627, five years after the hijra, the exodus from Mecca to Medina. Elements of that encounter occupy vv. 9–27 while the remainder of its 73 verses deal with kinship and covenant (vv. 4–8) and guidelines for regulating behavior in general but also among Muhammad’s wives (vv. 28–60). Perhaps the most memorable verse occurs toward the end, in v. 72, when the burden of moral trust is refused by all except humankind who “bore it, being unjust and ignorant.”
In the Name of God, the All Merciful, Ever Merciful
SECTION 1
1Prophet, be mindful
of God, and do not heed
the unbelievers and hypocrites.
God is All Knowing, All Wise.
2Rather, follow what is
revealed to you from your Lord—
God is Aware of all that you do.
3And trust in God,
for God suffices as Guardian.
4God has not made two hearts
within any man;
nor has He made your wives
—whom you liken
to your mothers°—
your actual mothers;
nor has He made
your adopted sons your actual sons.°
Such is the talk that comes
out of your mouths.
But God speaks the truth,
and He guides to the path.
5Name [your adopted sons]
after their fathers; this is more just
in the sight of God. But if
you do not know their fathers,
[treat them as] your brothers
in religion, as relatives.°
There is no blame on you
if you err in this—only for
what your hearts intend.
For God is Forgiving,
Ever Merciful.
6The Prophet is closer to believers
than they are to themselves,
and his wives are their mothers.
And blood relatives are closer,
in God’s decree, than other believers
and emigrants, though you should
still treat your friends with kindness.°
This is written in the Book.
7And We took a pledge
from the prophets, as from you,
from Noah, Abraham, Moses,
and Jesus, son of Mary—
We took from them a solemn pledge:
8God will question the truthful
about their truthfulness,
and has prepared for disbelievers
a painful punishment.
SECTION 2
9You who believe, remember
God’s favor to you when legions
descended upon you°—We sent
against them a mighty wind
and legions beyond your seeing.
For God Sees all that you do.
10When they came upon you
from above you and below,
your eyes were frantic [with fear],
your hearts swelled into
your throats, and you started
to harbor doubts about God.
11There the believers were tested
and shaken—severely.
12The hypocrites and the sick in heart
said, “God and His messenger
promised us nothing but delusion.”
13A party of them urged,
“People of Yathrib,° you cannot
withstand the onslaught, so retreat!”
And a group of them asked
the Prophet’s permission to retreat,
saying, “Our homes lie exposed”
—though they were not—
they merely wanted to flee.
14Had the city been
breached from all sides,
had they been urged to rebel,
they would have done so
with barely a qualm.
15Yet they had already pledged
to God not to turn their backs—
one is always answerable
for a pledge to God.
16Prophet, tell them,
“Fleeing won’t help you.
Even if you flee from death
or killing, you’ll be granted
but a brief respite.”
17Say, “Who can shield you
from God whether He intends
ill for you or mercy?”
Nor will they find, besides God,
any protector or helper.
18God knows those among you
who hold others back,
and those who say to their brothers
“Come and join us,” those who
barely come out to fight,
19begrudging you [their help].
Yet, when fear overcomes them,
you’ll see them looking to you,
their eyes rolling, as if shadowed
by death. And once fear leaves them
they abuse you sharply with their tongues,
begrudging in doing good.
These are the ones who never believe,
hence God makes vain their deeds—
that is always easy for God.
20They think the allied forces°
have not gone; and if those allies
should come, they would wish
they were nomads
among the Bedouin Arabs,
asking for news of you° [from afar].
Even if they were with you,
they would hardly fight.
SECTION 3
21You have an excellent example
in the messenger of God—
for those who repose their hope
in God and the last day,
and remember Him often.
22When they saw the allied forces,
the believers said, “This is what God
and His messenger promised;
what God and His messenger
said was true,” and it only increased
their faith and submission to God.
23Among the believers
are men who remained true
to their covenant with God;
and among them are those
who fulfilled their vow;° also
among them are those who still wait—
who have not reformed at all.
24Accordingly, God will reward
the truthful for remaining truthful,
and punish the hypocrites, if He will,
or turn to them, relenting.
God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
25God repulsed the disbelievers
in their rage,° and they made no gain.
God suffices for the believers in war,
for God is Powerful, Almighty.
26He cast down from their strongholds
the people of the Book who helped them
and He cast terror into their hearts.
A group of them you slew,
and another you took captive;
27and He made you heirs
to their land, their homes,
and their possessions—
a land where you
had not set foot before—
for God has Power over all things.
SECTION 4
28Prophet, say to your wives,
“If you yearn for the life
of this world, and its ornament,
then come, I will provide
for you and release you
with a handsome allowance.
29“But if you yearn for God
and His messenger,
and the home of the hereafter,
God has prepared a great reward
for those of you who do good.”
30Wives of the Prophet,
whoever among you
commits obvious indecency
shall be doubly punished—
that is always easy for God.
31Whoever among you
obeys God and His messenger
and does good works,
We shall grant her a double reward—
We have prepared
a noble provision for her.
32Wives of the Prophet, you
are not like any other women.
If you are mindful of God,
do not be too soft in speech
—or those sick in their hearts
might be moved with desire—
so speak with propriety.
33Remain in your homes,
and refrain from adorning yourselves
in display, as in the former time
of [pagan] ignorance.
Be steadfast in prayer, give in charity,
and obey God and His messenger.
God wishes only to remove
all abomination from you, people
of the [Prophet’s] household,
and to perfect you in purity.
34And remember what is
recited in your homes
from the verses of God
and His Wisdom.
God is Ever Subtle, All Aware.
SECTION 5
35For men and women
who submit to the will of God—
believing men and women,
obedient men and women,
truthful men and women,
patient men and women,
men and women with humility,
men and women who give in charity,
who fast, who guard their chastity,
who remember God often—
for all of these God has prepared
forgiveness and a great reward.
36It is not fitting for
any believing man or woman
to claim choice in any matter
where God and His messenger
have ruled. For whoever disobeys
God and His messenger
has clearly gone astray.
37When you said to the one
whom God and you had favored,
“Keep your wife, and be mindful
of God,” you kept in your heart
what God would reveal.
You feared the people, but God
has a greater right to your fear.
So when Zayd ended his marriage
to her, with due procedure,
We gave his wife to you
so there would be no blame
on believers for marrying the wives
of their adopted sons once they have
ended their marriage with them,
with due procedure.
God’s command will be fulfilled.°
38There can be no blame
upon the Prophet in what
God has ruled for him.
This was God’s way
with those who passed before
—for God’s command is ordained—
39and with those who convey
the message of God, who fear Him,
fearing none but God—
God suffices as Reckoner.
40Muhammad is not father
to any among your men,
but is the messenger of God,
the seal of the prophets°—
God is Knower of all things.
SECTION 6
41You who believe,
remember God often,
42and glorify Him
morning and evening.
43It is He Who bestows
blessings upon you, as do
His angels, to bring you
from darkness to the light,
for He is Ever Merciful
to the believers.
44Their greeting on the day
they meet him will be “Peace.”
And He has prepared for them
a noble reward.
45Prophet, We have sent you
as a witness, a bearer of joyous news,
and one who gives warning;
46as one who calls to God,
by His leave, as a lamp,
whose light shines.
47So give the believers
joyous news that they
shall have from God
a great favor.
48And don’t heed the disbelievers
and hypocrites. Ignore the harm
they wrought, and trust in God,
for God suffices as Guardian.
49You who believe,
when you marry believing women,
then divorce them before touching them,
you should impose no “waiting period”°
but give them due provision
and release them
with a handsome allowance.
50Prophet, We made lawful to you
the wives whose bridal gift you paid,
and those God gave you
to own as captives;
the daughters of your paternal
uncles and aunts;
the daughters of your maternal
uncles and aunts, who emigrated
with you; any believing woman
who dedicates herself to the Prophet
and whom he wishes to wed—this is
for you only, not for other believers.
We know precisely what we have
made obligatory for them
concerning their wives and those
whom they own as captives—so that
no blame will fall upon you.
God is Forgiving, Ever Merciful.
51You may defer [a wife’s turn]
and receive any of [your wives]
as you wish. Nor will you be
at fault if you take one that you
had set aside. This is more likely
to comfort them, so they
will not be vexed, and will all be
content with what you give them.
For God knows what is in your hearts.
And God is All Knowing, Forbearing.
52It is not lawful for you, Prophet,
to marry more women after this,
nor to exchange them for [other] wives,
even though their beauty may allure you—
except those you own as servants.
God is Ever Watchful over all things.
SECTION 7
53You who believe, do not enter
the Prophet’s apartments for a meal,
awaiting its due time, without his leave.
But when you are invited, enter,
and when you have eaten, disperse,
and don’t stay to indulge in talk,
for that would offend the Prophet,
and he would refrain from asking you
to leave. But God does not refrain
from speaking the truth. And when
you ask [his wives] for something,
ask from behind a screen—
that is purer for your hearts and theirs.
It is not fitting for you
to offend the messenger of God,
or ever to marry his wives after him—
something gross in the sight of God.
54Whether you reveal something
or conceal it—God Knows all things.
55There is no blame
on the Prophet’s wives [if
they appear before] their fathers, °
their sons, their brothers,
their brother’s sons,
their sister’s sons,
their women, or those they own.
[Wives of the Prophet]:
Be mindful of God,
for God is Witness to all things.
56God and His angels
invoke blessings on the Prophet;
So, you who believe, you also
invoke blessings on him,
and meet him
with greetings of peace.
57As for those who offend God
and His messenger—
God has renounced them
in this world and the hereafter,
and has prepared for them
a humiliating punishment.
58As for those who unduly offend
believing men