seeks after someone’s faults, he will expose him for even (what he committed) in his home." The prophet also said: "Whoever conceals the faults of his brother, Allāh will conceal his faults on the Day of Resurrection. And whoever exposes the faults of his brother, Allāh will expose his faults even by revealing those he committed in (the privacy of) his home."

13 : 49

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٖ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ شُعُوبٗا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٞ

13. O people, indeed, We have created you of a male (Adam) and a female (Eve), and have made you nations and tribes, that you would recognise each other. The noblest of you, in the Sight of Allāh, is the most pious of you. Indeed, Allāh is All-Knowing, All-Aware.

14 : 49

۞ قَالَتِ ٱلۡأَعۡرَابُ ءَامَنَّاۖ قُل لَّمۡ تُؤۡمِنُواْ وَلَٰكِن قُولُوٓاْ أَسۡلَمۡنَا وَلَمَّا يَدۡخُلِ ٱلۡإِيمَٰنُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمۡۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ لَا يَلِتۡكُم مِّنۡ أَعۡمَٰلِكُمۡ شَيۡـًٔاۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٌ

14. (Some of) the desert Arabs said: "We have believed." Say: "You have not yet believed, but say 'instead': 'We have submitted (to the rule of Islam); for Faith has not yet entered into your hearts. But, if you obey Allāh and His messenger 'Muhammad', He will not diminish any of of your (good) deeds. Indeed, Allāh is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

15 : 49

إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَرۡتَابُواْ وَجَٰهَدُواْ بِأَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ وَأَنفُسِهِمۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّٰدِقُونَ

15. The believers are only those who believe in Allāh and His messenger, then doubt not and strive hard with their wealth and their lives for the Cause of God. These are the ones who are truthful ^[8].

[8]. Muhammad, God's messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “(Believers), if you have these four qualities, you will not worry about what you missed in the world: fulfilling the trust, truthful speech, good character, lawful earning, that is consuming only what is lawful and good, and abstaining from unlawful and bad things.”

16 : 49

قُلۡ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ ٱللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمۡ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٞ

16. Say: "Do you (persume to) teach Allāh of your (religion and) deeds, and Allāh knows all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Allāh has (perfect) knowledge of all things.”

17 : 49

يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيۡكَ أَنۡ أَسۡلَمُواْۖ قُل لَّا تَمُنُّواْ عَلَيَّ إِسۡلَٰمَكُمۖ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيۡكُمۡ أَنۡ هَدَىٰكُمۡ لِلۡإِيمَٰنِ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ

17. They consider it a favor to you that they have accepted Islam. Say: "Consider not your Islam a favor to me. Rather, Allāh has conferred a Favor upon you by guiding you to the (right) Faith - if you are indeed truthful."

18 : 49

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ غَيۡبَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ

18. Indeed, Allāh knows the unseen things of the heavens and the earth. Allāh Ever-Sees what you do (of good or evil).