Al-Ahzab · Madani · ayah 55 of 73

Al-Ahzab 33:55

لَّا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِنَّ فِىٓ ءَابَآئِهِنَّ وَلَآ أَبْنَآئِهِنَّ وَلَآ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ وَلَآ أَبْنَآءِ إِخْوَٰنِهِنَّ وَلَآ أَبْنَآءِ أَخَوَٰتِهِنَّ وَلَا نِسَآئِهِنَّ وَلَا مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُنَّ ۗ وَٱتَّقِينَ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدًا

“There is no blame upon them [i.e., women] concerning their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons or their women or those their right hands possess [i.e., slaves].[1208] And fear Allāh. Indeed Allāh is ever, over all things, Witness.”

Saheeh International

Essence

The screen does not reach the family's own circle, yet taqwa does: Allah is Witness over every room, the relaxed ones most of all.

A reflection

A Witness in the room after the guests leave

The ayah lifts the screen for the family circle: fathers, sons, brothers, nephews, the women close to them. Then it ends: 'Indeed Allah is ever, over all things, a Witness.'

The first hearers heard three things in shahīd. The root sh-h-d joins being present, knowing, and making known. A mashhad was a place where people gathered. A wife was mushhid when her husband was at home, and mughīb when he was away. Shahāda is never hearsay. It is what you say because you were there.

One commentary draws out why the name fits this place. The ayah has just allowed ease and closeness among family. So it says: Allah is present when you are alone with one another, and your privacy is like a public gathering before Him. Another adds: let your private conduct be even better than your public, since in His knowledge the two do not differ.

Picture the evening after a family gathering. The last guests have driven away. Shoes come off. The polite voice is put away with the good plates. Over the washing-up, a husband says something sharp to his wife that he would never have said an hour earlier, in front of his brother.

Here the ego has to look at itself. Much of our goodness is performed for an audience. We are at our most patient with guests and at our sharpest with the people who know us best. The ayah says the most important Witness never leaves with the guests.

Does that make Allah a God who needs to be watched being watched? No. He announces that He is present for our sake, not His. A witness is what makes a home safe for the weakest person in it. The One who sees the kitchen after midnight is the One who will make things right for whoever was wronged there.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.