Sura al-Ahzab: Difference between revisions

'''Sūra al-Aḥzāb''' (Arabic: {{ia|سورة الأحزاب}}) is thirty third [[sura]] of the [[Qur'an]]. It is a [[Madani]] sura, located in [[juz']]s twenty-first and twenty-second. Since a significant part of this sura is about the [[battle of Ahzab]] (also called Khandaq), this sura is named al-Ahzab. Sura al-Ahzab is about not following disbelievers and obeying [[God]], some laws of the [[Age of Ignorance]], duties of the [[wives of the Prophet (s)]], the story of the Prophet's (s) [[marriage]] with [[Zaynab bt. Jahsh]] and the issue of [[hijab]].

Sura al-Ahzab has many famous verses, including a verse that calls the Prophet's (s) wives, "Ummahat al-Mu'minin", introduces the Prophet (s) as an exemplar, and the [[al-Tathir verse]], the [[al-Khatamiyya verse]], the [[Salawat verse]] and the [[al-Amana Verse]]. About the merits of the [[recitation]] of this sura, it is transmitted that if a person recites it, he will be safe from the [[punishment of the grave]] and that he will be with the Prophet (s) and his wives on the [[Day of Judgment]].

This sura is named al-Ahzab, because a significant part of it is about the battle of Ahzab (also called the battle of Khandaq).<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 17, p. 183.</ref> The word "al-ahzab" meaning "confederates" is mentioned twice in this sura.<ref>Khurramshāhī, ''Dānishnāma-yi Qur’ān'', vol. 2, p. 1246.</ref>{{enote|They suppose the confederates (Ahzab) have not left yet, and were the confederates to come [again], they would wish they were in the desert with the Bedouins asking about your news. (verses 20), But when the faithful saw the confederates, they said, ‘This is what Allah and His Apostle had promised us (verse 21)}}.

Sura al-Ahzab is a [[Madani sura]] and the ninetieth sura [[revealed]] to the Prophet (s). In the current order of compilation,<ref>Maʿrifat, ''Āmūzish-i ʿulūm-i Qur’an'', vol. 2, p. 166.</ref> This is the third sura, located in juz's 21 and 22.

Sura al-Ahzab has seventy-three verses, 1307 words, and 5787 letters. Regarding volume, it is among [[Mathani suras]].<ref>Khurramshāhī, ''Dānishnāma-yi Qur’ān'', vol. 2, p. 1246.</ref>

Sura al-Ahzab speaks about miscellaneous issues such as ideological issues, religious rulings, stories, historical examples, and especially the [[battle of Ahzab|battle of Ahzab or Khandaq]].<ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, ''al-Mīzān'', vol. 16, p. 273.</ref> Some of the important issues mentioned in this sura, according to [[Tafsir-i Nimuna]], are as follows:

Verse six of Sura al-Ahzab introduces the wives of the Prophet (s) as the mothers of believers. It is said that, by mentioning this issue, this verse intended to mention the necessity of respecting the wives of the Prophet (s) and the prohibition of marriage with them.<ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, ''al-Mīzān'', vol. 16, p. 277.</ref>

According to [[al-Mizan]], this verse has mentioned one of the rulings of the Prophet's (s) mission. Based on this rule, Muslims should follow the Prophet (s) in speech and in action, and take the example of him for struggling in the way of God.<ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, ''al-Mīzān'', vol. 16, p. 288.</ref>

This part of verse 33 is known as the verse of al-Tathir. In [[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni]] sources, it is mentioned that it was revealed about the [[Companions of Kisa']].<ref>See: Tirmizī, ''Sunan'', vol. 5, p. 699; Ṣadūq, ''Maʿānī l-akhbār'', vol. 2, p. 403.</ref> In this verse, it is mentioned that God desires to repel all impurity from the [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]]. To prove the [[infallibility of Imams (a)]], Shi'a scholars brought arguments from this verse.<ref>Ṭabāṭabāyī, ''al-Mīzān'', vol. 16, p. 311; Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 8, p. 560.</ref>

This verse and some other verses<ref>Qur’ān, 33:53; 24:31.</ref> are known as the verses of hijab. According to [[Mufassir|exegete]]s, this verse orders Muslim women to observe perfect hijab and explains that this action is better for them, because by doing so, they will be less harassed by men.<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 17, p. 427-428.</ref>

|text='''"Indeed We presented the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to undertake it and were apprehensive of it, but man undertook it. Indeed he is most unjust and ignorant."'''  

About the word "Amana" in this verse, exegetes have discussed a lot and have expressed different views in this regard. In the exegetical books, examples such as [[Wilaya|divine wilaya]], [[intellect]], [[free will]], knowledge of God, and religious duties are mentioned for the meaning of "Amana".<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 17, p. 451-452.</ref>

Based on a hadith in [[Majma' al-bayan]], if a person recites Sura al-Ahzab and teaches it to his family, he will be safe from the punishment of the grave.<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān'', vol. 8, p. 524.</ref> It is transmitted from Imam al-Sadiq (a) that those who recite this sura a lot will be with the Prophet (s) and his [[The Prophet's Wives|wives]] on the [[Day of Judgment]].<ref>Ṣadūq, ''Thawāb al-aʿmāl'', p. 110.</ref>