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33. THE ARMIES OF ENEMIES

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

1. O prophet! Fear Allah and do not obey the infidels and the hypocrites, Allah is certainly Knowing, Wise. 2. And follow that which is communicated to you from your Fosterer, Allah is certainly informed of what you do. 3. And put your trust in Allah and Allah is sufficient as a Trustee.

4. Allah has not made for any man two hearts inside him, and He has not made your wives, whom you orally declare to be your mothers, your (real) mothers, and He has not made, those whom you adopt as sons, your (real) sons. Those are (just) statements from your mouths and Allah speaks the truth and He guides to the (right) way.

5. Call them by their fathers (name), that will be more just with Allah, but if you do not know their father, then they are your brothers in religion and your friends. And there is no sin on you in that which you did by mistake in that (affair), but that which your hearts do intentionally (is accountable), and Allah is Protectively Forgiving, Merciful.

6. The prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are (closer than) their mothers. And the Possessors of relationship are closer, one to another in the decree of Allah, than the believers and the immigrants, except that you do (some) recognized (good) to your friends, that is written in the book.

7. And when We took their pledge from the prophets and from you and from Nuh and Ibrahim and Musa and Isa the son of Maryam and We took a firm pledge from them,

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8. that He may ask the truthful about their truth; and He has prepared a painful punishment for the infidels. (R1) 9. O you who believe! Remember Allahs favor on you when the armies came (against) you (at the battle of trench) {1}, and We sent against them wind and forces which you did not see while Allah is a Seer of that which you do, 10. when they came to you from above you and from below you and when your eyes deviated (from their normal looks) and the hearts reached the throats and you (started) guessing about Allah, guesses, 11. there the believers were tested and shaken with a severe shaking, 12. and when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease said, That which Allah and His messenger promised us is nothing but deception, 13. and when a group from among them said, O people of Yasrib (Madina)! You have no stand, so return, and a party from among them sought permission of the prophet, saying, Our houses are certainly exposed, when they were not exposed, they intended nothing but to run away. 14. And had (the enemy) entered upon them from all sides (of the city and) then (if) persecution was demanded from them, they would have dome it (against you) and (in that case) they would not have been allowed to stay in it but for a short while, 15. And they had indeed made an agreement with Allah earlier, that they would not turn their backs, and (they) will be questioned regarding (the fulfillment of their) agreement with Allah. 16. Say, Your running away will never benefit you if you are running away from death or murder, and in that case you are not allowed to enjoy but a little, (because ultimately you have to die).

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17. Say, Who is it that can protect you from Allah if He intends evil for you or He intends mercy for you. And they will not find for themselves, any guardian or helper besides Allah.

18. Allah indeed knows those among you who stop (others) and those who say to their brothers, Come to us, and they do not come to fight but a little,

19. being selfish with respect to you. So when the fear comes, you see them looking at you with their eyes rolling like one under the cover of death, then when the fear goes away, they meet you with sharp tongues, being selfish for good things. Those are the persons who have not believed so Allah has made their deeds fruitless, and that is easy for Allah.

20. They think that the armies of enemies have not gone away. And if the armies of enemies should come (again) they would like to be (away) in the desert among the desert Arabs, asking for news about you, and had they been among you they would not have fought, except a little. (R2)

21. In the messenger of Allah, there is indeed a good example for you to follow, for him who expects (to meet) Allah and (the coming of) the period hereafter and remembers Allah much.

22. And when the believers saw the armies of enemies, they said, This is what Allah and His messenger promised us and Allah and His messenger spoke the truth. And nothing increased in them except belief and submission. 23. Among the believers are men who are true to the agreement which they made with Allah, so among them is he who has fulfilled his vow and among them is he who waits, and they have not changed (by) changing (themselves),

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24. therefore Allah will reward the truthful for their truth and punish the hypocrites, if He wills, or turn to them (mercifully). Allah is certainly Protectively Forgiving, Merciful.

25. And those who did not believe were turned back by Allah in their anger, they did not attain any good, and Allah was sufficient for the believers in the fighting, and Allah is certainly Strong, Mighty.

26. And He brought down those from among the owners of the book who helped the (enemies), from their fortresses, and He cast terror into their hearts, a party (of them) you killed and a party you took as prisoners.

27. And He made you heirs of their land and their houses and their wealth and the land on which you had not (even) put your feet (earlier), and Allah has power over everything. (R 3) 28. O prophet! Say to your wives, If you intend (to seek the benefits of) the life of this world and its pomp, then come I will provide for you and let you go a good going away,

29. but if you intend (to seek) Allah and His messenger and the home of the hereafter, then Allah has certainly prepared a great reward for those who are doers of good among you.

30. O wives of the prophet! Whoever among you comes with an open indecency, the punishment will be increased for her (by) doubling (it), and that is easy for Allah. ( P 21 )

31. And she among you who is obedient to Allah and His messenger and does righteous work, We will give her twice her reward and We have prepared for her an honored provision.

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32. O wives of the prophet! You are not like any other of the women. If you (wish to) guard (against evil), then do not be soft in your speech (when you talk to other men), lest he in whose heart is a disease, (misunderstandingly) hope, but speak (in) words recognized (as good). 33. And stay in your houses and do not expose yourselves (in the manner of the) exposition of the earlier days of ignorance (before Islam), and establish worship (salat) and give charity (zakat) and obey Allah and His messenger. Allah only intends to remove the uncleanliness from you, O people of the house, and clean you (with a good) cleaning. 34. And remember that which is recited in your houses of the signs of Allah and the wisdom (its explanation by the messenger of Allah). Allah is certainly Subtilely Informed. (R4)

35. The Muslim men and the Muslim women, and the believing men and the believing women, and the obedient men and the obedient women and the truthful men and the truthful women and the patient men and the patient women, and the humble men and the humble women and the men who give charity and the women who give charity, and the men who fast and the women who fast and the chaste men and the chaste women and the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember; Allah is certainly (ready for their) protective forgiveness and has prepared a great reward for them. 36. It does not befit a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decided an affair, to have for themselves any choice in their affair, and he who disobeys Allah and His messenger, has indeed gone astray (into) clear error. 37. And when you said to him (Zaid) whom Allah had favored and whom you (too) had favored, Retain your wife with you and fear Allah. And you kept secret in your soul that which Allah was to expose and you did fear human beings while Allah has the greater right that you should fear Him.

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Then, when Zaid fulfilled the necessary (formalities) of (divorcing) her, We joined her to you in marriage, so that there should be no blame on the believers in marrying the wives of their adopted sons, when they fulfill the necessary (formalities) of (divorcing) them, and the order of Allah was to be executed. 38. And there is no blame on the prophet in (doing) that which Allah has appointed for him. (That was) Allahs procedure with those who passed away earlier. And the order of Allah is destiny destined.

39. Those who convey the messages of Allah and fear Him, they fear none except Allah. And Allah is sufficient to take account.

40. Muhammed is not the father of any of your men but he is the messenger of Allah and the seal (last) of the prophets{2}, and Allah is the Knower of everything. (R5) 41. O you who believe! Remember Allah, remembering Him much 42. and glorify Him morning and evening. 43. He it is Who showers His mercy on you and (also) His angles, so as to bring you out of darkness towards light, and He is merciful to the believers. 44. Their greeting on the day they meet Him will be Peace, and He has prepared an honorable reward for them. 45. O prophet! We have certainly sent you as a witness and a conveyer of good news and a warner, 46. and an inviter towards Allah by His permission, and a lamp giving light. 47. And convey good news to the believers that they will have great grace from Allah.

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48. And do not obey the infidels and the hypocrites and disregard their annoyances, and put your trust in Allah, and Allah is sufficient as a Trustee.

49. O you who believe! When you marry believing women then divorce them before having touched them, then it is not incumbent on you to count for them the period of (waiting for the next marriage), so provide for them and let them go a good going away. 50. O prophet! We have certainly made lawful to you your wives to whom you have given their dowries and those whom your right hand possesses from among the prisoners of war whom Allah has given to you, and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who migrated with you and a believing woman if she gave herself to the prophet, if the prophet (too) intends (to seek) her in marriage, exclusively for you not for the (other) believers, We know what We have appointed for them concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess, (this is clarified so) that there should not be any blame on you, and Allah is Protectively Forgiving, Merciful. 51. You may differ (to invite) whom you will from among them, and you may invite to you whom you will, and there is no sin on you, if you seek (one) of those whom you had (temporarily) set aside (for inviting in future), that is nearer for (providing them with) comfort of their eyes and that they may not grieve and be pleased with that which you give to each one of them; and Allah knows that which is in your hearts and Allah is Knowing, Clement (Kind). 52. Women beyond these are not lawful for you, nor (is it lawful) that you should change them for other wives, even if their beauty pleased you, except those whom your right hand possesses, and Allah is Vigilant over everything. (R 6)

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53. O you who believe! Do not enter the houses of the prophet unless permission is given to you, do not wait for a meal (inside the house) till the time it is cooked, but enter when you are invited and when you have (finished) taking the meal then disperse and do not seek to get involved in conversation, that certainly annoys the prophet but he feels shy of you (to ask you to go) while Allah does not feel shy of the truth. And when you ask the (ladies) for anything, then ask them from behind a curtain, that is cleaner for your hearts and their hearts. And it does not befit you to annoy the messenger of Allah, nor is it (permissible to you) that you should ever marry his wives after him, that is certainly a great (sin) in the sight of Allah.

54. Whether you make anything manifest or keep it a secret, Allah is certainly the Knower of everything.

55. It is no sin for the ladies( to move freely) among their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their brothers sons or their sisters sons or their own women or whom their right hands possess, but fear Allah, Allah is certainly a Witness over everything.

56. Allah and His angels certainly shower mercy on the prophet, O you who believe! You (too) submissively ask for mercy and peace (to be showered) on him.

57. Those who annoy Allah and His messenger, Allah has certainly cursed them in the world and the hereafter and He has prepared a disgraceful punishment for them.

58. And those who annoy the believing men and the believing women without their having earned (it), then they indeed bear (the burden of) a false charge and a clear sin. ( R 7 )

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59. O prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women among the believers to draw close over themselves (something in the form) of their over garments, that will be better for their being recognized so that they may not be annoyed, and Allah is Protectively, Forgiving, Merciful. 60. If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease and those who spread rumors in the city do not desist, We will definitely make you to be after them, then they will not be your neighbors in it, except (for) a little while, 61. accursed, wherever they are found they will be caught and killed by being murdered. 62. That was the procedure of Allah in (the case of) those who passed away earlier, and you will never find a change in the procedure of Allah. ( P 21 )

63. People ask you about the hour of doom, say, The knowledge about it is only with Allah, and what will make you understand, perhaps the hour of doom is near. 64. Allah has certainly cursed the infidels and has prepared a blazing fire for them, 65. in which they will remain for ever. They will find neither a guardian nor a helper. 66. The day their faces will be turned in the fire, they will say, O would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the messenger. 67. And they will say, Our Fosterer! We certainly obeyed our leaders and our great men so they misled us from the way. 68. Our Fosterer! Give them double the punishment and curse them with a great curse. (R8)

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69. O you who believe! Do not be like those who annoyed Musa, so Allah made him free from that which they said, and he was honorable in the sight of Allah. 70. O you who believe! Fear Allah and make statements to the point. 71. He will set right for you your deeds and protectively forgive you your sins, and he who obeys Allah and His messenger, he indeed has achieved a great achievement. 72. We certainly offered the trust (probably the power of decision to obey or not to obey the orders of Allah) to the skies and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to bear it and became afraid of it, and man (undertook the responsibility of) bearing it (but) he was certainly unjust, ignorant, 73. so Allah will punish the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women and the polytheist men and the polytheist women, and Allah will turn (mercifully) to the believing men and the believing women and Allah is Protectively Forgiving, Merciful. (R9) Summarized Commentary
Chapter 33 (Revealed at Madina)

Vs 13 Some instructions are given to Prophet Muhammed (PBH). Vs 45 A medical fact is confirmed that a man has only one heart. Islam is a realistic religion, it does not permit falsehood. Wives do not become mothers by oral declaration, mothers are only those who have given birth to us 58:2. Similarly adopted sons are not real sons, they should be called by their fathers name. Vs 6 Even our own selves or desires are not to be preferred to Prophet Muhammed (PBH) or his orders. His wives are to be regarded greater than our own mothers, our real mothers are those who gave birth to us 58:2. The rights of relatives

are to be honoured. Vs 78 This pledge might have been regarding conveying the message of Allah (SWT). The truthful could be, those who accepted this message and the infidels, those who rejected it, for which they will be punished. Vs 927 These verses deal with the battle of trench. Refer to Note No.1 (33:9) of Explanatory Notes In Vs No 21 we are ordered to follow the example of Prophet Muhammed (PBH). Vs 28-34 These are some personal instructions to Prophet Muhammed (PBH) and his wives (RA)

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and his wives (RA) Vs 55 Ladies can move freely among their close relatives. Vs 56 Believers are to pray for Prophet Muhammed (PBH). Vs 5758 Punishment is announced for those who annoy Allah (SWT), His messenger (PBH) and the believers. Vs 59 Muslim women are ordered to wear over garments to hide their beauty and to be recognized that they are decent ladies. Vs 60-62 Allah (SWT) will punish the opponents of His messenger as He did earlier too. Vs 63 The time of the end of the world is known only to Allah (SWT) because it is He Who has fixed it. The universe might have started to collapse but so far we have not received the signal. Vs 6468 The condition and punishment of the infidels in hell is described. Vs 6971 Some instructions are given to believers. Vs 7273 The Trust may be the power of obeying and implementing the orders of Allah (SWT) as Kalifa 2:30, with the choice of disobeying. This choice of disobedience is given only to man and jinn [Iblis disobeyed Allah (SWT) 7:12] the rest of the creation does not appear to have this choice. Man took up the responsibility but disobeyed, therefore those who broke the promise will be punished and those who kept it, will be rewarded.

Vs 35 Various types of good men and women are promised protective forgiveness and a great reward Vs 36 A believer is defined as a person who does not exercise his choice when Allah (SWT) and His messenger (PBH) have given a decision i.e. he does not go against the instructions contained in the Quran and Hadees for which he has to acquire the knowledge of Quran, Hadees and life of Prophet Muhammed (PBH). Vs 3739 These are again personal instructions to Prophet Muhammed (PBH). Vs 40 Refer to Note No.2, Ch:33 Vs:40 of Explanatory Notes. Vs 4144 Instructions and good news are given to the believers. Vs 4548 Some qualities of Prophet Muhammed (PBH) are mentioned and he is given some orders. Vs 49 When a man has not touched his wife, there is no question of her pregnancy, therefore even if she marries another man immediately after her divorce, her pregnancy will be due to her second husband and there will be no confusion in this regard. Vs 5052 Some personal instructions are given to Prophet Muhammed (PBH) Vs 5354 Some instructions are given to the believers regarding Prophet Muhammed (PBH)

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