The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

a
The pre-Islamic name for Medina.
b
This speci
fically refers to fear felt in battle in this context (al-Mu jam al-Wasit).
The Joint Forces
267
33: 20

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hardly 
fight at all. 21The Messenger of God is an excellent model for
those of you who put your hope in God and the Last Day and
remember Him often.
22When the believers saw the joint forces, they said, ‘This is what
God and His Messenger promised us: the promise of God and His
Messenger is true,’ and this only served to increase their faith and
submission to God. 
23There are men among the believers who hon-
oured their pledge to God: some of them have ful
filled it by death,
and some are still waiting. They have not changed in the least.
24[Such trials are ordained] so that God may reward the truthful for
their honesty and punish the hypocrites, if He so wills, or He may
relent towards them, for God is forgiving and merciful. 
25God sent
back the disbelievers
a
along with their rage –
– they gained no bene-
fit–– and spared the believers from fighting. He is strong and mighty.
26He brought those People of the Book who supported them down
from their strongholds and put panic into their hearts. Some of
them you [believers] killed and some you took captive. 
27He passed
on to you their land, their houses, their possessions, and a land where
you had not set foot: God has power over everything.
28Prophet, say to your wives,
b
‘If your desire is for the present life
and its 
finery, then come, I will make provision for you and release
you with kindness, 
29but if you desire God, His Messenger, and the
Final Home, then remember that God has prepared great rewards
for those of you who do good.’
30Wives of the Prophet, if any of you
does something clearly outrageous, she will be doubly punished –
–
that is easy for God –
–
31but if any of you is obedient to God and His
Messenger and does good deeds, know that We shall give her a
double reward and have prepared a generous provision for her.
32Wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other woman. If you are
truly mindful of God, do not speak too softly in case the sick at heart
should lust after you, but speak in an appropriate manner; 
33stay at
home, and do not 
flaunt your finery as they used to in the pagan past;
keep up the prayer, give the prescribed alms, and obey God and His
Messenger. God wishes to keep uncleanness away from you, people
of the [Prophet’s] House, and to purify you thoroughly. 
34Remember
a
This refers to the sandstorm that caused the disbelievers to go back without success.
b
Some of the Prophet’s wives decided to ask him for more provision, seeing that he
had become leader of a new state.
The Qur
an
33: 21
268

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what is recited in your houses of God’s revelations and wisdom, for
God is all subtle, all aware.
35For men and women who are devoted to God–– believing men
and women, obedient men and women, truthful men and women,
steadfast men and women, humble men and women, charitable
men and women, fasting men and women, chaste men and women,
men and women who remember God often –
– God has prepared
forgiveness and a rich reward.
36When God and His Messenger have decided on a matter that
concerns them, it is not 
fitting for any believing man or woman to
claim freedom of choice in that matter: whoever disobeys God and
His Messenger is far astray. 
37When you [Prophet] said to the man
who had been favoured by God and by you, ‘Keep your wife and be
mindful of God,’ you hid in your heart what God would later reveal:
you were afraid of people, but it is more 
fitting that you fear God.
When Zayd no longer wanted her,
a
We gave her to you in marriage
so that there might be no fault in believers marrying the wives of
their adopted sons after they no longer wanted them. God’s com-
mand must be carried out: 
38the Prophet is not at fault for what God
has ordained for him. This was God’s practice with those who went
before –
– God’s command must be ful
filled–– 39[and with all] those
who deliver God’s messages and fear only Him and no other: God’s
reckoning is enough. 
40Muhammad is not the father of any one of
you men; he is God’s Messenger and the seal of the prophets: God
knows everything. 
41Believers, remember God often 42and glorify
Him morning and evening: 
43it is He who blesses you, as do His
angels, in order to lead you out of the depths of darkness into the
light. He is ever merciful towards the believers –
–
44when they meet
Him they will be greeted with ‘Peace’–
– and He has prepared a
generous reward for them.
45Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, as a bearer of good news
and warning, 
46as one who calls people to God by His leave, as a
light-giving lamp. 
47Give the believers the good news that great
bounty awaits them from God. 
48Do not give in to the disbelievers
and the hypocrites: ignore the harm they cause you and put your
trust in God. God is enough to trust.
a
The Prophet married Zayd, his adopted son, to Zaynab, his own cousin. Zayd later
divorced her and the Prophet took her as his own wife. This sura shows the marriage to
be lawful since adoption does not create blood relations that preclude marriage.