ENTITLED, SHE WHO DISPUTED; REVEALED AT MEDINA.g
IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.
NOW hath GOD heard the speech of her who disputed with thee concerning
her husband, and made her complaint unto GOD;h and GOD hath heard your mutual
discourse: for GOD both heareth and seeth.
As to those among you who divorce their wives, by declaring that they
will thereafter regard them as their mothers; let them know that they are not
their mothers. They only are their mothers who brought them forth;i and they
certainly utter an unjustifiable saying and a falsehood:
but GOD is gracious and ready to forgive.
Those who divorce their wives by declaring that they will for the future
regard them as their mothers, and afterwards would repairk what they have
said, shall be obliged to free a captive,l before they touch one another.
That is what ye are warned to perform: and GOD is well apprised of that which
ye do.
And whoso findeth not a captive to redeem, shall observe a fast of two
consecutive months, before they touch one another. And whoso shall not be
able to fast that time, shall feed threescore poor men. This is ordained you,
that ye may believe in GOD and his apostle. These are the statutes of GOD:
and for the unbelievers is prepared a grievous torment.
Verily they who oppose GOD and his apostle shall be brought low, as the
unbelievers who preceded them were brought low. And now have we sent down
manifest signs: and an ignominious punishment awaiteth the unbelievers.
g Some are of opinion that the first ten verses of this chapter, ending
with these words, and fear GOD, before whom ye shall be assembled, were
revealed at Mecca, and the rest at Medina.2
h This was Khawla bint Thálaba, the wife of Aws Ebn al Sâmat, who,
being divorced by her husband by a form in use among the Arabs in the time of
ignorance, viz., by saying to her, Thou art to me as the back of my mother,3
came to ask Mohammed's opinion whether they were necessarily obliged to a
separation; and he told her that it was not lawful for her to cohabit with her
husband any more: to which she replying, that her husband had not put her
away, the prophet repeated his former decision, adding that such form of
speaking was by general consent understood to imply a perpetual separation.
Upon this the woman, being greatly concerned because of the smallness of her
children, went home, and uttered her complaint to GOD in prayer: and thereupon
this passage was revealed,4 allowing a man to take his wife again,
notwithstanding his having pronounced the above-mentioned form of divorce, on
doing certain acts of charity or mortification, by way of penance.
i And therefore no woman ought to be placed in the same degree of
prohibition, except those whom GOD has joined with them, as nursing mothers,
and the wives of the prophet.5
k This seems to be here the true meaning of the original word, which
properly signifies to return, and is variously expounded by the Mohammedan
doctors.
l Which captive, according to the most received decision, ought to be a
true believer, as is ordered for the expiation of manslaughter.6
2 Idem. 3 See cap. 33, p. 312. 4 Al Beidâwi,
Jallalo'ddin, &c. 5 Al Beidâwi See cap. 4, p. 56, and cap. 33, p. 319.
6 See cap. 4, p. 64.
On a certain day GOD shall raise them all to life, and shall declare unto
them that which they have wrought. GOD hath taken an exact account thereof;
but they have forgotten the same: and GOD is witness over all things.
Dost thou not perceive that GOD knoweth whatever is in heaven and in
earth? There is no private discourse among three persons, but he is the
fourth of them; nor among five, but he is the sixth of them; neither among a
smaller number than this, nor a larger, but he is with them, wheresoever they
be: and he will declare unto them that which they have done, on the day of
resurrection; for GOD knoweth all things.
Hast thou not observed those who have been forbidden to use clandestine
discourse, but afterwards return to what they have been forbidden, and
discourse privily among themselves of wickedness, and enmity, and disobedience
towards the apostle?m And when they come unto thee, they salute thee with
that form of salutation wherewith GOD doth not salute thee;n and they say
among themselves, by way of derision, Would not GOD punish us for what we say,
if this man were a prophet? Hell shall be their sufficient punishment: they
shall go down into the same to be burned; and an unhappy journey shall it be!
10 O true believers, when ye discourse privily together, discourse not of
wickedness, and enmity, and disobedience towards the apostle; but discourse of
justice and piety: and fear GOD, before whom ye shall be assembled.
Verily the clandestine discourse of the infidels proceedeth from Satan,
that he may grieve the true believers: but there shall be none to hurt them in
the least, unless by the permission of GOD; wherefore in GOD let the faithful
trust.
O true believers, when it is said unto you, Make room in the assembly;
make room:o GOD will grant you ample room in paradise. And when it is said
unto you, Rise up; rise up: GOD will raise those of you who believe, and those
to whom knowledge is given, to superior degrees of honour; and GOD is fully
apprised of that which ye do.
O true believers, when ye go to speak with the apostle, give alms
previously to your discoursing with him;p this will be better for you, and
more pure. But if ye find not what to give, verily GOD will be gracious and
merciful unto you.
Do ye fear to give alms previously to your discoursing with the prophet,
lest ye should impoverish yourselves? Therefore if ye do it not, and GOD is
gracious unto you, by dispensing with the said precept for the future, be
constant at prayer, and pay the legal alms; and obey GOD and his apostle in
all other matters: for GOD well knoweth that which ye do.
m That is, the Jews and hypocritical Moslems, who caballed privately
together against Mohammed, and made signs to one another when they saw the
true believers; and this they continued to do, notwithstanding they were
forbidden.
n It seems they used, instead of Al salâm aleica, i.e., Peace be upon
thee, to say, Al sâm aleica, i.e., Mischief on thee, &c.1
o In this passage the Moslems are commanded to give place, in the
public assemblies, to the prophet and the more honourable of his companions;
and not to press and crowd upon him, as they used to do, out of a desire of
being near him, and hearing his discourse.
p To show your sincerity, and to honour the apostle. It is doubted
whether this be a counsel or a precept; but, however, it continued but a very
little while in force, being agreed on all hands to be abrogated by the
following passage, Do ye fear to give alms, &c.2
1 Al Beidâwi, Jallalo'ddin. 2 Idem
Hast thou not observed those who have taken for their friends a people
against whom GOD is incensed?q They are neither of you, nor of them:r and
they swear to a lies knowingly.
GOD hath prepared for them a grievous punishment; for it is evil which
they do.
They have taken their oaths for a cloak, and they have turned men aside
from the way of GOD: wherefore a shameful punishment awaiteth them;
neither their wealth nor their children shall avail them at all against
GOD. These shall be the inhabitants of hell fire; they shall abide therein
forever.
On a certain day GOD shall raise them all: then will they swear unto him,
as they swear now unto you, imagining that it will be of service to them. Are
they not liars?
20 Satan hath prevailed against them, and hath caused them to forget the
remembrance of GOD. These are the party of the devil; and shall not the party
of the devil be doomed to perdition?
Verily they who oppose GOD and his apostle shall be placed among the most
vile. GOD hath written, Verily I will prevail, and my apostles: for GOD is
strong and mighty.
Thou shalt not find people who believe in GOD and the last day to love
him who opposeth GOD and his apostle; although they be their fathers, or their
sons, or their brethren, or their nearest relations. In the hearts of these
hath GOD written faith; and he hath strengthened them with his spirit: and he
will lead them into gardens, beneath which rivers flow, to remain therein
forever. GOD is well pleased in them; and they are well pleased in him.
These are the party of GOD: and shall not the party of GOD prosper?
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