Sura al-Hujurat: Difference between revisions

Sura al-Hujurat is 49th sura of the Qur’an. It is a Madani sura located in juz’ 26. “Al-hujurat” is the plural form of “hujra” meaning “room”. It is mentioned in verse four of this sura. This sura speaks about the appropriate behavior toward the Prophet (a) and also socio-moral issues such as suspicion, spying and backbiting. Some of the famous verses of this sura are the verse of Ukhuwwat which introduces believers brothers to each other, the verse of Naba’ which advises not to trust all persons who brings news and the verse 13 which considers more God-wary people more honorable before God.

The word “hujurat” is mentioned in verse four of this sura. “Al-hujurat” is the plural form of “hujra” meaning “room” and refers to different rooms beside the mosque of the Prophet (a) for his wives.

Sura al-Hujurat is a Madani sura and was the 107th sura revealed to the Prophet (a). This sura is now 49th sura of the Qur’an and located in juz’ 26.

Sura al-Hujurat has 18 verses, 353 words and 1533 letters. This sura is among Mathani suras and is about half of one hizb in the Qur’an.

According to Tafsir al-Mizan, this sura contains moral instructions, such as the manners of communication with God, manners which should be observed in contact with the Prophet (a) and the manners regarding the relations between people in the society. This sura also speaks about the criterion for superiority of people over each other and finally mentions the truth of faith and Islam. This sura orders Muslims not to pay attention to gossips and avoid backbiting, foul language, finding people’s faults and relying on conjectures and orders them to establish peace and reconcile between Muslims.

* Content: Religious and social duties of Muslims

A. First duty: observing God-wariness instead of racial pride

=== Verse of Naba’ (verse 6) ===

Most exegetes considered the event about Walid b. ‘Aqaba as the occasion of revelation of this verse when the Prophet (a) sent him to Bani Mustalaq tribe for collecting zakat. According to Tafsir al-Mizan, the people of this tribe decided to go to the Prophet (a) and give zakat, but the Prophet (a) had sent Walid to collect their zakat. In the middle of the way, Walid feared them and returned and lied to the Prophet (a) and said that they refrained to give zakat and wanted to kill him. Therefore, the Prophet (a) prepared an army to fight with them, but when the two groups met each other, it was known that Walid had lied. So, the above verse was revealed.

In the science of the principles of jurisprudence, the verse Naba’ is extensively discussed about. Scholars of this science has considered this verse referring to the authenticity of sole report.

=== Verse of Ukhuwwat (Verse 10) ===

According to this verse, believers are brothers to each other and in case of occurring fight between them, other Muslims are responsible to reconcile between them. When this verse was revealed, the Prophet (a) established the brotherhood covenant among Muslims; like between Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and ‘Abd al-Rahman b. ‘Awf and between other companions, based on their positions. He (a) then chose Ali b. Abi Talib (a) as his brother and told Ali (a), “you are my brother and I am your brother.”

=== Verse of Ghayba (Verse 12) ===

In this verse, three moral issues are mentioned: avoiding suspicious, spying and backbiting. According to Tafsir Nemuneh, these three moral issues are related with each other, suspicion provides the ground for spying and spying in others’ affairs provides the ground for backbiting them and revealing private issues in their lives. In Tafsir al-Mizan, it is mentioned that backbiting eats the limbs of the body of the society and rots it. To prove the prohibition of backbiting a believer brother, fiqh scholars have referred to this verse.

This verse has been focused both in moral writings and in theological discussions to reject racial superiority of humans over each other. According to Tafsir Nemuneh, the verse says that all humans are from one origin and should not boast to each other about their lineages and tribes. This verse introduces God-wariness as the only true criterion of the superiorities of humans before God.

This verse has also been referred to by the intellectual and political movement of Shu’ubiyya. Shu’ubiyya was a group of Iranians who referred to the above verse and believed that no tribe is superior to another and opposed the racism policies of Umayyads.

In Tafsir Majma’ al-Bayan, it is transmitted from the Prophet (a) that if a person recites sura al-Hujurat, God will give him 10 rewards per everyone who obeys Him and everyone who disobeys Him. Also, in Shaykh Saduq’s Thawab al-a’mal, it is transmitted that whoever recites sura al-hujurat every day or every night, will be among the visitors of the Prophet (a).