Al-Ahzab · Madani · ayah 59 of 73

Al-Ahzab 33:59

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

“O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments.[1209] That is more suitable that they will be known[1210] and not be abused. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.[1211]”

Saheeh International

Essence

The Lord of everything answered women harassed on dark roads: a garment drawn close, so they are known and left unharmed, and mercy over all.

A reflection

The King who saw the dark path

Begin with the scene the commentaries describe, because the ayah was its answer.

The houses of Madina were small and close together. There were no latrines inside them yet. At night, the women went out to the palm groves and open ground to relieve themselves. Some men sat along those roads in the dark. They harassed the women who passed, and when challenged, they had an excuse ready.

Now consider who answered. The One who holds the heavens and the earth, who ends this ayah with two of His names: Forgiving, Merciful. He turned His speech to a dark path behind the palm trees and the women walking it.

One classical commentator saw mercy in exactly that. He is merciful to His servants, he wrote, in that He attends to their welfare even in small particulars like these.

That should shrink something in us. We assume greatness means distance. The important person does not deal with details; that is what assistants are for. The ego copies this. The more we think of ourselves, the less we bother with small people and small problems.

Allah's greatness works the other way. Nothing is too small to be seen by Him, because nothing is outside His knowledge or His care. A frightened woman on a night road was worth a revelation.

Why, then, does He close by naming Himself Forgiving and Merciful? Not because He needs the praise. The commentaries read the names as reassurance. Forgiving for what went before this command, when people did not know. Merciful in guarding them now. The names are for the women, and for us, not for Him.

The full entry has 6 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.