سُوْرَةُ الْاَحْزَابِ
Surah Al-Ahzaab (33) — Ayah 53
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَدْخُلُوا۟ بُيُوتَ ٱلنَّبِىِّ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤْذَنَ لَكُمْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامٍ غَيْرَ نَـٰظِرِينَ إِنَىٰهُ وَلَـٰكِنْ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوا۟ فَإِذَا طَعِمْتُمْ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ وَلَا مُسْتَـْٔنِسِينَ لِحَدِيثٍ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ يُؤْذِى ٱلنَّبِىَّ فَيَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنكُمْ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَسْتَحْىِۦ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَـٰعًا فَسْـَٔلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَآءِ حِجَابٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُؤْذُوا۟ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَآ أَن تَنكِحُوٓا۟ أَزْوَٰجَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ أَبَدًا ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكُمْ كَانَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ عَظِيمًا ﴿53﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Enter not the Prophet’s houses, unless permission is given to you for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation. But when you are invited, enter, and when you have taken your meal, disperse without sitting for a talk. Verily, such (behaviour) annoys the Prophet, and he is shy of (asking) you (to go); but Allâh is not shy of (telling you) the truth. And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen: that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. And it is not (right) for you that you should annoy Allâh’s Messenger, nor that you should ever marry his wives after him (his death). Verily, with Allâh that shall be an enormity.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you who believe
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
O you who believe
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
O you who believe
لَا
lā
(Do) not
تَدْخُلُوا۟
tadkhulū
enter
بُيُوتَ
buyūta
(the) houses
ٱلنَّبِىِّ
l-nabiyi
(of) the Prophet
إِلَّآ
illā
except
أَن
an
when
يُؤْذَنَ
yu'dhana
permission is given
لَكُمْ
lakum
to you
إِلَىٰ
ilā
for
طَعَامٍ
ṭaʿāmin
a meal
غَيْرَ
ghayra
without
نَـٰظِرِينَ
nāẓirīna
awaiting
إِنَىٰهُ
ināhu
its preparation
وَلَـٰكِنْ
walākin
But
إِذَا
idhā
when
دُعِيتُمْ
duʿītum
you are invited
فَٱدْخُلُوا۟
fa-ud'khulū
then enter
فَإِذَا
fa-idhā
and when
طَعِمْتُمْ
ṭaʿim'tum
you have eaten
فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟
fa-intashirū
then disperse
وَلَا
walā
and not
مُسْتَـْٔنِسِينَ
mus'tanisīna
seeking to remain
لِحَدِيثٍ ۚ
liḥadīthin
for a conversation
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ذَٰلِكُمْ
dhālikum
that
كَانَ
kāna
was
يُؤْذِى
yu'dhī
troubling
ٱلنَّبِىَّ
l-nabiya
the Prophet
فَيَسْتَحْىِۦ
fayastaḥyī
and he is shy
مِنكُمْ ۖ
minkum
of (dismissing) you
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
But Allah
لَا
lā
is not shy
يَسْتَحْىِۦ
yastaḥyī
is not shy
مِنَ
mina
of
ٱلْحَقِّ ۚ
l-ḥaqi
the truth
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ
sa-altumūhunna
you ask them
مَتَـٰعًۭا
matāʿan
(for) anything
فَسْـَٔلُوهُنَّ
fasalūhunna
then ask them
مِن
min
from
وَرَآءِ
warāi
behind
حِجَابٍۢ ۚ
ḥijābin
a screen
ذَٰلِكُمْ
dhālikum
That
أَطْهَرُ
aṭharu
(is) purer
لِقُلُوبِكُمْ
liqulūbikum
for your hearts
وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ ۚ
waqulūbihinna
and their hearts
وَمَا
wamā
And not
كَانَ
kāna
is
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
أَن
an
that
تُؤْذُوا۟
tu'dhū
you trouble
رَسُولَ
rasūla
(the) Messenger
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَلَآ
walā
and not
أَن
an
that
تَنكِحُوٓا۟
tankiḥū
you should marry
أَزْوَٰجَهُۥ
azwājahu
his wives
مِنۢ
min
after him
بَعْدِهِۦٓ
baʿdihi
after him
أَبَدًا ۚ
abadan
ever
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ذَٰلِكُمْ
dhālikum
that
كَانَ
kāna
is
عِندَ
ʿinda
near
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
عَظِيمًا
ʿaẓīman
an enormity
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.
53. 1 The reason for the revelation of this verse is that, upon the invitation of the Prophet ﷺ, the companions came to the wedding feast of Zainab, among whom some, after eating, remained seated and continued talking, which caused particular discomfort to the Prophet ﷺ. However, due to modesty and good manners, the Prophet ﷺ did not ask them to leave (Sahih Bukhari). Therefore, in this verse, the etiquettes of invitation have been explained: firstly, go only when the food is ready, do not go beforehand and sit waiting. Secondly, as soon as you finish eating, return to your homes and do not remain seated there talking. The mention of food is due to the reason for revelation, otherwise the intent is that whenever you are invited, whether for food or any other matter, do not enter the house without permission.
53. 2 This command was revealed upon the wish of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to the Prophet ﷺ, "O Messenger of Allah! All kinds of people, good and bad, come to you. If only you would command the Mothers of the Believers to observe veiling, it would be better." Upon this, Allah revealed this command (Sahih Bukhari).
53. 3 This is the wisdom and reason for veiling: that through it, the hearts of men and women will be protected from falling into temptation and doubt with one another.
53. 4 Whether it is in any respect, entering the house of the Prophet ﷺ without permission, remaining seated in the house without his wish, and conversing with the purified wives without hijab—these matters also cause harm, so avoid them as well.
53. 2 This command is regarding those purified wives who were in the bond of marriage with the Prophet ﷺ at the time of his death. However, regarding those whom he divorced after consummation during his lifetime and separated from himself, whether they are included in this generality or not, there are two opinions. Some consider them included, and some do not. But the Prophet ﷺ had no such wife, so this is merely a hypothetical situation. Besides, there is a third category of women with whom the Prophet ﷺ married but divorced before consummation; there is no known dispute regarding the permissibility of their marriage to other people (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).
53. 2 This command was revealed upon the wish of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to the Prophet ﷺ, "O Messenger of Allah! All kinds of people, good and bad, come to you. If only you would command the Mothers of the Believers to observe veiling, it would be better." Upon this, Allah revealed this command (Sahih Bukhari).
53. 3 This is the wisdom and reason for veiling: that through it, the hearts of men and women will be protected from falling into temptation and doubt with one another.
53. 4 Whether it is in any respect, entering the house of the Prophet ﷺ without permission, remaining seated in the house without his wish, and conversing with the purified wives without hijab—these matters also cause harm, so avoid them as well.
53. 2 This command is regarding those purified wives who were in the bond of marriage with the Prophet ﷺ at the time of his death. However, regarding those whom he divorced after consummation during his lifetime and separated from himself, whether they are included in this generality or not, there are two opinions. Some consider them included, and some do not. But the Prophet ﷺ had no such wife, so this is merely a hypothetical situation. Besides, there is a third category of women with whom the Prophet ﷺ married but divorced before consummation; there is no known dispute regarding the permissibility of their marriage to other people (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).
