(Revealed after Hijrah)

Date of Revelation and Context
The Surah is the second of the last seven Medinite Chapters of the Qur'an. It contains a somewhat detailed reference to the evil custom of Zihar (calling one's wife one's mother) which was only cursorily dealt with in Surah AI-Ahzab which shows that this Surah was revealed before AI-Ahzab. But as Al-Ahzab was revealed between 5th and 7th year of the Hijrah, the present Surah, therefore, must have been revealed earlier; very likely between the 3rd and the 4th year. In the immediately preceding Surah -Surah Al-Hadid- “the People of the Book” were sternly told that Divine grace was not their monopoly and that since they had repeatedly defied and opposed and persecuted God's Messengers, it would now be transferred for all time to the House of Ishmael.

In the present Surah Muslims are warned that as their material prosperity would excite the enmity of their external and internal foes, they should be on their guard against their evil designs and machinations. And, it is an invariable practice of the Qur'an that whenever it deals with the machinations of the enemies of Islam, it also makes a pointed reference to some social evils. This method was adopted in Surahs, AI-Nur and Al-Ahzab, and it has been adopted in the present Surah also.

Subject-Matter
The Surah opens with a sharp denunciation of the evil custom of Zihar and by citing the case of Khaulah, a Muslim lady, lays down the ordinance that if anyone calls his wife "mother," he has to atone for this heinous moral lapse by either freeing a slave, if he has one, or by fasting for two successive months, and failing that by feeding sixty needy persons.

The Surah then proceeds to deal with the plots and conspiracies of the internal enemies of Islam and condemns the formation of secret societies and holding secret conferences to injure its cause. Then with befitting relevance it lays down some rules of conduct about social gatherings; and towards its close it sternly warns the enemies of Islam that by their opposition to it they will incur God's wrath but will never be able to arrest or impede its progress. This warning to disbelievers is followed by an equally strong warning to believers, that under no circumstances should they make friends with the enemies of their Faith, however closely related the latter might be to them, as by opposing Islam they have waged a veritable war against God, and friendship with God's enemies is inconsistent with true faith.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم
[58:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

قَدْ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَوْلَ الَّتِي تُجَادِلُكَ فِي زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ

[58:2] Allah has indeed heard the speech of her who pleads with thee concerning her husband, and complains unto Allah. And Allah has heard your dialogue[3001]. Verily, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.

الَّذِينَ يُظَاهِرُونَ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ مَا هُنَّ أُمَّهَاتِهِمْ إِنْ أُمَّهَاتُهُمْ إِلاَّ اللاَّئِي وَلَدْنَهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنْكَرًا مِنْ الْقَوْلِ وَزُورًا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ

[58:3] Those among you who put away their wives by calling them mothers — they do not become their mothers; their mothers are only those who gave them birth; and they certainly utter words that are manifestly evil and untrue; but surely Allah is the Effacer of sins, Most Forgiving.

وَالَّذِينَ يُظَاهِرُونَ مِنْ نِسَائِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا قَالُوا فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَتَمَاسَّا ذَلِكُمْ تُوعَظُونَ بِهِ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

[58:4] As to those who call their wives mothers, and then would go back[3002] on what they have said, the penalty for it is the freeing of a slave before they touch each other. This is what you are admonished with. And Allah is Well-Aware of what you do.

فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ شَهْرَيْنِ مُتَتَابِعَيْنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَتَمَاسَّا فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَإِطْعَامُ سِتِّينَ مِسْكِينًا ذَلِكَ لِتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

[58:5] But whoso does not find one, he must fast for two successive months, before they touch each other. And whoso is not able to do so, should feed sixty poor people[3003]. This is so, that you may truly believe in Allah and His Messenger. And these are the limits prescribed by Allah; and for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحَادُّونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ كُبِتُوا كَمَا كُبِتَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ وَقَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ

[58:6] Those who oppose Allah[3004] and His Messenger will surely be abased even as those before them were abased; and We have already sent down clear Signs. And the disbelievers will have an humiliating punishment.

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمْ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا عَمِلُوا أَحْصَاهُ اللَّهُ وَنَسُوهُ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
[58:7] On the day when Allah will raise them all together, He will inform them of what they did. Allah has kept account of it, while they forgot it. And Allah is Witness over all things.

أَلَمْ تَرَى أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَا يَكُونُ مِنْ نَجْوَى ثَلاَثَةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ رَابِعُهُمْ وَلاَ خَمْسَةٍ إِلاَّ هُوَ سَادِسُهُمْ وَلاَ أَدْنَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَلاَ أَكْثَرَ إِلاَّ هُوَ مَعَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كَانُوا ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا عَمِلُوا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

[58:8] Dost thou not see that Allah knows all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth? There is no secret counsel of three, but He is their fourth, nor of five, but He is their sixth, nor of less than that, nor of more, but He is with them wheresoever they may be. Then on the Day of Resurrection He will inform them of what they did. Surely, Allah knows all things full well.

أَلَمْ تَرَى إِلَى الَّذِينَ نُهُوا عَنْ النَّجْوَى ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا نُهُوا عَنْهُ وَيَتَنَاجَوْنَ بِالإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَةِ الرَّسُولِ وَإِذَا جَاءُوكَ حَيَّوْكَ بِمَا لَمْ يُحَيِّكَ بِهِ اللَّهُ وَيَقُولُونَ فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ لَوْلاَ يُعَذِّبُنَا اللَّهُ بِمَا نَقُولُ حَسْبُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ

[58:9] Hast thou not seen those who were forbidden to hold secret counsels and again return to what they were forbidden, and confer secretly for sin and transgression and disobedience to the Messenger[3005]? And when they come to thee, they greet thee with a greeting with which Allah has not greeted thee[3006]; but among themselves they say, ‘Why does not Allah punish us for what we say?’ Sufficient for them is Hell, wherein they will burn; and a most evil destination it is!

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ فَلاَ تَتَنَاجَوْا بِالإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَةِ الرَّسُولِ وَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

[58:10] O ye who believe! when you confer together in secret, confer not for the commission of sin and transgression and disobedience to the Messenger, but confer for the attainment of virtue and righteousness[3007], and fear Allah unto Whom you shall all be gathered.

إِنَّمَا النَّجْوَى مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ لِيَحْزُنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَيْسَ بِضَارِّهِمْ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

[58:11] Holding of secret counsels for evil purposes is only of Satan, that he may cause grief to those who believe; but it cannot harm them in the least, except by Allah’s leave. And in Allah should the believers put their trust.

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا فِي الْمَجَالِسِ فَافْسَحُوا يَفْسَحِ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَإِذَا قِيلَ انشُزُوا فَانشُزُوا يَرْفَعْ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ

[58:12] O ye who believe! when it is said to you, ‘Make room!’ in your assemblies, then do make room; Allah will make ample room for you. And when it is said, ‘Rise up!’[3008] then rise up; Allah will raise those who believe from among you, and those to whom knowledge is given, to degrees of rank. And Allah is Well-Aware of what you do.

يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمْ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَةً ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ وَأَطْهَرُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ

[58:13] O ye who believe! when you consult the Messenger in private, give alms before your consultation[3009]. That is better for you and purer. But if you find not anything to give, then Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.

أَأَشْفَقْتُمْ أَنْ تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَاتٍ فَإِذْ لَمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَتَابَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَاللَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

[58:14] Are you afraid of giving alms before your consultation[3010]? So, when you do not do so and Allah has been merciful to you, then observe Prayer and pay the Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. And Allah is Well-Aware of what you do.

أَلَمْ تَرَى إِلَى الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا قَوْمًا غَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَا هُمْ مِنْكُمْ وَلاَ مِنْهُمْ وَيَحْلِفُونَ عَلَى الْكَذِبِ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

[58:15] Hast thou not seen those who make friends with a people with whom Allah is wroth? They are neither of you nor of them, and they swear to falsehood knowingly.

أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا إِنَّهُمْ سَاءَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
[58:16] Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment. Evil indeed is that which they used to do.

اتَّخَذُوا أَيْمَانَهُمْ جُنَّةً فَصَدُّوا عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ
[58:17] They have made their oaths a screen[3011] for their misdeeds, and they turn men away from the path of Allah; for them, therefore, will be an humiliating punishment.

لَنْ تُغْنِيَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَلاَ أَوْلاَدُهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ شَيْئًا أُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

[58:18] Neither their riches nor their children will avail them aught against Allah. They are the inmates of the Fire wherein they will abide.

يَوْمَ يَبْعَثُهُمْ اللَّهُ جَمِيعًا فَيَحْلِفُونَ لَهُ كَمَا يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ وَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ عَلَى شَيْءٍ أَلاَ إِنَّهُمْ هُمْ الْكَاذِبُونَ

[58:19] On the day when Allah will raise them all together, they will swear to Him[3012] even as they swear to you, and they will think that they have something to stand upon. Now surely it is they who are the liars.

اسْتَحْوَذَ عَلَيْهِمْ الشَّيْطَانُ فَأَنسَاهُمْ ذِكْرَ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ حِزْبُ الشَّيْطَانِ أَلاَ إِنَّ حِزْبَ الشَّيْطَانِ هُمْ الْخَاسِرُونَ

[58:20] Satan has gained mastery over them, and has made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are Satan’s party. Now surely it is Satan’s party that are the losers.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحَادُّونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَئِكَ فِي الأَذَلِّينَ
[58:21] Certainly those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be among the lowest.

كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَأَغْلِبَنَّ أَنَا وَرُسُلِي إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
[58:22] Allah has decreed: ‘Most surely I will prevail[3013], I and My Messengers.’ Verily, Allah is Powerful, Mighty.

لاَ تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ أُوْلَئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ الإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ أُوْلَئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ أَلاَ إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمْ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

[58:23] Thou wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger[3014], even though they be their fathers, or their sons or their brethren, or their kindred. These are they in whose hearts Allah has inscribed true faith and whom He has strengthened with inspiration from Himself. And He will make them enter Gardens through which streams flow. Therein will they abide. Allah is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him. They are Allah’s party. Hearken ye O people! it is Allah’s party who will be successful.

3001. Khaulah; wife of Aus bin Samit and daughter of Tha'labah had become separated from her husband because the latter had called her "mother," the exact words used by him being, 'thou art to me as the back of my mother;' and thus according to an old Arab custom all conjugal relations had ceased between her and her husband. The unfortunate woman could neither demand divorce in order to contract a second marriage, nor could she enjoy conjugal rights and thus remained a suspended woman, uncared for. She came to the Holy Prophet and complained to him of the awkward situation in which she was placed, and sought his advice and help in the matter. The Holy Prophet pleaded his inability to do anything for her, as it was his wont that he would not give a decision in matters of this nature unless he was guided by revelation. The revelation came, and the custom of Zihar was declared unlawful.

3002. The words, "they would go back on what they have said," may signify that after calling their wives "mothers" they seek to re-establish conjugal relations with them, or they may mean that after having once called their wives "mothers" they repeat what they have said. According to this meaning, it is deliberate repetition of the obnoxious words and not their casual or inadvertent utterance that renders the utterer liable to the punishment prescribed in this and the following verse.

3003. The drastic punishment mentioned in these verses indicates the extreme seriousness of the crime of calling one's wife "mother." The relationship with "mother" is too sacred to be trifled with.

3004. Calling one's wife "mother" is tantamount to opposing God-so hideous is the offence. Befittingly the subject of opposition to truth by the Jews and the Hypocrites is introduced in this verse.

3005.  The verse refers to the secret plots and conspiracies against Islam of the Jews and the Hypocrites of Medina and condemns this evil practice. The expulsion of the three Jewish tribes from Medina was the result of their repeated acts of defection and infidelity and their secret plots against Islam and the life of the Holy Prophet.

3006.  The meaning is that they go beyond proper limits in hypocritically praising thee; or they invoke death and destruction upon thee. The words seem to refer to the evil practice of some of the Jews of Medina that when they came to the Holy Prophet they, with a little twist of the tongue, would invoke curses upon him by saying Al-Samu 'Alaika (death to thee), instead of saluting him with the usual Al-Salamu 'Alaika, i.e., 'peace be upon thee' (Bukhari).

3007. In this and the preceding two verses secret societies have been condemned, but the condemnation is not unqualified. The believers have been allowed to hold secret conferences to promote good and righteous causes.

3008. As in the preceding verses the subject of holding an assembly was dealt with, it was in the fitness of things that its ethics and etiquette should also have been pointed out and this has been done in the present verse.

3009.  The believers should have due regard for the precious time of the Holy Prophet and as a compensation for taking his time to spend some money in charity before going to him for consultation. The Holy Prophet has been called "Counsellor" in the Bible (Isa. 9:6).

3010. The commandment about the giving of alms before seeking the Holy Prophet's consultation is not obligatory but optional, though preferable. The apprehension of the Companions of the Holy Prophet was whether they had given enough in alms to have complied with God's commandment.

3011. The hypocrites protest loudly the sincerity of their faith by swearing and seek to take shelter behind their false oaths.

3012.  When a person becomes an habitual or hardened liar, he regards his falsehood as truth. The hypocrites will protest their innocence even before God on the Day of Reckoning.

3013. It is writ large on the face of History that eventually Truth has always prevailed against falsehood.

3014. Obviously, there could be no true or sincere friendship or relationship of love between the believers and the disbelievers. The ideals, principles and religious beliefs of the two being poles apart, and the community of interests which is the sine qua non of real intimate relationship being non-existent; believers are required not to have intimate and affectionate friendship with disbelievers. The bonds of Faith transcend all other bonds, even the close ties of blood. The verse seems to be of general application. But it applies specially to disbelievers who are at war with Muslims.