Reasons Behind the Revelation of Surah Al-Mujadila
The verse (Quran 58:1), which reads: “Indeed, Allah has heard the statement of the woman who argues with you concerning her husband and directs her complaint to Allah. And Allah hears your dialogue; indeed, Allah is Hearing and Seeing,” refers to the case of a woman named Khawla bint Hakim. She approached the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to discuss her situation involving her husband, Aws ibn al-Samit, who had pronounced a form of divorce known as “zhihar.”
In the narrative, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) informed her that she was now forbidden to her husband due to this divorce, Khawla bint Hakim engaged in a discussion with him, expressing her predicament. She had young children who depended on her for sustenance and could not be cared for by her husband under the current circumstances.
Khawla continued her dialogue with the Prophet (peace be upon him), highlighting her plight as she was of an advanced age with children that required support. She earnestly made her complaint to Allah, prompting Allah to reveal this verse in response to her supplications.
In a narration from Umm al-Mu’minin Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), the context of this revelation is described. She remarked, “Blessed is He whose hearing encompasses everything. I hear the conversation of Khawla bint Tha’laba, even though parts are hidden from me. She was complaining about her husband to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, he consumed my youth and exhausted my pregnancy. Now that I have aged and have no children, he has repudiated me. O Allah, I complain to You.’ She persisted in her plea until Revelation came to the Prophet – these verses were revealed: ‘Indeed, Allah has heard the statement of the woman who argues with you concerning her husband…’. Subsequently, the verses specified the expiation for “zhihar.”
Other Reasons for the Revelation of Surah Al-Mujadila
There are several additional circumstances that prompted the revelation of Surah Al-Mujadila, which are outlined as follows:
Insult by the Jews During Greetings to the Prophet
In relation to the verse (Quran 58:8), which states: “And when they come to you, they greet you with that by which Allah does not greet you, and they say among themselves, ‘Why does Allah not punish us for what we say?’ Hell is sufficient for them; they will enter to burn therein…” this verse was revealed concerning the Jews. They would greet the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with phrases that implied death, saying “sami’alayk” (which translates to ‘death be upon you’). In response, the Prophet would simply return their greeting with “and upon you.”
They believed they were testing the Prophet’s prophethood; in their minds, they thought, if Muhammad were truly a prophet, Allah would punish us for such a statement. It is narrated that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) would become enraged upon hearing their remarks and would scold them, while the Prophet would advise her against such reactions. Consequently, this verse was revealed to clarify their fate of eternal punishment in Hell.
Abrogation of the Verse on Charity Before Addressing the Prophet
The verse (Quran 58:13) reads: “Were you afraid of presenting your supplications before your private conversation? But if you do not do it and Allah turns in mercy toward you, then establish prayer, and give zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” This verse abrogated the prior ruling, which required believers to give charity before conversing privately with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The rationale behind this abrogation was to ease the burden on those wishing to engage in dialogue with the Prophet, particularly for those who were less fortunate and lacked financial means.
Demonstrating the Depth of Companions’ Love for Allah
As mentioned in verse (Quran 58:22): “You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers, their children, their brothers, or their clan. Those are the ones Allah has written faith upon their hearts and supported them with a Spirit from Him…” This verse was revealed concerning Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), who had rebuked Abu Quhaafa after the latter insulted the Prophet (peace be upon him). When informed of this, the Prophet disapproved of Abu Bakr’s actions, who explained that his love for the Prophet would have driven him to take more severe actions, reflecting the intensity of his devotion.
Incident of the Seating Arrangement in the Gathering
The verse (Quran 58:11) states: “O you who have believed, when you are told, ‘Space yourselves in assemblies,’ then make space; Allah will make space 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…” This was revealed when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was in a gathering with limited room for attendees, particularly wanting to honor those who participated in the Battle of Badr. When some of them arrived, they found no seats and the Prophet began requesting that others stand to make room, which led to discomfort among those already seated.
Seeing their discomfort, the Prophet recognized their uneasy expressions, amidst which hypocrites sought to stir discord among the believers over his actions. Thus, this verse was revealed to remind the believers of the importance of camaraderie and respect within the community.
The Hypocrite who Sat with the Prophet and Conveyed His Words to the Jews
Concerning the verse (Quran 58:18), which indicates: “And they think that they are with Allah. But indeed it is they who are the liars,” this was revealed regarding Abdullah ibn Nabtal, a hypocrite who frequented the gatherings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and would relay everything he heard back to the Jews.
Once, the Prophet confronted him regarding his actions, and ibn Nabtal swore he was innocent, even bringing his companions to testify on his behalf. However, Allah subsequently revealed this verse about their deceitfulness.