33. Sura al-Ahzab with Urdu Translation

Sura 33. al-Ahzab (the Confederates):

In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Ever-Merciful.

1. O Prophet! Remain firm in fearing Allah (with perseverance as before) and do not agree at all to what the disbelievers and the hypocrites say (: conclude with us religious agreement). Surely Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise.

2. And continue following this (Command) which is revealed to you from your Lord. Surely Allah is Well Aware of the works that you do.

3. And maintain your trust in Allah and Sufficient is Allah as a Guardian.

4. Allah has not made for any man two hearts inside his breast chamber; nor has He made your wives your mothers whom you call mothers by way of Zihar (a form of divorce). Nor He has made your adopted sons your (real) sons. These are merely the utterances of your mouth. And Allah says the Truth and He alone shows the (straight) path.

5. Call them (the adopted sons) after their fathers’ (names). That is most just in the sight of Allah. So if you do not know their fathers, then they are your brothers (in Din (Religion)) and your friends. And there is no sin on you for what you said by mistake but (that will be a sure sin) which your hearts intend. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

6. This (Esteemed) Prophet is nearer to and has a greater claim on the believers than their own souls and his (pure) wives are their mothers. And blood relations have a greater claim one to another (in the distribution of inheritance) in the Book of Allah than (the rest of) the believers and the emigrants except that you desire to do favour to your friends. This Command is written in the Book of Allah.

7. And, (O Beloved, recall) when We took a covenant from the Prophets (to preach faith in their Prophethood) and (specially) from you and from Nuh (Noah) and from Ibrahim (Abraham) and Musa (Moses) and ‘Isa (Jesus) son of Mayam (Mary) and We took from them a solemn covenant,

8. So that (Allah) may ask the Truthful about their truth. And He has prepared an agonizing torment for the disbelievers.

9. O believers! Recall Allah’s favour to you when the forces (of disbelievers) came upon you. Then We sent wind and troops (of angels) against them whom you did not see. And Allah sees best what you do.

10. When they (the disbelievers) invaded you from above (the eastern side of the valley) and from below (the western side of the valley), and when (your) eyes were distracted (with terror), and (your) hearts rose up to your throats (with horror), and you began to think various uncertainties about Allah (in a state of fear and hope),

11. At that stage the believers were put to trial and were shaken with mighty jolts.

12. And when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts was a disease (of instability of faith and doubt and suspicion) said: ‘Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peae be upon him) gave us a promise (of victory) just to deceive and betray.’

13. And when a party of them said: ‘O people of Yathrib! There is no position left for you to stay (safely), so go back (home),’and a party of them began to seek permission from the Holy Prophet (to go back), saying: ‘Our houses are lying exposed,’ whereas their houses were not exposed; they only wanted to escape (on this pretext).

14. And if the armies had entered upon them from all the sides of Madina and they (the hypocrites) had been asked pertaining to the subversion (of disbelief and polytheism), they would have accepted (the demand) and would not have delayed it except for a little pause.

15. And certainly before this they had made a covenant with Allah that they would not turn their backs and run away. And the covenant made with Allah will (certainly) be asked about.

16. Say: ‘Escape will not benefit you at all. If you seek to flee (fearing) death or slaughter you will gain little (from life) except a brief time out.’

17. Say: ‘Who is the one that can protect you from Allah if He intends to afflict you with suffering or to bestow upon you His Mercy?’And they will not find for themselves any protector or helper apart from Allah.

18. Surely Allah knows those among you who hinder (from the Holy Prophet and from fighting in his holy companionship) and who say to their brothers: ‘Come to us.’ And they themselves come to fight but little.

19. (They do so) being miserly in your case. But when a fear (situation) arises, you will see them looking at you, their eyes rolling like those of someone fainting into death. But when fear departs, they offend you with sharp tongues (injuring heart). They are (in a state of feeling) too greedy for booty. (In fact) they have not yet believed. So Allah has annulled all their deeds. And that is easy for Allah.

20. They (still) imagine that the disbelievers’ troops have not yet gone (back), and if those troops should come (again) they would wish them join villagers settling as nomads and (conduct surveillance to) collect news about you. And even if they were among you they would not fight except a very few.

21. In truth in (the holy being of) Allah’s Messenger (blessings and peae be upon him) there is for you a most perfect and beautiful model (of life) for every such person that expects and aspires to (meeting) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah abundantly.

22. And when the believers saw the armies (of disbelievers) they said: ‘This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us and Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth.’ So this (spectacle) increased their faith and their commitment to submission to Allah.

23. Among the believers (a great number of) men proved true what covenant they made with Allah. Of them is someone who has fulfilled his vow (by attaining to martyrdom), and of them is someone who is waiting (for his turn). But they have not changed (their covenant) in the least,

24. That Allah may reward the Truthful for their truth and may torment the hypocrites if He wills or may accept their repentance. Surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

25. And Allah repulsed the disbelievers (from Madina, defeated,) with the burning of their rage, for they badly failed to achieve any success. And Allah was Sufficient for the believers in the battle (of Ahzab (the Confederates)). And Allah is Ever-Strong, All-Powerful.

26. And the People of the Book (among the Banu Quraiza tribe) who helped those (disbelievers), Allah brought them (also) down from their fortresses and filled their hearts with the fear (of Islam). You kill a party of them (for their war crimes) and make the other party the prisoners of war.

27. And He made you the owners of the land, the houses and the wealth and properties of these (war enemies) and the (captured) territory where you had not even stepped in (before). And Allah has Absolute Power over everything.

28. O (Esteemed) Prophet! Say to your wives: ‘If you long for the world and its glitter, then come! I shall make a provision for you and set you free in a handsome manner.

29. But if you long for Allah and His Messenger and the House of the Hereafter then surely Allah has prepared for the pious among you a tremendous reward.’

30. O Wives of the (Esteemed) Prophet! Whoever of you commits an obvious indecency, the torment for her will be doubled and that is very easy for Allah.

31. And those of you who remain obedient to Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) and persist in pious works, We shall give them double of their reward and We have prepared for them honourable sustenance (in Paradise).

32. O Wives of the Messenger! You are not the like of any of the womenfolk. If you want to remain pious and Godfearing, then be not soft in your speech (while talking to men as and when required) lest someone whose heart is diseased (with hypocrisy) should feel inclined with desire. And (always) say words which are pure of any taint of doubt and flexibility.

33. And remain in your houses with calm and peace and do not display adornment like that of the days of ignorance and establish Prayer and pay Zakat (the Alms-due) and keep obeying Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him). Allah intends only to remove all impurity of sins from you, O People of the House (of the Prophet, (even a doubt or trace of shortfall,)) and make you absolutely pure and clean by blessing you with (perfect) purity and wholesomeness.

34. And always remember the Revelations of Allah and the tradition and wisdom (of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him)) which are recited in your homes. Surely Allah is the Master of subtleties (for His favourite servants - Awliya’) and Well Aware (of all His Creation).

35. Surely the submissive men and the submissive 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 steadfast men and the steadfast women, and the humble men and the humble women, and the men who give alms and the women who give alms, and the men who fast and the women who fast, and the men who guard their chastity and the women who guard their chastity, and the men who remember Allah excessively and the women who remember Allah very much — Allah has prepared for all of them forgiveness and a mighty reward.

36. And neither a believing man nor a believing woman has (this) right that, when Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) have once given judgment (or command) on an affair, they should exercise their own choice in (doing or not doing that) work of theirs. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) certainly loses his way into open error.

37. And, (O Beloved, recall the time) when you said to him whom Allah had favoured and you (too) had done him a favour: ‘Keep your wife (Zainab) with you in the bond of marriage and fear Allah.’ And you were keeping that secret in your heart which Allah was about to reveal. And you had (for decency) the fear of (scoffs of) people (in your heart. O Beloved! You were not required to care for people.) And Allah alone has a greater right that you should fear Him (and who is more Godfearing than you!) So when (your adopted) Zaid fulfilled his desire to divorce her, We married her to you so that there is no blame on the believers for (marrying) the wives of their adopted sons, while they have no desire for them (after divorce). And Allah’s Command had got to be carried out.

38. And there is no blame on the Prophet in (accomplishing) that duty which Allah has made obligatory for him. And certainly the same has been the way and practice of Allah with those (as well) who have passed away before. And the Command of Allah is a decree which has been fulfilled.

39. And those (bygone) people used to communicate the messages of Allah, and feared Him, and were afraid of none but Allah. And Allah is Sufficient as a Reckoner.

40. Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Last of the Prophets (ending the chain of the Prophets). And Allah is the Perfect Knower of everything.

41. O Believers! Keep remembering Allah abundantly.

42. And glorify Him morning and evening.

43. He is the One Who sends peace and blessings on you and His angels as well, so that He may take you out of the layers of darkness into the light. And He is Ever-Merciful to the believers.

44. On the Day when they (the believers) will meet Him, their gift (of the meeting — greeting) will be: ‘Peace!’ And He has kept ready for them most honourable reward.

45. O (Esteemed) Prophet! Surely We have sent you as a Witness (to the Truth and the Creation), a Bearer of glad tidings (of the Beauty of the Hereafter) and a Warner (of the Torment in the Hereafter),

46. And (as) an Inviter towards Allah by His Command and as a Sun spreading Light.

47. And give good news to the believers that there is for them Allah’s great Bounty (that they are cloaked in the affinity of slavery to this Final Messenger of Allah).

48. And never (ever) agree to what the disbelievers and hypocrites say: (conclude with us a religious agreement). And disregard their hurtful misbehaviour, and maintain your trust in Allah (with persistence). And Allah alone is Sufficient as a Guardian (in the conflict between the Truth and falsehood).

49. O Believers! When you marry the believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them (i.e. had sexual intercourse with them), then no waiting period is (obligatory) on them for you which you may start counting. So give them some provision and send them off nicely extending to them excellent morality.

50. O Prophet! Surely We have made lawful for you those of your wives whom you have paid their dower and those who are in your possession (according to Allah’s Commandments) whom Allah has given you as spoils of war, 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 have emigrated with you, and any other believing woman who dedicates herself to the Holy Prophet (for marriage) provided the Holy Prophet (too) has the intention to marry her (so all these are lawful for you. This Command is) exclusively for you alone, not for other believers (of the Umma (Community)). Indeed We know best what We have prescribed for them (the Muslims) concerning their wives and the slave girls they possess. (But this exclusive Command for lawfulness of number of wives in your respect has been given) so that there remains for you no bottleneck (in making elaborate arrangements for the education and training of the women of the Muslim Umma (Community)). And Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

51. (O Prophet! You have free choice) to postpone (the turn of) any (wife) whom you may please from among your wives and keep with you (any of them on priority) whom you may please. And there is no blame on you if you desire her (to be with you) from whom you kept distance (for a while). This makes possible for them cooling their eyes (by seeing you) and they will not remain grieved and they all will feel pleased and delighted for what you have blessed them with. And Allah knows best what is in your hearts and Allah is All-Knowing, Forbearing.

52. After that (they have preferred your pleasure and your service to the worldly benefits), it is not lawful for you also (to marry) more women (so that these wives alone may enjoy the distinction of their glory). Nor is it lawful that (in case of divorce to some and regarding it Our Command to maintain the present number of wives) you take (into marriage) other wives in their place, even though their beauty (of behaviour, moral conduct and style of preaching Din (Religion)) may seem to you pleasingly excellent. But the slave girl that is in your possession (by Our Command is lawful). And Allah is Ever Watchful over everything.

53. O Believers! Do not enter the houses of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) unless permission is granted to you for a meal. Nor (reach so early as to) wait for the cooking of the meal. But when you are invited then enter (at that time). Then when you have eaten the meal, (get up from there and) disperse without delay and do not linger on in eagerness for talk. Surely your (sitting for long in this) manner discomforts the Holy Prophet(blessings and peace be upon him); and he feels reluctant to (ask) you (to leave) but Allah does not hesitate in (saying) the Truth. And when you ask them (the pure wives) for something, ask them from behind a curtain. This (regard and nice manner) causes great purity for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not (at all lawful) for you that you cause inconvenience to the Holy Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him), nor is this (lawful) that you marry his (pure) wives after him, till the end of time. Surely it is the most grievous sin in the sight of Allah.

54. Whether you disclose something or conceal it, Allah is certainly the Most Perfect Knower of everything.

55. There is no sin on them (if they do not veil themselves) from their (real) fathers, and their sons, their brothers, their brothers’ sons, their sisters’ sons, their own (Muslim) women and from those slave girls whom they possess. Keep fearing Allah. Surely Allah is Witness to and Ever-Watchful over everything.

56. Surely Allah and (all) His angels invoke blessings and greetings on the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him). O Believers! You (also) send blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation of peace abundantly (and fervently).

57. Surely those who offend Allah and His Prophet, Allah curses them in the world and in the Hereafter and He has prepared for them a disgraceful torment.

58. And those who hurt the believing men and the believing women without their doing anything (wrong), surely they bear (on themselves) the burden of a false allegation and an open sin.

59. O Prophet! Say to your wives, your daughters and the women of believers that (while going out) they should draw their veils as coverings over them. It is more likely that this way they may be recognized (as pious, free women) and may not be hurt (considered by mistake as roving slave girls). And Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

60. If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is the disease (of malice and insolence against the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him)) and (likewise) those who spread false rumours in Madina do not desist, then We shall certainly make you overmaster them. Then they will not be able to stay in the neighbourhood of Madina but for a few (days).

61. (These) accursed people (who spread false rumours, promote hatred, strife and terrorism and denigrate the Holy Messenger and his family), wherever found, are to be seized and mercilessly killed by way of target killing.

62. This practice of Allah has (continued) through generations that have passed before, and you will never find any amendment in the way practised by Allah.

63. The people ask you about (the Hour of) Resurrection. Say: ‘Its knowledge is with Allah alone. And who has made you aware—it may be that the Last Hour has drawn near?’

64. Surely Allah has cursed the disbelievers and has kept ready for them the Blazing Fire (of Hell).

65. They will live in it forever. They will find neither any caring friend nor any supporting helper.

66. On the Day when their faces will be (repeatedly) turned over in the Fire of Hell, they will say: ‘Alas! Would that we had obeyed Allah and we had obeyed the Holy Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him)!’

67. And they will say: ‘O our Lord, surely we abided by what our chiefs and the influential ones directed, so they turned us away from the (straight) path.

68. O our Lord! Afflict them with double torment and lay on them a mighty curse.’

69. O Believers! Do not be like those who hurt Musa ((Moses) by means of their denigrating words). So Allah proved him clear of the blames which they levelled against him. And he (Musa (Moses)) had great honour and high standing in the sight of Allah.

70. O Believers! Always fear Allah and say what is correct and straight.

71. He will set (all) your deeds right for you and will forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Holy Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) will surely achieve a great success.

72. Indeed We offered the Trust (of Obedience) to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they declined to bear this (burden) and felt scared of it but man took it on. Verily he is ever so wrongdoing (against his own soul), unwise and extremely ignorant (of the consequence of lapse in paying back the trust).

73. (This is) so because Allah may torment the hypocrites, men and women, and the polytheists, men and women, and Allah may accept repentance of the believers, men and women. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.