Sura al-Hujurat: Difference between revisions

'''Sura al-Ḥujurāt''' (Arabic: {{ia|سورة الحجرات}}) is 49th [[sura]] of the [[Qur'an]]. It is a [[Madani]] sura located in [[juz']] 26. "Al-Hujurat" is the plural form of "hujra" ({{ia|حجرة}}) meaning "room". It is mentioned in [[verse]] four of this sura. This sura speaks about the appropriate behavior toward the [[Prophet (s)]] and also socio-moral issues such as suspicion, [[spying]], and [[backbiting]]. Some of the famous verses of this sura are the verse of "Ukhuwwat" {{ia|أخوة}}) 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-wariness|God-wary]] people more honorable before [[God]].

=== Naming ===

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 (s)]] for his wives.

=== Order and Place of Revelation ===

Sura al-Hujurat is a Madani sura and was the 107th sura [[revealed]] to the Prophet (s). In the current order of completion, This is 49th sura of the [[Qur'an]], located in juz' 26.

=== Number of Verses and Words ===

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 (s)]] and the manners regarding the relations between people in the society. This sura also speaks about the criterion for the 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.

=== Naba' Verse (verse 6) ===

|text='''"O you who have faith! If a profligate [person] should bring you some news, verify it, lest you should visit [harm] on some people out of ignorance, and then become regretful for what you have done."'''

Most exegetes considered the event about [[Walid b. 'Aqaba]] as the [[occasion of revelation]] of this verse when the [[Prophet (s)]] sent him to [[Bani al-Mustaliq]] tribe for collecting [[zakat]]. According to Tafsir [[al-Mizan]], the people of this tribe decided to go to the Prophet (s) and give zakat, but the Prophet (s) had sent Walid to collect their zakat. In the middle of the way, Walid feared them and returned and lied to the Prophet (s) and said that they refrained to give zakat and wanted to kill him. Therefore, the Prophet (s) 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 have considered this verse referring to the authenticity of the sole report.

=== Ukhuwwa Verse (Verse 10) ===

|text='''"The faithful are indeed brothers. Therefore make peace between your brothers and be wary of Allah, so that you may receive [His] mercy."'''

=== Backbiting Verse (Verse 12) ===

|text='''"O you who have faith! Avoid much suspicion. Indeed some suspicions are sins. And do not spy on or backbite one another..."'''

In this verse, three moral issues are mentioned: avoiding suspicious, spying and backbiting. According to [[Tafsir-i nimuna]], 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.

=== God-wariness, the Assessment Criterion (Verse 13) ===

|text='''"...Indeed the noblest1 of you in the sight of Allah is the most Godwary among you. Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all-aware."'''

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-i nimuna, 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 (s)]] that if a person [[Tilawa|recite]]s Sura al-Hujurat, God will give him 10 rewards per everyone who obeys Him and everyone who disobeys Him. Also, in [[al-Shaykh al-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 (s).{{full text}}

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