543 Page Notes

58 Surah Al-Mujadila (continued)

Page 543 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 543 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 543 of the Quran covers Surah Al-Mujadila (Chapter 58), verses 7 through 11.

This page transitions from establishing domestic laws to addressing social ethics, community behaviors, and security within the early Muslim community in Medina. It primarily focuses on the prohibition of malicious secret councils (Najwa), the passive-aggressive insults used by the hypocrites and certain groups against the Prophet ﷺ, and the sacred etiquettes of social and educational gatherings.

The Sunnah and authentic Hadiths provide critical context for how these verses were applied to everyday manners and security.

1. Verse 7: The Omniscience of Allah and Secret Whispers

"Have you not seen that Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth? There is no secret private counsel (Najwa) of three except that He is their fourth..." (Quran 58:7)

The Legal Etiquette of Whispering in a Group

While this verse establishes God's absolute awareness, the Prophet ﷺ used its principle to lay down strict social rules regarding whispering. When two people exclude a third, it breeds mistrust and psychological distress—which the Sunnah heavily forbids.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "When there are three of you, two should not hold a secret counsel (whisper together) to the exclusion of the third person, until you mix with other people, for that will grieve him."

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim (narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar).

2. Verse 8: Malicious Secret Councils and Passive-Aggressive Greetings

"Have you not seen those who were forbidden from secret counsel and then returned to that which they had been forbidden... And when they come to you, they greet you with that which Allah does not greet you with, and say among themselves, 'Why does Allah not punish us for what we say?'..." (Quran 58:8)

The Origin of the Malicious Whispers

In Medina, the hypocrites (Munafiqun) and some hostile groups would intentionally stand in the pathways of believers and whisper secretly among themselves, looking at the Muslims to intimidate them into thinking an enemy attack was coming. The Prophet ﷺ forbade this intimidation tactic.

The Linguistic Distortion of the Salaam

Furthermore, certain individuals would enter the Prophet’s presence and alter the Arabic language to covertly curse him while making it sound like a standard greeting.

Aisha (ra) reported that a group of people came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: "As-Samu 'Alaykum" (Death be upon you) instead of As-Salamu 'Alaykum (Peace be upon you).

Aisha understood their wordplay, became furious, and shouted back: "And death be upon you, and the curse of Allah!"

The Prophet ﷺ calmly restrained her, saying: "Be gentle, O Aisha! Allah loves gentleness in all matters."

She said: "Did you not hear what they said?"

He replied: "And did you not hear that I responded to them by saying: 'Wa 'Alaykum' (And upon you too)?"

It was upon this exact event that Allah revealed Verse 8.

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

3. Verses 9–10: Pure Intentions in Private Meetings

"O you who have believed, when you converse privately, do not converse about sin and aggression and disobedience to the Messenger but converse about righteousness and piety..." (Quran 58:9)

The Sunnah clarifies that private meetings or closed-door discussions are completely permissible in Islam—such as strategy meetings, marital reconciliations, or business partnerships—provided their goal is constructive. The Prophet ﷺ heavily emphasized keeping lawful, private councils private as a matter of trust:

The Prophet ﷺ said: "When a man says something to another and then turns away (implying confidentiality), it becomes a trust (Amanah)."

Source: Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami` at-Tirmidhi.

4. Verse 11: Etiquettes of Assemblies and Honoring the Knowledgeable

"O you who have believed, when you are told, 'Make room' in the assemblies, then make room; Allah will make room for you. And when you are told, 'Arise,' then arise; Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees..." (Quran 58:11)

Context of Revelation: The Veterans of Badr

Traditional commentary (including Tabarsi and Al-Alusi) notes that this verse was revealed on a Friday while the Prophet ﷺ was sitting on the crowded Suffah (the raised platform in the Prophet's Mosque).

A group of veterans from the Battle of Badr arrived late. They stood waiting for people to shift over to give them room out of respect for their sacrifice, but the crowd remained tightly packed and unmoved. The Prophet ﷺ took the initiative and personally commanded specific people around him to stand up and move so the veterans could sit. This upset some of those who had to move, prompting Allah to reveal this verse to teach the community manners and social humility.

The Sunnah of Giving Space

To prevent social friction, the Prophet ﷺ codified the legal limits of how one should act when entering a crowded room:

• You Cannot Force Someone to Give Up Their Seat:
  The Prophet ﷺ said: "No man should make another man stand up from his seat and then sit in it himself. Rather, you should say: 'Make space and expand the circle.'"
  Source: Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim (narrated by Ibn Umar).

• The Right to Return to One's Seat:
  If someone has to briefly step away from an assembly, they do not lose their spot:
  The Prophet ﷺ said: "If anyone stands up from his seat and then returns to it, he has the most right to it."
  Source: Sahih Muslim (narrated by Abu Hurairah).

• Respecting the Separation of Two People:
  The Prophet ﷺ said: "It is not permissible for a man to sit between two people (and separate them) unless they give him their permission."
  Source: Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami` at-Tirmidhi.