إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلْخَـٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَـٰشِعَـٰتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَـٰتِ وَٱلصَّـٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰٓئِمَـٰتِ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَـٰفِظَـٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا ٣٥
“Surely for Muslim men and women, believing men and women, devout men and women, truthful men and women, patient men and women, humble men and women, charitable men and women, fasting men and women, men and women who guard their chastity, men and women who remember Allah often–for all of them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” (33:35)
Islam is the surrendering, but ‘Iman is the complete belief in Allah Ta’ala. Allah describes the qualities in this Ayah with an abundance of love and pride.
The one who is Qanit is the one who prostrates himself or stands in the middle of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of Allah. These people are devoted to Allah in times of quiet.
The Sadiqeen are those whom lying is not a part of their Deen, for the disbelievers dabble in hypocrisy and lies. To acquire piety, the first thing the believer should not do is lie, as lying is the first quality of Nifaaq (hypocrisy).
Muhammad (SAW) said:
“You must be truthful, for it is alongside righteousness and they are both in Paradise. Beware of falsehood, for it is alongside wickedness and they are both in the Hellfire. Ask Allah for wellness, for no one is given anything better after conviction than wellness. Do not envy each other, do not hate each other, do not cut each other off, and do not turn away from each other. Be servants of Allah as brothers.”
To be of someone who is steadfast, one has to have the understanding that all life’s trials are from Allah. This knowledge settles one’s heart.
This isn’t to say that as believers, we do not endure difficulties, but it is an understanding that all tests are from Allah. The same Allah Who has bestowed these problems, will also provide the believer ways to overcome them.
Khushu has many different meanings. Allah speaks about His servants who walk in a calm manner, not overwhelmed by life. Khushu is when one stops and acknowledges Allah’s timing; that it is He Who is in charge of everything.
The believer has to stop and be present, calm, and embrace the slowness of approaching where they need to get.
Sadaqah does not mean wealth. Every single act of good is Sadaqah, and women are in such a beautiful position that they can attach the intention of Sadaqah to everyday actions done for their families. It should be viewed as a form of good done, as it will never allow the believer to begrudge others.
Sadaqah allows one to give with a lot of calmness, removing the sense of responsibility from what is being provided. The believer should shift the intention of what they spend on their families to Sadaqah, as the benefit is that it extinguishes one’s sins.
One should not give Sadaqah and then remind the recipient of what was given; it is a detriment to this form of charity, and also places bitterness in the heart.
Muhammad (SAW) said:
“Seven people Allah will give them His Shade on the Day when there would be no shade but the Shade of His Throne (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection): And they are: a just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosques, two men who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom an extremely beautiful woman seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer and) says: ‘I fear Allah’; a man who gives in charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the left hand does not know what the right has given; and a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes become tearful.”
The guarding of one’s chastity also includes the general separation of genders. One should make the intention to keep away from the opposite sex in all situations, which is a form of guarding oneself and following Allah’s command.
The Zaakireen are those who remember Allah excessively; they make Dhikr incumbent on themselves.
From the Hadith of Abu Sa’id (RA) and Abu Hurayrah (RA), Muhammad (SAW) said:
“May Allah (SWT) have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, then he wakes his wife and she prays, and if she refuses he sprinkles water in her face. And may Allah (SWT) have mercy on a woman who gets up at night and prays, then she wakes her husband and prays, and if he refuses she sprinkles water in his face.”
وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍۢ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ ۗ وَمَن يَعْصِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَـٰلًۭا مُّبِينًۭا ٣٦
“It is not for a believing man or woman–when Allah and His Messenger decree a matter–to have any other choice in that matter. Indeed, whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has clearly gone far astray.” (33:36)
On one hand, the believers are not supposed to be bringing harm to Muhammad (SAW). And when Allah commands us, we do not have a choice in our actions.
There will be times when following Allah’s decree will be extremely difficult. However, the believer will have to cut out their own ability and choice in a matter in order to achieve obedience to Him.
وَإِذْ تَقُولُ لِلَّذِىٓ أَنْعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ وَتُخْفِى فِى نَفْسِكَ مَا ٱللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى ٱلنَّاسَ وَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَىٰهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ زَيْدٌۭ مِّنْهَا وَطَرًۭا زَوَّجْنَـٰكَهَا لِكَىْ لَا يَكُونَ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ حَرَجٌۭ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِ أَدْعِيَآئِهِمْ إِذَا قَضَوْا۟ مِنْهُنَّ وَطَرًۭا ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ مَفْعُولًۭا ٣٧
“And remember, O Prophet, when you said to the one for whom Allah has done a favour and you too have done a favour, “Keep your wife and fear Allah,” while concealing within yourself what Allah was going to reveal. And so you were considering the people, whereas Allah was more worthy of your consideration. So when Zaid totally lost interest in keeping his wife, We gave her to you in marriage, so that there would be no blame on the believers for marrying the ex-wives of their adopted sons after their divorce. And Allah’s command is totally binding.” (33:37)
مَّا كَانَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ مِنْ حَرَجٍۢ فِيمَا فَرَضَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ ۖ سُنَّةَ ٱللَّهِ فِى ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَكَانَ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ قَدَرًۭا مَّقْدُورًا ٣٨
“There is no blame on the Prophet for doing what Allah has ordained for him. That has been the way of Allah with those prophets who had gone before. And Allah’s command has been firmly decreed.” (33:38)
ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَـٰلَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُۥ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ حَسِيبًۭا ٣٩
“That is His way with those prophets who deliver the messages of Allah, and consider Him, and none but Allah. And sufficient is Allah as a vigilant Reckoner.” (33:39)
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍۢ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا ٤٠
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets. And Allah has perfect knowledge of all things.” (33:40)
Muhammad (SAW) did not marry Zaynab (RA) because he wanted to, but because Allah commanded him to. There was blame and judgement on him for this action from those around him, but irrespective of all the difficulties one goes through, one should always remember the blessings of Allah.
The best way to show this gratitude is through the Dhikr to Allah, of which there is no limit to, unlike Salaah, Ramadan, etcetera.
Abu ad-Darda (RA) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:
“‘Shall I not inform you of the best of your deeds and the purest in the sight of your Sovereign and the highest in your ranks and better for you than spending gold and silver, and better for you than encountering your enemy so you strike their necks and they strike your necks?’ They said: Yes. He said: ‘Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah Almighty.’”
Muhammad (SAW) used to make Du’a to Allah to make him a person who is grateful to Allah, who increases the remembrance of Allah, who is obedient to His instructions, and who follows the advice of Allah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ذِكْرًۭا كَثِيرًۭا ٤١
“O believers! Always remember Allah often,” (33:41)
وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةًۭ وَأَصِيلًا ٤٢
“and glorify Him morning and evening.” (33:42)
All of Allah’s creation makes the Dhikr of Allah. And so the believer should develop the habit of making this Dhikr as well.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُصَلِّى عَلَيْكُمْ وَمَلَـٰٓئِكَتُهُۥ لِيُخْرِجَكُم مِّنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ ۚ وَكَانَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيمًۭا ٤٣
“He is the One Who showers His blessings upon you–and His angels pray for you–so that He may bring you out of darkness and into light. For He is ever Merciful to the believers.” (33:43)
Allah knows the struggles of this world. He is aware of the tests we are faced with. And all throughout it, He is the One Who showers the believer with mercy to bring them out of darkness, for Allah is so merciful to the believers.
Allah will honour the believer who engages in the Dhikr of Allah.
تَحِيَّتُهُمْ يَوْمَ يَلْقَوْنَهُۥ سَلَـٰمٌۭ ۚ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًۭا كَرِيمًۭا ٤٤
“Their greeting on the Day they meet Him will be, “Peace!” And He has prepared for them an honourable reward.” (33:44)
In all the examples Allah gave in this Surah of the fear the believers faced, now, the believers will be greeted with Salaam in death for their challenges in the Dunya.
The believer has to hold themselves from their own Nafs and desires, and anticipate Allah’s reward for these efforts in the Aakhirah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ شَـٰهِدًۭا وَمُبَشِّرًۭا وَنَذِيرًۭا ٤٥
“O Prophet! We have sent you as a witness, and a deliverer of good news, and a warner,” (33:45)
وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى ٱللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِۦ وَسِرَاجًۭا مُّنِيرًۭا ٤٦
“and a caller to the Way of Allah by His command, and a beacon of light.” (33:46)
وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَنَّ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ فَضْلًۭا كَبِيرًۭا ٤٧
“Give good news to the believers that they will have a great bounty from Allah.” (33:47)
Here, Allah speaks about the special attributes of Muhammad (SAW); a great one being that he will be the witness for the Ummah.
وَلَا تُطِعِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ وَٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ وَدَعْ أَذَىٰهُمْ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًۭا ٤٨
“Do not yield to the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Overlook their annoyances, and your trust in Allah. For Allah is sufficient as a Trustee of Affairs.” (33:48)
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نَكَحْتُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ فَمَا لَكُمْ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ عِدَّةٍۢ تَعْتَدُّونَهَا ۖ فَمَتِّعُوهُنَّ وَسَرِّحُوهُنَّ سَرَاحًۭا جَمِيلًۭا ٤٩
“O believers! If you marry believing women and then divorce them before you touch them, they will have no waiting period for you to count, so give them a suitable compensation, and let them go graciously.” (33:49)
Allah tells the believer to ignore the disbelievers and hypocrites, and to place their trust in Allah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِنَّآ أَحْلَلْنَا لَكَ أَزْوَٰجَكَ ٱلَّـٰتِىٓ ءَاتَيْتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّـٰتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَـٰلَـٰتِكَ ٱلَّـٰتِى هَاجَرْنَ مَعَكَ وَٱمْرَأَةًۭ مُّؤْمِنَةً إِن وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَهَا لِلنَّبِىِّ إِنْ أَرَادَ ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَن يَسْتَنكِحَهَا خَالِصَةًۭ لَّكَ مِن دُونِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۗ قَدْ عَلِمْنَا مَا فَرَضْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ فِىٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ لِكَيْلَا يَكُونَ عَلَيْكَ حَرَجٌۭ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا ٥٠
“O Prophet! We have made lawful for you your wives to whom have paid their full dowries as well as those bondwomen in your possession, whom Allah has granted you. And you are allowed to marry the daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles and aunts, who have emigrated like you. Also allowed for marriage is a believing woman who offers herself to the Prophet without dowry if he is interested in marrying her–this is exclusively for you, not for the rest of the believers. We know well what rulings We have ordained for the believers in relation to the wives and those bondwomen in their possession. As such, there will be no blame on you. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (33:50)
۞ تُرْجِى مَن تَشَآءُ مِنْهُنَّ وَتُـْٔوِىٓ إِلَيْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ وَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَيْتَ مِمَّنْ عَزَلْتَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن تَقَرَّ أَعْيُنُهُنَّ وَلَا يَحْزَنَّ وَيَرْضَيْنَ بِمَآ ءَاتَيْتَهُنَّ كُلُّهُنَّ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَلِيمًۭا ٥١
“It is up to you O Prophet to delay or receive whoever you please of your wives. There is no blame on you if you call back any of those you have set aside. That is more likely that they will be content, not grieved, and satisfied with what you offer them all. Allah fully knows what is in your hearts. And Allah is All-Knowing, Most Forbearing.” (33:51)
