Editing Screen: Surah al-Mujadilah 58 : 5

Editing: al-Mujadilah

Description <p><strong>Explanatory Note</strong></p> <p>The opening passage of the surah provided an aspect of the care shown to the Muslim community, while this second passage provides an aspect of antagonism to the opposite group who contend against God and His Messenger. The Arabic term<em>, </em>translated here as 'contend' is derived from the same root as the word used earlier, <em> </em>which means 'boundaries'. Thus, this group are defined as taking a stand at the other boundary, confronting God and His Messenger. This gives an image of two parties in contention and confrontation. As such, it serves to show their action in a very bad light. How miserable for a creature to be in open hostility to his Creator when it is He who provides him with sustenance.</p> <p>These people who are in contention <strong><em>"shall be brought low as those who lived before them were brought low." </em></strong>The way this sentence is phrased in Arabic may be understood as a prayer against them. A prayer by God is a sentence of judgement that makes it inevitable since it is He who pronounces this sentence, and His will is always done. The phrase, <strong><em>those </em><em>who lived before them,' </em></strong>refers either to earlier communities who were punished by God, or to the then unbelievers who suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of the Muslims prior to the revelation of this surah, as happened, for example, at the Battle of Badr.</p> <p><strong><em>"We have bestowed from on high clear revelations." </em></strong>This sentence separates the two fates suffered by the unbelievers in this life and in the life to come, in order to point out that both fates are clearly stated in these verses. It also tells us that these unbelievers do not face these fates as a result of ignorance or any ambiguity in the truth. Indeed, the truth has been put to them clearly and lucidly in these revelations, which they too have been given.</p> <p>As the <em>sarah </em>refers to their fate in the hereafter, it adds an inspiring comment that serves an educational purpose: <strong><em>"Shameful sufferingawaits </em><em>the unbelievers on the day when God will raise them </em><em>all from </em><em>the dead and </em><em>tell them exactly all that they did in lift. God will have taken it all into </em><em>account, even though they may haveforgotten it. God is witness to all things. </em>(Verses 5-6) </strong>They are made to suffer shame in punishment for their arrogance. This shameful suffering will take place on the day when all will be resurrected. Thus, it will be seen by all. Besides, the suffering is determined on the basis of a true account of their deeds. If they have forgotten these, God has recorded them all, as nothing escapes His knowledge: <strong><em>"God </em><em>is witness to all things."</em></strong></p>

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