The surah that criticized as ill-mannered and uncouth those who would stand behind the Apartments of the Prophet’s wives and call him forth for discourse with raised voices. It takes its name from the word “apartments” (ḥujurāt) in verse 4. The surah guides the believers on how to behave with proper respect towards their leader (verse 1 .), and with mutual respect and trust towards each other (verse 9 .). It stresses the unity of mankind and God’s intention that people should live together in harmony (verse 13). It criticizes the desert Arabs for their presumptuous attitude to their faith and to God (verse 14 .).The surah is also known as: The (Inner) Apartments, The Chambers, The Inner Apartments, The Private Quarters, The Private Rooms.
1
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا لا تُقَدِّموا بَينَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَميعٌ عَليمٌ
yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū lā tuqaddimū bayna yadayi llāhi wa-rasūlihī wa-ttaqū llāha ʾinna llāha samīʿun ʿalīmun
O you who have faith!Do not venture ahead of Allah and His Apostle,and be wary of Allah.Indeed Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing.
2
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا لا تَرفَعوا أَصواتَكُم فَوقَ صَوتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلا تَجهَروا لَهُ بِالقَولِ كَجَهرِ بَعضِكُم لِبَعضٍ أَن تَحبَطَ أَعمالُكُم وَأَنتُم لا تَشعُرونَ
yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū lā tarfaʿū ʾaṣwātakum fawqa ṣawti n-nabiyyi wa-lā tajharū lahū bi-l-qawli ka-jahri baʿḍikum li-baʿḍin ʾan taḥbaṭa ʾaʿmālukum wa-ʾantum lā tashʿurūna
O you who have faith!Do not raise your voicesabove the voice of the Prophet,and do not speak aloud to himas you shout to one another,lest your works should failwithout your being aware.
3
إِنَّ الَّذينَ يَغُضّونَ أَصواتَهُم عِندَ رَسولِ اللَّهِ أُولٰئِكَ الَّذينَ امتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلوبَهُم لِلتَّقوىٰ ۚ لَهُم مَغفِرَةٌ وَأَجرٌ عَظيمٌ
ʾinna lladhīna yaghuḍḍūna ʾaṣwātahum ʿinda rasūli llāhi ʾulāʾika lladhīna mtaḥana llāhu qulūbahum li-t-taqwā lahum maghfiratun wa-ʾajrun ʿaẓīmun
Indeed those who lower their voicesin the presence of the Apostle of Allah—they are the ones whose hearts Allah has testedfor Godwariness.For them will be forgiveness and a great reward.
4
إِنَّ الَّذينَ يُنادونَكَ مِن وَراءِ الحُجُراتِ أَكثَرُهُم لا يَعقِلونَ
ʾinna lladhīna yunādūnaka min warāʾi l-ḥujurāti ʾaktharuhum lā yaʿqilūna
Indeed those who call youfrom behind the apartments,most of them do not apply reason.
5
وَلَو أَنَّهُم صَبَروا حَتّىٰ تَخرُجَ إِلَيهِم لَكانَ خَيرًا لَهُم ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ
wa-law ʾannahum ṣabarū ḥattā takhruja ʾilayhim la-kāna khayran lahum wa-llāhu ghafūrun raḥīmun
Had they been patient until you came out for them,it would have been better for them,and Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.
6
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا إِن جاءَكُم فاسِقٌ بِنَبَإٍ فَتَبَيَّنوا أَن تُصيبوا قَومًا بِجَهالَةٍ فَتُصبِحوا عَلىٰ ما فَعَلتُم نادِمينَ
yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū ʾin jāʾakum fāsiqun bi-nabaʾin fa-tabayyanū ʾan tuṣībū qawman bi-jahālatin fa-tuṣbiḥū ʿalā mā faʿaltum nādimīna
O you who have faith!If a profligate [person] should bring you some news,verify it,lest you should visit [harm] on some peopleout of ignorance,and then become regretful for what you have done.
7
وَاعلَموا أَنَّ فيكُم رَسولَ اللَّهِ ۚ لَو يُطيعُكُم في كَثيرٍ مِنَ الأَمرِ لَعَنِتُّم وَلٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيكُمُ الإيمانَ وَزَيَّنَهُ في قُلوبِكُم وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيكُمُ الكُفرَ وَالفُسوقَ وَالعِصيانَ ۚ أُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الرّاشِدونَ
wa-ʿlamū ʾanna fīkum rasūla llāhi law yuṭīʿukum fī kathīrin mina l-ʾamri la-ʿanittum wa-lākinna llāha ḥabbaba ʾilaykumu l-ʾīmāna wa-zayyanahū fī qulūbikum wa-karraha ʾilaykumu l-kufra wa-l-fusūqa wa-l-ʿiṣyāna ʾulāʾika humu r-rāshidūna
Know that the Apostle of Allah is among you.Should he obey you in many matters,you would surely suffer.But Allah has endeared faith to youand made it appealing in your hearts,and He has made hateful to youfaithlessness, transgression and disobedience.It is such who are the right-minded
8
فَضلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَنِعمَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَليمٌ حَكيمٌ
faḍlan mina llāhi wa-niʿmatan wa-llāhu ʿalīmun ḥakīmun
—a grace and blessing from Allah,and Allah is all-knowing, all-wise.
9
وَإِن طائِفَتانِ مِنَ المُؤمِنينَ اقتَتَلوا فَأَصلِحوا بَينَهُما ۖ فَإِن بَغَت إِحداهُما عَلَى الأُخرىٰ فَقاتِلُوا الَّتي تَبغي حَتّىٰ تَفيءَ إِلىٰ أَمرِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن فاءَت فَأَصلِحوا بَينَهُما بِالعَدلِ وَأَقسِطوا ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ المُقسِطينَ
wa-ʾin ṭāʾifatāni mina l-muʾminīna qtatalū fa-ʾaṣliḥū baynahumā fa-ʾin baghat ʾiḥdāhumā ʿalā l-ʾukhrā fa-qātilū llatī tabghī ḥattā tafīʾa ʾilā ʾamri llāhi fa-ʾin fāʾat fa-ʾaṣliḥū baynahumā bi-l-ʿadli wa-ʾaqsiṭū ʾinna llāha yuḥibbu l-muqsiṭīna
If two groups of the faithful fight one another,make peace between them.But if one party of them aggresses against the other,fight the one which aggressesuntil it returns to Allah’s ordinance.Then, if it returns,make peace between them fairly,and do justice.Indeed Allah loves the just.
10
إِنَّمَا المُؤمِنونَ إِخوَةٌ فَأَصلِحوا بَينَ أَخَوَيكُم ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُم تُرحَمونَ
ʾinnamā l-muʾminūna ʾikhwatun fa-ʾaṣliḥū bayna ʾakhawaykum wa-ttaqū llāha laʿallakum turḥamūna
The faithful are indeed brothers.Therefore make peace between your brothersand be wary of Allah,so that you may receive [His] mercy.
11
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا لا يَسخَر قَومٌ مِن قَومٍ عَسىٰ أَن يَكونوا خَيرًا مِنهُم وَلا نِساءٌ مِن نِساءٍ عَسىٰ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيرًا مِنهُنَّ ۖ وَلا تَلمِزوا أَنفُسَكُم وَلا تَنابَزوا بِالأَلقابِ ۖ بِئسَ الِاسمُ الفُسوقُ بَعدَ الإيمانِ ۚ وَمَن لَم يَتُب فَأُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الظّالِمونَ
yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū lā yaskhar qawmun min qawmin ʿasā ʾan yakūnū khayran minhum wa-lā nisāʾun min nisāʾin ʿasā ʾan yakunna khayran minhunna wa-lā talmizū ʾanfusakum wa-lā tanābazū bi-l-ʾalqābi biʾsa l-ʾismu l-fusūqu baʿda l-ʾīmāni wa-man lam yatub fa-ʾulāʾika humu ẓ-ẓālimūna
O you who have faith!Let not any people ridicule another people:it may be that they are better than they are;nor let women [ridicule] women:it may be that they are better than they are.And do not defame one another,nor insult one another by [calling] nicknames.How evil are profane names subsequent to faith!And whoever is not penitent—such are the wrongdoers.
12
يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنُوا اجتَنِبوا كَثيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعضَ الظَّنِّ إِثمٌ ۖ وَلا تَجَسَّسوا وَلا يَغتَب بَعضُكُم بَعضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُم أَن يَأكُلَ لَحمَ أَخيهِ مَيتًا فَكَرِهتُموهُ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَوّابٌ رَحيمٌ
yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū jtanibū kathīran mina ẓ-ẓanni ʾinna baʿḍa ẓ-ẓanni ʾithmun wa-lā tajassasū wa-lā yaghtab baʿḍukum baʿḍan ʾa-yuḥibbu ʾaḥadukum ʾan yaʾkula laḥma ʾakhīhi maytan fa-karihtumūhu wa-ttaqū llāha ʾinna llāha tawwābun raḥīmun
O you who have faith!Avoid much suspicion.Indeed some suspicions are sins.And do not spy onor backbite one another.Will any of you loveto eat the flesh of his dead brother?You would hate it.And be wary of Allah;indeed Allah is all-clement, all-merciful.
13
يا أَيُّهَا النّاسُ إِنّا خَلَقناكُم مِن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثىٰ وَجَعَلناكُم شُعوبًا وَقَبائِلَ لِتَعارَفوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكرَمَكُم عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتقاكُم ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَليمٌ خَبيرٌ
yā-ʾayyuhā n-nāsu ʾinnā khalaqnākum min dhakarin wa-ʾunthā wa-jaʿalnākum shuʿūban wa-qabāʾila li-taʿārafū ʾinna ʾakramakum ʿinda llāhi ʾatqākum ʾinna llāha ʿalīmun khabīrun
O mankind!Indeed We created you from a male and a female,and made you nations and tribesthat you may identify yourselves with one another.Indeed the noblest1 of youin the sight of Allahis the most Godwary among you.Indeed Allah is all-knowing, all-aware.Or ‘the most honoured.’
14
۞ قالَتِ الأَعرابُ آمَنّا ۖ قُل لَم تُؤمِنوا وَلٰكِن قولوا أَسلَمنا وَلَمّا يَدخُلِ الإيمانُ في قُلوبِكُم ۖ وَإِن تُطيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسولَهُ لا يَلِتكُم مِن أَعمالِكُم شَيئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ
qālati l-ʾaʿrābu ʾāmannā qul lam tuʾminū wa-lākin qūlū ʾaslamnā wa-lammā yadkhuli l-ʾīmānu fī qulūbikum wa-ʾin tuṭīʿū llāha wa-rasūlahū lā yalitkum min ʾaʿmālikum shayʾan ʾinna llāha ghafūrun raḥīmun
The Bedouins say, ‘We have faith.’Say, ‘You do not have faith yet;rather say, “We have embraced Islam,”1for faith has not yet entered into your hearts.Yet if you obey Allah and His Apostle,He will not stint anything of [the reward of] your works.Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful.’Or ‘We have submitted.’
15
إِنَّمَا المُؤمِنونَ الَّذينَ آمَنوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ ثُمَّ لَم يَرتابوا وَجاهَدوا بِأَموالِهِم وَأَنفُسِهِم في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ أُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الصّادِقونَ
ʾinnamā l-muʾminūna lladhīna ʾāmanū bi-llāhi wa-rasūlihī thumma lam yartābū wa-jāhadū bi-ʾamwālihim wa-ʾanfusihim fī sabīli llāhi ʾulāʾika humu ṣ-ṣādiqūna
The faithful are only those who have attained faithin Allah and His Apostleand then have never doubted,and who wage jihād with their possessionsand their personsin the way of Allah.It is they who are the truthful.1Or ‘the sincere.’
16
قُل أَتُعَلِّمونَ اللَّهَ بِدينِكُم وَاللَّهُ يَعلَمُ ما فِي السَّماواتِ وَما فِي الأَرضِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيءٍ عَليمٌ
qul ʾa-tuʿallimūna llāha bi-dīnikum wa-llāhu yaʿlamu mā fī s-samāwāti wa-mā fī l-ʾarḍi wa-llāhu bi-kulli shayʾin ʿalīmun
Say, ‘Will you inform Allah about your faithwhile Allah knows whatever there is in the heavensand whatever there is in the earth,and Allah has knowledge of all things?’
17
يَمُنّونَ عَلَيكَ أَن أَسلَموا ۖ قُل لا تَمُنّوا عَلَيَّ إِسلامَكُم ۖ بَلِ اللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيكُم أَن هَداكُم لِلإيمانِ إِن كُنتُم صادِقينَ
yamunnūna ʿalayka ʾan ʾaslamū qul lā tamunnū ʿalayya ʾislāmakum bali llāhu yamunnu ʿalaykum ʾan hadākum li-l-ʾīmāni ʾin kuntum ṣādiqīna
They count it as a favour to youthat they have embraced Islam.Say, ‘Do not count it as a favour to meyour embracing of Islam.Rather it is Allah who has done you a favourin that He has guided you to faith,should you be truthful.1That is, should you be sincere in your claim of having embraced Islam.
18
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعلَمُ غَيبَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ بَصيرٌ بِما تَعمَلونَ
ʾinna llāha yaʿlamu ghayba s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍi wa-llāhu baṣīrun bi-mā taʿmalūna
Indeed Allah knows the Unseen of the heavensand the earth,and Allah sees best what you do.’