ENTITLED, THE INNER APARTMENTS; REVEALED AT MEDINA.
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
O TRUE believers, anticipate not any matter in the sight of GOD and his
apostle:f and fear GOD; for GOD both heareth and knoweth.
O true believers, raise not your voices above the voice of the prophet;g
neither speak loud unto him in discourse, as ye speak loud unto one another,
lest your works become vain, and ye perceive it not.
Verily they who lower their voices in the presence of the apostle of GOD
are those whose hearts GOD hath disposed unto piety: they shall obtain pardon,
and a great reward.
As to those who call unto thee from without the inner apartments;h the
greater part of them do not understand the respect due to thee.
If they wait with patience, until thou come forth unto them, it will
certainly be better for them: but GOD is inclined to forgive, and merciful.
f That is, do not presume to give your own decision in any case, before
ye have received the judgment of GOD and his apostle.
g This verse is said to have been occasioned by a dispute between Abu
Becr and Omar, concerning the appointing of a governor of a certain place; in
which they raised their voices so high, in the presence of the apostle, that
it was thought proper to forbid such indecencies for the future.1
h These, they say, were Oyeyna Ebn Osein, and al Akrá Ebn Hâbes; who
wanting to speak with Mohammed, when he was sleeping at noon in his women's
apartment, had the rudeness to call out several times, Mohammed, come forth to
us.2
1 Jallal. 2 Al Beidâwi.
O true believers, if a wicked man come unto you with a tale, inquire
strictly into the truth thereof; lest ye hurt people through ignorance, and
afterwards repent of what ye have done;i
and know that the apostle of GOD is among you: if he should obey you in
many things, ye would certainly be guilty of a crime, in leading him into a
mistake. But GOD hath made the faith amiable unto you, and hath prepared the
same in your hearts; and hath rendered infidelity, and iniquity, and
disobedience hateful unto you. These are they who walk in the right way;
through mercy from GOD, and grace: and GOD is knowing, and wise.
If two parties of the believers contend with one another, do ye endeavor
to compose the matter between them: and if the one of them offer an insult
unto the other, fight against that party which offered the insult, until they
return unto the judgment of GOD; and if they do return, make peace between
them with equity: and act with justice; for GOD loveth those who act justly.k
10 Verily the true believers are brethren; wherefore reconcile your
brethren; and fear GOD, that ye may obtain mercy.
O true believers, let not men laugh other men to scorn; who peradventure
may be better than themselves: neither let women laugh other women to scorn;
who may possibly be better than themselves. Neither defame one another; nor
call one another by opprobrious appellations. An ill name it is to be charged
with wickedness, after having embraced the faith: and whoso repenteth not,
they will be the unjust doers.l
O true believers, carefully avoid entertaining a suspicion of another:
for some suspicions are a crime. Inquire not too curiously into other men's
failings: neither let the one of you speak ill of another in his absence.
Would any of you desire to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Surely ye would
abhor it. And fear GOD; for GOD is easy to be reconciled, and merciful.
O men, verily we have created you of a male and a female; and we have
distributed you into nations and tribes, that ye might know one another.
Verily the most honourable of you, in the sight of GOD, is the most pious of
you: and GOD is wise and knowing.
The Arabs of the desertm say, We believe. Answer, Ye do by no means
believe; but say, We have embraced Islâm:n for the faith hath not yet entered
into your hearts. If ye obey GOD and his apostle, he will not defraud you of
any part of the merit of your works: for GOD is inclined to forgive, and
merciful.
i This passage was occasioned, it is said, by the following accident.
Al Walid Ebn Okba being sent by Mohammed to collect the alms from the tribe of
al Mostalek, when he saw them come out to meet him in great numbers, grew
apprehensive they designed him some mischief, because of past enmity between
him and them in the time of ignorance, and immediately turned back, and told
the prophet they refused to pay their alms, and attempted to kill him; upon
which Mohammed was thinking to reduce them by force: but on sending Khâled Ebn
al Walîd to them, he found his former messenger had wronged them, and that
they continued in their obedience.3
k This verse is supposed to have been occasioned by a fray which
happened between the tribes of al Aws and al Khazraj. Some relate that the
prophet one day riding on an ass, as he passed near Abdallah Ebn Obba, the ass
chanced to stale, at which Ebn Obba stopped his nose; and Ebn Rawâha said to
him, By GOD, the piss of his ass smells sweeter than thy musk: whereupon a
quarrel ensued between their followers, and they came to blows, though they
struck one another only with their hands and slippers, or with palm-branches.4
l It is said that this verse was revealed on account of Safiya Bint
Hoyai, one of the prophet's wives; who came to her husband and complained that
the women said to her, O thou Jewess, the daughter of a Jew and of a Jewess:
to which he answered, Canst thou not say, Aaron is my father, and Moses is my
uncle, and Mohammed is my husband?5
m These were certain of the tribe of Asad, who came to Medina in a year
of scarcity, and having professed Mohammedism, told the prophet that they had
brought all their goods and their families, and would not oppose him, as some
other tribes had done: and this they said to obtain a part of the alms, and to
upbraid him with their having embraced his religion and party.6
n That is, Ye are not sincere believers, but outward professors only of
the true religion.
3 Idem, Jallal. 4 Idem 5 Al Beidâwi. See Prid. Life
of Mahom. p. 111, &c. 6 Idem.
Verily the true believers are those only who believe in GOD and his
apostle, and afterwards doubt not; and who employ their substance and their
persons in the defence of GOD'S true religion: these are they who speak
sincerely.
Say, Will ye inform GOD concerning your religion?o But GOD knoweth
whatever is in heaven and in earth: for GOD is omniscient.
They upbraid thee that they have embraced Islâm. Answer, Upbraid me not
with your having embraced Islâm: rather GOD upbraideth you, that he hath
directed you to the faith;p if ye speak sincerely.
Verily GOD knoweth the secrets of heaven and earth: and GOD beholdeth
that which ye do.
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