Notes for Surah Hujurat

Compiled by Suraiya Shakeena N, M.Com

About this document:

The objective is to provide notes on Surah Hujurat for educational purpose which may benefit students.

About this document:..................................................................................................................................

Background to the Revelation of Surah Al-Hujurat. ......................................................................................
Subject Matter and Topics............................................................................................................................
Concepts......................................................................................................................................................
Points of Benefit..........................................................................................................................................
Question: Write about surah hujurat............................................................................................................
Introduction...................................................................................................................................................
Concepts.........................................................................................................................................................
Background story............................................................................................................................................
Summary/Teachings of Suratul Hujurat..........................................................................................................

Surah Hujurat
Background to the Revelation of Surah Al-Hujurat.

There are traditions that tell that this Surah revealed at a time when in a letter stage of
Prophet’s life in Madinah, the Muslim community had grown and nearby tribes were
accepting and entering in Islam. At this time it is narrated that a deputation from Bani Tamim
tribe arrived in Madinah and their people started calling Prophet outside of his private
chambers when he was with his wives. The purpose of this Surah is to teach Muslim
community the manners concerning Allah and His Prophet and also to teach them the basic
principles for their social life especially as we can see in verse 6 that Muslims are instructed
to investigate any news or rumors they get and not accept it without thorough analysis.
Creating suspicions, entering into other people’s affairs and backbiting are the evils they
should refrain from. They were also told that what should be their reaction in case there
would be a fight or quarrel between two parties among themselves.
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Subject Matter and Topics
The subject matter of this Surah is to teach the Muslims the manners worthy of true
believers. In the first five verses they have been taught the manners they should observe
with regard to Allah and His Messenger.

Then, they have been given the instruction that it is not right to believe in every news blindly
and to act according to it, without due thought. If information is received about a person, a
group or a community, it should be seen carefully whether the means of the information is
reliable or not. If the means is not reliable, it should be tested and examined to see whether
the news is authentic or not before taking any action on it.

Then, it has been told what attitude should the other Muslims adopt in case two groups of
the Muslims fall to mutual fighting. Then the Muslims have been exhorted to safeguard
against the evils that corrupt collective life and spoil mutual relationships. Mocking and
taunting each other, calling others by nicknames, creating suspicions, prying into other
people's affairs and backbiting are the evils which are not only sins in themselves but they
also corrupt society. Allah has mentioned all these evils separately and forbidden them as
unlawful.

After this, the national and racial distinctions that cause universal corruption in the world
have been condemned. Nations' and tribes' and families' pride of ancestry and their looking
down upon others as inferior to themselves and their pulling down others only for the sake
of establishing their own superiority is an important factor that has filled the world with
injustices and tyranny. Allah in a brief verse has cut at the root of this evil by stating that all
men are descendants of the same one pair and their division into tribes and communities is
only for the sake of recognition, not for boasting and pride, and there is no lawful basis of
one man's superiority over the other except on the basis of moral excellence.

In conclusion, the people have been told that the real thing is not the verbal Profession of
the Faith but to believe in Allah and His messenger truly, to obey them in practical life and to
exert sincerely with one's self and wealth in the cause of Allah. True believers are only those
who adopt this attitude. As for those who profess Islam merely orally without affirmation by
the heart and then adopt an attitude as if they had done someone a favour by accepting
Islam, may be counted among the Muslims in the world, may even be treated as Muslims in
society, but they cannot be counted as believers in the sight of Allah.

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Concepts
1-3(Commandment Not To Speak Loud In Front Of Prophet), 4-5(Etiquettes Of Calling And
Meeting Prophet When He Is In Private Life) , 6-7 ( Investigate On News And Rumors, Lest
You Harm A People Out Of Ignorance), 9(In Case Of Fight Among Believers, Make Peace,
Then Fight Against The One That Oppresses), 10 believers are brothers, 11-13(Etiquettes
Of Moral Behavior: Do not Ridicule, Insult, Call By Bad Names, Avoid Much Assumption, Also
Do not Spy Or Backbite Like Eating Flesh Of Dead Brother), 13-14(God Created You From One
Soul, The Most Noble Is The Most Righteous, Bedouins/Wandering Arabs Say We Believed,
Infect They Only Submitted),15 About the truthful believers ,16 question is being raised;&
Allah is the all knower,17(No Ihsan/ Favor On Prophet If You Have Accepted Islam)

Points of Benefit
1. Address people with gentleness and terms of endearment so as to encourage them to
accept sincere advice
2. The Muslim does not rush to a verdict without first ascertaining what, if anything,
Allāh and His Messenger (sall Allāhu ʿalayhī wa sallam) have to say on the subject
3. The Muslim does not knowingly oppose Allāh and His Messenger (sall Allāhu ʿalayhī wa
sallam)
4. It is not permissible for a Muslim to put forward his own personal opinion when a text
exists on the issue in the Book or Sunnah
5. If a Muslim does hold to an opinion, and then discovers a text that goes against it, he
must withdraw his opinion and follow the text.
6. The Muslim does not put the opinion or act of any other before that of Allāh and His
Messenger (sall Allāhu ʿalayhī wa sallam).
7. The Muslim does not view his intellect, or the intellect of any other, as being superior
to revelation.
8. The Muslim does not behave presumptuously with Allāh and His Messenger (sall
Allāhu ʿalayhī wa sallam). He does not allow his own desires or personal preferences to
take precedence over their guidance
9. Man-made law is not given precedence over what Allāh and His Messenger (sall Allāhu
ʿalayhī wa sallam) have legislated.
10.The source of Islām is one, not many: what comes from Allāh and His Messenger (sall
Allāhu ʿalayhī wa sallam)
11.The prohibition of innovation in religion
12.Not putting oneself forward before Allāh and His Messengers covers word and deed
13.The Muslim must always be mindful of Allāh
14.Part and parcel of taqwā is to obey Allāh and His Messenger
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 15.The Muslim has taqwā in everything he does
16.Allāh hears all and knows all, nothing is hidden from Him or unknown to Him
17.The Muslim is bashful and modest, knowing that he is being watched by Allāh
18.The Muslim is careful of what he says, and what he believes and thinks knowing that
nothing is hidden from Allāh
19.The Muslim is not hypocritical in word or deed
20.Juristic analogy (qiyās) is valid

Question: Write about surah hujurat.

● Introduction
● Concepts
● Background story
● Summary /Teachings of surah Hujurat.
● Conclusion

Concepts
Etiquettes Of Calling And Meeting Prophet, Investigate On News And Rumors, What to Do In
Case of Fight Between Muslims, Etiquettes Of Moral Behavior, Bedouins/Wandering Arabs
Say We Believed, Infect They Only Submitted.

Background story

1. After the conquest of Makkah, many desert Arab tribes (Bedouins) sent emissaries to
the Prophet (p.b.u.h) to make allegiance and accept islam.
2. The Bedouins appeared unpolished in their manner of dress and speech.
3. They spoke loudly and in a manner which was disrespectful to the prophet.
4. Their approach to the Prophet displeased Allah.

The Surah was revealed to reprimand them and to lay down general code of behaviour for
Muslims and for all people
Summary/Teachings of Suratul Hujurat

1. Communities should show respect to their leaders.

2. Quarrels should be avoided.
3. Mutual respect and confidence should be upheld.
4. People should not ridicule, fault or use biting words against each other.
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5. Spying on others is beneath a Muslim.
6. A person’s honour depends on piety and not race, wealth or power.
7. Faith is a matter of practice and not words. One should strive in the way of Allah by
doing His will.
8. Islam condemns scandals and slandering of other people.
9. Suspicions and curiosity about other people’s affairs is prohibited.
10.Islam is a privilege given to Muslims and they should not take it for granted but strive
to live according to its teachings.
11.Muslims must live by the teachings of Allah in their manners and behaviour.