Sūrat al-Mujādilah (Part 1)
Part 1 of observations on the structure and coherence of Sūrat al-Mujādilah
Sūrat al-Mujādilah (The Woman Who Pleaded and Argued) is also known as Sūrat al-Mujādalah (Pleading and Arguing). Both names allude to the opening incident in which a woman came to the Messenger ﷺ and complained about her husband declaring “ẓihār (telling one’s wife that she is unlawful for relations, but still married)” against her.1 At first the Messenger ﷺ did not know how to rule on it, so he kept to the status quo and told her that she was still married to the man, but that she was unlawful for him. Allah ﷻ revealed this sūrah to correct the Messenger’s ruling and abolish this practice.
On a macroscale, this sūrah has been observed to be organized in a ring structure.2
CONNECTIONS
[A]/[A’] – The first four āyāt outline the issue of ẓihār, abolish the practice, and outline the actions one must take to be forgiven for saying this “objectional statement.” In this passage, Allah ﷻ highlights the sacredness of the marital bond, as well as that of motherhood; “They are not their mothers. Their mothers are none other than those who gave birth to them.” Our words cannot change the family ties that Allah ﷻ has already defined. All these rulings are so that we “may have faith (li-tu’minū) in Allah and His Messenger.”
In contrast, the end of the sūrah tells us that no one who believes in Allah ﷻ and the Last Day can possibly stay attached to those who oppose Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ. For the original Arab audience, those opposing the religion would have been their close family; people they loved dearly. These would include “their parents, their children, their siblings, and their tribesmen.” But this section teaches us that even these sacred bonds must be broken if they are in conflict with the greatest bond, that of between Allah ﷻ and us. Allah ﷻ says that those who can follow this injunction will have faith (‘īmān) written into their hearts.
[B]/[B’] – Both sections begin the same way with Allah ﷻ saying, “Inna al-ladhīna yuḥāddūna Allah wa rasūla-hu (Indeed, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger)…” and conclude with how such people are weak. In [B], Allah ﷻ describes them as “disgraced” and destined for a “humiliating punishment.” The later section, [B’], describes them as “the most debased” and adds that Allah ﷻ, “the All-Powerful and Possessor of honor and authority,” will overcome all along with His messengers.
[C]/[C’] – The first section deals with Resurrection Day while the latter mentions the hypocrites and disbelievers they make alliances with and describes their fate on Judgment Day. Both sections declare, “The Day when He will raise them altogether (yawma yabʿathu-hum Allāhu jamīʿan)…” and describe the actions of the disbelievers. In the first instance, Allah ﷻ highlights how they will be informed of every deed they did. Allah ﷻ took account of everything, even if “they forgot it (nasū-hu).” The paired section explains why they forgot. Satan had gotten a hold of them “so he made them forget (ansā-hum) the mention of Allah.” Taken together, these people are described as “the Party of Satan.”
[D] – The center of the sūrah is a long discourse on “secret meetings (an-najwā),” and the evils associated with them. And at the center of this central section, Allah ﷻ clarifies the source of this practice, stating, “Secret meetings are from Satan.” And we find that all the surrounding sections of this ring relate back to this idea.
The sūrah began with people saying inappropriate things in private, clearly inspired by the one who wants to see people disobey Allah ﷻ. Allah ﷻ speaks of those who “oppose Allah and His Messenger,” but the first being to ever oppose Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ was Satan when he refused to bow to the Prophet Adam. All the bad thoughts, scheming, and meetings described throughout the sūrah can be linked back to the bad influence of Satan. The way to protect ourselves is through the remembrance of Allah ﷻ, but Satan is said to have a hold over the disbelievers, and unfortunately makes them forget about Allah ﷻ.
In shā’ Allah, we will continue this series next week with a look at the micro-structures within.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.
This is an ancient Arab practice wherein the husband would tell his wife that she was, “like his mother’s backside,” which was a vulgar way of saying that he would no longer be having intimate relations with her. Unfortunately for the woman, she remained married to him in this limbo state without recourse to action. This sūrah abolished this practice.
Ali Khan, Nouman. “Surah Al-Mujadila Overview” Bayyinah TV, https://bayyinahtv.com/video/2252