سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 32
يَـٰنِسَآءَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِّنَ ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ إِنِ ٱتَّقَيْتُنَّ فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِٱلْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ ٱلَّذِى فِى قَلْبِهِۦ مَرَضٌ وَقُلْنَ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا ﴿32﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allâh), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰنِسَآءَ
yānisāa
O wives
ٱلنَّبِىِّ
l-nabiyi
(of) the Prophet
لَسْتُنَّ
lastunna
You are not
كَأَحَدٍۢ
ka-aḥadin
like anyone
مِّنَ
mina
among
ٱلنِّسَآءِ ۚ
l-nisāi
the women
إِنِ
ini
If
ٱتَّقَيْتُنَّ
ittaqaytunna
you fear (Allah)
فَلَا
falā
then (do) not
تَخْضَعْنَ
takhḍaʿna
be soft
بِٱلْقَوْلِ
bil-qawli
in speech
فَيَطْمَعَ
fayaṭmaʿa
lest should be moved with desire
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
he who
فِى
fī
in
قَلْبِهِۦ
qalbihi
his heart
مَرَضٌۭ
maraḍun
(is) a disease
وَقُلْنَ
waqul'na
but say
قَوْلًۭا
qawlan
a word
مَّعْرُوفًۭا
maʿrūfan
appropriate
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
32-1. That is, your status and rank are not like those of ordinary women. Rather, because Allah has granted you the honor of being the wives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, you have a distinguished position, and just as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is a model for the Ummah, you too should become an example for the Ummah. Thus, after making them aware of their status and rank, some instructions are being given to them. Although the direct addressees are the pure wives, who have been declared as the Mothers of the Believers, the style of expression makes it clear that the real purpose is to make the entire Muslim women's community understand and be warned. Therefore, these instructions are for all Muslim women.
32-2. Just as Allah Almighty has placed sexual attraction for men within the existence of women (for the protection of which special instructions have also been given so that women do not become a source of temptation for men), similarly, Allah Almighty has naturally placed charm, softness, and delicacy in the voices of women, which attracts men towards them. Therefore, instructions have also been given regarding this voice, that when speaking to men, deliberately adopt such a tone that, instead of softness and gentleness, there is a certain harshness and roughness, so that no ill-intentioned person is attracted to you by the softness of your tone, and no evil thought arises in his heart.
32-3. That is, the roughness should be limited only to the tone; do not utter any word that is against the known rules and morals. By saying اِنِ اتقیتن, it has been indicated that this matter and the other instructions that are coming ahead are for pious women, because only they are concerned that their Hereafter should not be ruined. Those whose hearts are devoid of the fear of Allah, what connection do they have with these instructions? And when do they care about these instructions?
32-2. Just as Allah Almighty has placed sexual attraction for men within the existence of women (for the protection of which special instructions have also been given so that women do not become a source of temptation for men), similarly, Allah Almighty has naturally placed charm, softness, and delicacy in the voices of women, which attracts men towards them. Therefore, instructions have also been given regarding this voice, that when speaking to men, deliberately adopt such a tone that, instead of softness and gentleness, there is a certain harshness and roughness, so that no ill-intentioned person is attracted to you by the softness of your tone, and no evil thought arises in his heart.
32-3. That is, the roughness should be limited only to the tone; do not utter any word that is against the known rules and morals. By saying اِنِ اتقیتن, it has been indicated that this matter and the other instructions that are coming ahead are for pious women, because only they are concerned that their Hereafter should not be ruined. Those whose hearts are devoid of the fear of Allah, what connection do they have with these instructions? And when do they care about these instructions?
