Commentary on the Koran: Surah 58 “The Woman that Disputes” (No. Q058)

Pickthall Translation; Bible Quotes are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

Introduction

Al-Mujadilah “She who Disputeth” takes its name from a word in verse 1.

A Woman had come to the Prophet with a specific complaint that her husband had put her away for no just cause and employing an old pagan formula, saying that “her back was for him as the back of his mother” and she disputed with the Prophet because he would take no action until the revelation was given to him in this Surah. There is a brief reference to this method of getting rid of wives in Surah 33:4. Therefore this Surah must have preceded Surah 33 as the Musliman saw it. The Prophet and church ruled that wives could not be put away for a lie and that no one could be as a mother except the ones that gave them birth or was an actual mother to them as a wife of their father (1Cor. 5:5).

The Surah is revealed in the same year as Surah 33 in the Fourth or Fifth year of the Hijrah in 625 to 626 CE.

58.1. Allah hath heard the saying of her that disputeth with thee (Muhammad) concerning her husband, and complaineth unto Allah. And Allah heareth your colloquy. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower.
58.2. Such of you as put away your wives (by saying they are as their mothers) - They are not their mothers; none are their mothers except those who gave them birth - they indeed utter an ill word and a lie. And lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

58.3. Those who put away their wives (by saying they are as their mothers) and afterward would go back on that which they have said, (the penalty) in that case (is) the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. Unto this ye are exhorted; and Allah is Informed of what ye do.

[The verses are referred to in Surah 33:4]

58.4. And he who findeth not (the wherewithal), let him fast for two successive months before they touch one another; and for him who is unable to do so (the penance is) the feeding of sixty needy ones. This, that ye may put trust in Allah and His messenger. Such are the limits (imposed by Allah); and for disbelievers is a painful doom.

58.5. Lo! those who oppose Allah and His messenger will be abased even as those before them were abased; and We have sent down clear tokens, and for disbelievers is a shameful doom
58.6. On the day when Allah will raise them all together and inform them of what they did. Allah hath kept account of it while they forgot it. And Allah is Witness over all things.

Psalm 94:9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?

Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him.

Ephesians 5:28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

1Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1Corinthians 7:3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

Matthew 5:32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

To put away your wife who is an heir with you of the grace of life by saying she is to you as her mother is utterly disgusting when she has been faithful to you. Verses 3 to 4 above state the expiatory actions that need to be taken by the husband before he can look forward to his conjugal rights from his wife.

James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Psalm 138:6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

Daniel 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Even Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by his creator.

Refer to Romans 1:19-20 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 16 (No. Q016) at ayat 3, and Revelation 20:12 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) at ayat 15.

During the Second Resurrection all of humanity who opposed God in their physical lives will be raised to face the record of their deeds and they will be reeducated. The veils over their hearts and minds will be lifted and they will be brought to right knowledge and understanding.

58.7. Hast thou not seen that Allah knoweth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth? There is no secret conference of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, nor of less than that or more but He is with them wheresoever they may be; and afterward, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. Lo! Allah is Knower of all things.

58.8. Hast thou not observed those who were forbidden conspiracy and afterward returned to that which they had been forbidden, and (now) conspire together for crime and wrongdoing and disobedience toward the messenger? And when they come unto thee they greet thee with a greeting wherewith Allah greeteth thee not, and say within themselves: Why should Allah punish us for what we say? Hell will suffice them; they will feel the heat thereof - a hapless journey's end!

See Ecclesiastes 12:14 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 47 (No. Q047) at ayat 30.

Luke 8:17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

Isaiah 29:15 Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”

Jeremiah 23:24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.

Psalm 21:11 Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.

Psalm 105:15 saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!”

Refer to Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) for Revelation 20:15 at ayat 15 and 2Corinthians 5:10 at ayat 36.

58.9. O ye who believe! When ye conspire together, conspire not together for crime and wrongdoing and disobedience toward the messenger, but conspire together for righteousness and piety, and keep your duty toward Allah, unto whom ye will be gathered.

See Ecclesiastes 12:13 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 46 (No. Q046) at ayat 12.

Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good?

Refer to Ecclesiastes 12:7 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 19 (No. Q019) at ayat 40 and Micah 6:8 in Commentary on Koran: Surah 30 (No. Q030) at ayat 31.

58.10. Lo! Conspiracy is only of the devil, that he may vex those who believe; but he can harm them not at all unless by Allah's leave. In Allah let believers put their trust.

See Psalm 105:15 at ayat 58.8 above.

1Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Job 1:12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Satan is only allowed to do what God permits.

Psalm 9:10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

58.11. O ye who believe! when it is said unto you, Make room! in assemblies, then make room; Allah will make way for you (hereafter). And when it is said, Come up higher! go up higher; Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have knowledge, to high ranks. Allah is Informed of what ye do.

James 2:3-4 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” ⁴have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Proverbs 25:7 For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom thine eyes have seen. (ERV)

Luke 14:10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.

1Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

1John 3:20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

Refer to Revelation 20:6 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 44 (No. Q044) at ayat 57.

58.12. O ye who believe! When ye hold conference with the messenger, offer an alms before your conference. That is better and purer for you. But if ye cannot find (the wherewithal) then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

58.13. Fear ye to offer alms before your conference? Then, when ye do it not and Allah hath forgiven you, establish worship and pay the poor-due and obey Allah and His messenger. And Allah is Aware of what ye do.

See Daniel 9:9 at ayat 58.6 above.

Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

2Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.

Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Deuteronomy 26:12-13 When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled, ¹³then you shall say before the LORD your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover, I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment that you have commanded me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.

See 1John 3:20 at ayat 58.11 above.

See also Ecclesiastes 12:13 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 46 (No. Q046) at ayat 12.

58.14. Hast thou not seen those who take for friends a folk with whom Allah is wroth? They are neither of you nor of them, and they swear a false oath knowingly.

58.15. Allah hath prepared for them a dreadful doom. Evil indeed is that which they are wont to do.

58.16. They make a shelter of their oaths and turn (men) from the way of Allah; so theirs will be a shameful doom.

58.17. Their wealth and their children will avail them naught against Allah. Such are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein.

58.18. On the day when Allah will raise them all together, then will they swear unto Him as they (now) swear unto you, and they will fancy that they have some standing. Lo! is it not they who are the liars?

58.19. The devil hath engrossed them and so hath caused them to forget remembrance of Allah. They are the devil's party. Lo! is it not the devil's party who will be the losers?

58.20. Lo! those who oppose Allah and His messenger, they will be among the lowest.

58.21. Allah hath decreed: Lo! I verily shall conquer, I and My messengers. Lo! Allah is Strong, Almighty.

58.22. Thou wilt not find folk who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His messenger, even though they be their fathers or their sons or their brethren or their clan. As for such, He hath written faith upon their hearts and hath strengthened them with a Spirit from Him, and He will bring them into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide. Allah is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him. They are Allah's party. Lo! is it not Allah's party who are the successful?

See Psalm 21:11 at ayat 58.8 above. Also Proverbs 21:30 at ayat 47.1 and Jeremiah 9:23 in ayat 47.13 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 47 (No. Q047).

Refer to Revelation 20:11-15 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) at ayat 15.

Romans 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

2Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Psalm 49:6-8 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? ⁷Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, ⁸for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,

Job 5:12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success,

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

1Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

2Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

See Romans 1:18 at ayat 45.17 and James 4:4 at ayat 45.20 in Surah 45.

Refer to Psalm 147:5 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 33 (No. Q033) at ayat 2, and Revelation 20:6 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 44 (No. Q044) at ayat 57.

Divorce except for adultery or violence is not permitted

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