49.

Sura Hujurat (or The Inner Appartments)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

O you believers, be not forward in the presence of God and His

Apostle. Fear God for He is Who hears and knows all things. Raise not your
voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talking with
him lest your works be rendered vain while you have no perception of that.
They who subdue their voices in the presence of the Messenger of God, their
hearts are filled with righteousness. For them is forgiveness and immense
reward in the Hereafter. Those who shout to the Prophet from outside his
apartment show disrespect to his (Prophet’s) person. Only ignorant fools
would be guilty of such unseemly behavior. They should show patient and
wait outside till you come out of your apartment. It would be best for them.
However, God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. O you who believe, if a
wicked person brings for you any news, first ascertain the truth of his news
lest you may harm people unwittingly and then repent upon your action. You
should not forget that the Messenger of God is among you. If he consults you
in the matters of government, you should not expect he to follow your advice
in all the matters. Such a thing may land you in trouble. He sees ahead than the
rest of you and is less swayed by personal feeling than anyone else. But God
has endeared the Faith to you and has beautified it in your hearts. He has
made disbelief and lewdness and rebellion hateful to you. Indeed, such are the
righteous people. It is a grace and favour to you from your God. He is full of
Knowledge and Wisdom. If two parties among the believers quarrel with each
other, try to make peace between them. But, at all, one party transgresses
beyond bounds against the other; then all of you should fight against the
transgressor, until the party complies with the command of God. If it does so,
then make peace between them with justice and fairness. For God loves those
who are fair and just. The Believers are but a single brotherhood. So make
peace and reconciliation between your two contending brothers. And fear God,
that you may receive Mercy.

O you believers, let not some men among you laugh at others. It may
be that the latter are better than the former. Nor let some women laugh at
others. It may be that the latter are better than the former. You neither defame
one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. Bad is the name of lewdness
after faith. Those who do not desist are indeed doing wrong. O you believers,
avoid suspicion as much as possible as suspicion in some cases is a sin.
Neither spy on each other nor speak ill against each other behind their backs
as: Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? No, you will
abhor it. But fear God, for God is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. O you
mankind, We created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made
you into nations and tribes that you may know each other (not to despise each
other). Indeed, in the sight of God, the most honoured of you is the one who is
most righteous. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all
things. The Arabs of the desert say they are the Believers. Tell them (O
Muhammad) that they have no Faith but only say that they have submitted
theirselves to God. If they obey God and His Apostle, He will not belittle their
deeds, for God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Only those are the Believers
who have belief in God and His Apostle and harbor no doubts in their hearts,
struggle hard with their belongings and person in the Cause of God. Such are
the sincere persons. Say to them (O Muhammad): Would you teach God your
religion when God knows all that is in the heavens and in the earth. God is
aware of all things. They impress on you (O Muhammad) as a favour that they
have embraced Islam. Say to them that they should not counht their Islam as a
favour to you. It is God who has conferred a favour upon them that He has
guided them to the. Faith, if you be true and sincere. Indeed, God knows the
secrets of the heavens and the earth: and God sees well all that they do.