33:35 Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)

لما ذكر تعالى ثواب زوجات الرسول صلى اللّه عليه وسلم، وعقابهن [لو قدر عدم الامتثال] وأنه ليس مثلهن أحد من النساء، ذكر بقية النساء غيرهن. ولما كان حكمهن والرجال واحدًا، جعل الحكم مشتركًا، فقال: { إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ } وهذا في الشرائع الظاهرة، إذا كانوا قائمين بها. { وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ } وهذا في الأمور الباطنة، من عقائد القلب وأعماله. { وَالْقَانِتِينَ } أي: المطيعين للّه ولرسوله { وَالْقَانِتَاتِ وَالصَّادِقِينَ } في مقالهم وفعالهم { وَالصَّادِقَاتِ } { وَالصَّابِرِينَ } على الشدائد والمصائب { وَالصَّابِرَاتِ وَالْخَاشِعِينَ } في جميع أحوالهم،خصوصًا في عباداتهم، خصوصًا في صلواتهم، { وَالْخَاشِعَاتِ } { وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ } فرضًا ونفلاً { وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَاتِ وَالصَّائِمِينَ وَالصَّائِمَاتِ } شمل ذلك، الفرض والنفل. { وَالْحَافِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ } عن الزنا ومقدماته، { وَالْحَافِظَاتِ } { وَالذَّاكِرِينَ اللَّهَ [كَثِيرًا } أي:] في أكثر الأوقات، خصوصًا أوقات الأوراد المقيدة، كالصباح والمساء، وأدبار الصلوات المكتوبات { وَالذَّاكِرَاتِ } { أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُمْ } أي: لهؤلاء الموصوفين بتلك الصفات الجميلة، والمناقب الجليلة، التي هي، ما بين اعتقادات، وأعمال قلوب، وأعمال جوارح، وأقوال لسان، ونفع متعد وقاصر، وما بين أفعال الخير، وترك الشر، الذي من قام بهن، فقد قام بالدين كله، ظاهره وباطنه، بالإسلام والإيمان والإحسان. فجازاهم على عملهم { بِالْمَغْفِرَةً } لذنوبهم، لأن الحسنات يذهبن السيئات. { وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًا } لا يقدر قدره، إلا الذي أعطاه، مما لا عين رأت، ولا أذن سمعت، ولا خطر على قلب بشر، نسأل اللّه أن يجعلنا منهم.

قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا عفان حدثنا عبد الواحد بن زياد حدثنا عمان بن حكيم حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن شيبة قال سمعت أم سلمة رضي الله عنها زوج النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم تقول قلت للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ما لنا لا نذكر في القرآن كما يذكر الرجال؟ قالت فلم ير عني منه ذات يوم إلا ونداؤه على المنبر قالت وأنا أسرح شعري فلففت شعري ثم خرجت إلى حجرتي حجرة بيتي فجعلت سمعي عند الجريد فإذا هو يقول عند المنبر يا أيها الناس إن الله تعالى يقول "إن المسلمين والمسلمات والمؤمنين والمؤمنات "إلى آخر الآية وهكذا رواه النسائي وابن جرير من حديث عبد الواحد بن زياد به مثله طريق أخرى عنها قال النسائي أيضا حدثنا محمد بن حاتم حدثنا يزيد أخبرنا عبد الله بن شريك عن محمد بن عمرو عن أبي سلمة عن أم سلمة رضي الله عنها أنها قالت للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يا نبي الله مالي أسمع الرجال يذكرون في القرآن والنساء لا يذكرون ؟ فأنزل الله تعالى "إن المسلمين والمسلمات والمؤمنين والمؤمنات "وقد رواه ابن جرير عن أبي كريب عن أبي معاوية عن محمد بن عمرو عن أبي سلمة أن يحيى بن عبدالرحمن بن حاطب حدثه عن أم سلمة رضي الله عنها قالت: قلت يا رسول الله أيذكر الرجال في كل شيء ولا نذكر؟ فأنزل الله تعالى "إن المسلمين والمسلمات "الآية " طريق أخرى "قال سفيان الثوري عن ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد قال: قالت أم سلمة رضي الله عنها يا رسول الله يذكر الرجال ولا نذكر فأنزل الله تعالى "إن المسلمين والمسلمات "الآية حديث آخر قال ابن جرير حدثنا أبو كريب قال حدثنا سنان بن مظاهر العمري حدثنا أبو كدينة يحيى بن المهلب عن قابوس بن أبي ظبيان عن أبيه عن ابن عباس قال: قال النساء للنبي ما له يذكر المؤمنين ولا يذكر المؤمنات فأنزل الله تعالى "إن المسلمين والمسلمات "الآية وحدثنا بشر حدثنا زيد حدثنا سعيد عن قتادة قال دخل نساء على نساء النبي فقلن قد ذكركن الله تعالى في القرآن ولم نذكر بشيء أما فينا ما يذكر؟ فأنزل الله تعالى "إن المسلمين والمسلمات "الآية فقوله تعالى "إن المسلمين والمسلمات والمؤمنين والمومنات "دليل على أن الإيمان غير الإسلام وهو أخص منه لقوله تعالى "قالت الأعراب آمنا قل لم تؤمنوا ولكن قولوا أسلمنا ولما يدخل الإيمان في قلوبكم "وفي الصحيحين لا يزني الزاني حين يزني وهو مؤمن فسلبه الإيمان ولا يلزم من ذلك كفره بإجماع المسلمين فدل على أنه أخص منه كما قررناه في أول شرح البخاري وقوله تعالى "والقانئين والقانتات "القنوت هو الطاعة في سكون "أمن هو قانت آناء الليل ساجدا وقائما يحذر الآخرة ويرجو رحمة ربه "وقال تعالى "وله من في السموات والأرضي كل له قانئون ""يا مريم اقنتي لربك واسجدي واركعي مع الراكعين ""وقوموا لله قانتين "فالإسلام بعده مرتبة يرتقي إليها وهو الإيمان ثم القنوت ناشئ عنهما "والصادقين والصادقات "هذا في الأقوال فإن الصدق خصلة محمودة ولهذا كان بعض الصحابة رضي الله عنه تجرب عليه كذبة لا في الجاهلية ولا في الإسلام وهو علامة على الإيمان كما أن الكذب أمارة على النفاق ومن صدق نجا عليكم بالصدق فإن الصدق يهدي إلى البر وإن البر يهدي إلى الجنة وإياكم والكذب فإن الكذب يهدى إلى الفجور وإن الفجور يهدي إلى النار ولا يزال الرجل يصدق ويتحرى الصدق حتى يكتب عند الله صديقا ولا يزال الرجل يكذب ويتحرى الكذب حتى يكتب عند الله كذابا والأحاديث فيه كثيرة جدا "والصابرين والصابرات "هذه سجية الأثبات وهي الصبر على المصائب والعلم بأن المقدر كائن لا محاله وتلقي ذلك بالصبر والثبات وإنما الصبر عند الصدمة الأولى أي أصعبه في أول وهلة ثم ما بعده أسهل منه وهو صدق السجية وثباتها "والخاشعين والخاشعات " الخشوع السكون والطمأنينة والتؤدة والوقار والتواضع والحامل عليه الخوف من الله تعالى ومراقبته كما في الحديث اعبد الله كأنك تراه فإن لم تكن تراه فإنه يراك "والمتصدقين والمتصدقات "الصدقة هي الإحسان إلى الناس المحاويج الضعفاء الذين لا كسب لهم ولا كاسب يعطون من فضول الأموال طاعة وإحسانا إلى خلقه وقد ثبت فى الصحيحين سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله فذكر منهم رجل تصدق بصدقه فأخفاها حتى لا تعلم شماله ما تنفق يمينه وفي الحديث الآخر والصدقة تطفئ الخطيئة كما يطفئ الماء النار والأحاديث في الحث عليها كثيرة جدا له موضع بذاته "والصائمين والصائمات "وفي الحديث الذي رواه ابن ماجه والصوم زكاة البدن أي يزكيه ويطهره وينقيه من الأخلاط الرديئة طبعا وشرعا كما قال سعيد بن جبير من صام رمضان وثلاثه أيام من كل شهر دخل في قوله تعالى "والصائمين والصائمات "ولما كان الصوم من أكبر العون على كسر الشهوة كما قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يا معشر الشباب من استطاع منكم الباءة فليتزوج فإنه أغض للبصر وأحصن للفرج ومن لم يستطع فعليه بالصوم فإنه له وجاء ناسب أن يذكر بعده "والحافظين فروجهم والحافظات "أي عن المحارم والمأثم إلا عن المباح كما قال عز وجل "والذين هم لفروجهم حافظون إلا على أزواجهم أو ما ملكت أيمانهم فإنهم غير ملومين فمن ابتغى وراء ذلك فأولئك هم العادون "وقوله تعالى "والذاكرين الله كثيرا والذاكرات "قال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبي حدثنا هشام: بن عبيد الله حدثنا محمد بن جابر عن علي بن الأقمر عن الأغر أبي مسلم عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال: إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إذا أيقظ الرجل امرأته من الليل فصليا ركعتين كانا تلك الليلة من الذاكرين الله كثيرا والذاكرات وقد رواه أبو داود والنسائي وابن ماجه من حديث الأعمش عن الأعرابي مسلم عن أبي سعيد وأبي هريرة رضي الله عنها عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بمثله وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا حسن حدثنا ابن لهيعة حدثنا دراج عن أبي الهيثم عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه قال: قلت يا رسول الله أي العباد أفضل درجة عند الله تعالى يوم القيامة؟ قال الذاكرون الله كثيرا والذاكرات قال قلت يا رسول الله ومن الغازي فى سبيل الله تعالى؟ قال لو ضرب بسيفه في الكفار والمشركين حتى ينكسر ويختضب دما لكان الذاكرون الله تعالى أفضل منه وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا عفان حدثنا عبد الرحمن بن إبراهيم عن العلاء عن أبيه عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يسير في طريق مكة فأتى على جمدان فقال هذا حمدان سيروا فقد سبق المفردون قالوا وما المفردون؟ قال صلى الله عليه وسلم الذاكرون الله كثيرا والذاكرات ثم قال صلى الله عليه وسلم اللهم اغفر للمحلقين قالوا والمقصرين قال اللهم اغفر للمحلقين قالوا والمقصرين قال والمقصرين تفرد به من هذا الوجه ورواه مسلم دون آخره وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا حجين بن المثني حدثنا عبد العزيز بن أبي سلمة عن زياد بن أبي زياد مولى عبد الله بن عياش بن أبي ربيعة قال: إنه بلغني عن معاذ بن جبل رضي الله عنه أنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ما عمل آدمي عملا قط أنجى له من عذاب الله تعالى من ذكر الله عز وجل وقال معاذ رضي الله عنه قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ألا أخبركم بخير أعمالكم وأزكاها عند مليككم وأرفعها في درجاتكم وخير لكم من تعاطي الذهب والفضة ومن أن تلقوا عدوكم غدا فتضربوا أعناقهم ويضربوا أعناقكم؟ قالوا بلى يا رسول الله قال ذكر الله عز وجل وقال الإمام أحمد حدثنا حسن حدثنا ابن لهيعة حدثنا زبان بن فايد عن سهل بن معاذ بن أنس الجهني عن أبيه رضي الله عنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إن رجلا سأله فقال أي المجاهدين أعظم أجرا يا رسول الله؟ قال أكثرهم لله تعالى ذكرا قال فأي الصائمين أكثر أجرا؟ قال صلى الله عليه وسلم أكثرهم لله عز وجل ذكرا ثم ذكر الصلاة والزكاة والحج والصدقة كل ذلك يقول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أكثرهم لله ذكرا فقال أبو بكر لعمر رضي الله عنه ذهب الذاكرون بكل خير فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وسنذكر إن شاء الله تعالى بقية الأحاديث الواردة في كثرة الذكر عند قوله تعالى في هذه السورة "يا أيها الذين آمنوا اذكروا الله ذكرا كثيرا وسبحوه بكرة وأصيلا "الآية إن شاء الله تعالى وقوله تعالى "أعد الله لهم مغفرة وأجرا عظيما "خبر عن هؤلاء المذكورين كلهم أي أن الله تعالى قد أعد لهم أي هيأ لهم مغفرة منه لذنوبهم وأجرا عظيما وهو الجنة.

The Reason for Revelation

Imam Ahmad recorded that Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of the Prophet said, "I said to the Prophet , `Why is it that we are not mentioned in the Qur'an as men are' Then one day without my realizing it, he was calling from the Minbar and I was combing my hair, so I tied my hair back then I went out to my chamber in my house, and I started listening out, and he was saying from the Minbar:

«يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ:

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَـتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَـتِ»

(O people! Verily Allah says: (Verily, the Muslims: men and women, the believers: men and women...)) to the end of the Ayah." This was also recorded by An-Nasa'i and Ibn Jarir.

إِنَّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَـتِ وَالْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَـتِ

(Verily, the Muslims: men and women, the believers: men and women...) indicates that Iman is something other than Islam, and that it is more specific, because Allah says:

قَالَتِ الاٌّعْرَابُ ءَامَنَّا قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُواْ وَلَـكِن قُولُواْ أَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا يَدْخُلِ الايمَـنُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ

(The bedouins say: "We believe." Say: "You believe not but you only say, `We have surrendered (in Islam),' for faith has not yet entered your hearts.") (49:14). In the Two Sahihs, it says:

«لَا يَزْنِي الزَّانِي حِينَ يَزْنِي وَهُوَ مُؤْمِن»

(The adulterer does not commit adultery at the time when he is a believer.) For it snatches away his Iman, although that does not mean he is a disbeliever, according to the consensus of the Muslims. This indicates that Iman is more specific than Islam, as we have stated at the beginning of our commentary on Al-Bukhari.

وَالْقَـنِتِينَ وَالْقَـنِتَـتِ

(the Qanit: men and the women,) Al-Qunut means obedience during quite time.

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ ءَانَآءَ الَّيْلِ سَـجِداً وَقَآئِماً يَحْذَرُ الاٌّخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُواْ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ

(Is one who is (Qanit,) prostrating himself or standing in the middle of the night, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord...) (39:9)

وَلَهُ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ كُلٌّ لَّهُ قَـنِتُونَ

(To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. All are Uqnuti (Qanitun) to Him.) (30:26)

يمَرْيَمُ اقْنُتِى لِرَبِّكِ وَاسْجُدِى وَارْكَعِى مَعَ الرَكِعِينَ

(O Maryam! "Uqnuti to your Lord and prostrate, and bow with Ar-Raki`in (those who bow).") (3:43)

وَقُومُواْ لِلَّهِ قَـنِتِينَ

(And stand before Allah Qanitin) (2: 238). So, beyond Islam there is a higher level to be reached, which is Iman, and Qunut stems from them both.

وَالصَّـدِقِينَ وَالصَّـدِقَـتِ

(the men and women who are truthful,) This refers to their speech, for truthfulness is a praiseworthy attribute. Some of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were never known to have lied even once, neither during Jahiliyyah nor in Islam. Truthfulness is a sign of faith, just as lying is a sign of hypocrisy. Whoever is truthful will be saved:

«عَلَيْكُمْ بِالصِّدْقِ فَإِنَّ الصِّدْقَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْبِرِّ، وَإِنَّ الْبِرَّ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَالْكَذِبَ، فَإِنَّ الْكَذِبَ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْفُجُورِ، وَإِنَّ الْفُجُورَ يَهْدِي إِلَى النَّارِ، وَلَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَصْدُقُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الصِّدْقَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ صِدِّيقًا، وَلَا يَزَالُ الرَّجُلُ يَكْذِبُ وَيَتَحَرَّى الْكَذِبَ حَتَّى يُكْتَبَ عِنْدَ اللهِ كَذَّابًا»

(You have to be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. And beware of lying, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hell. A man will keep telling the truth and striving to do so until he will be recorded with Allah as a truthful. And a man will keep telling lies and will persist in doing so until he will be recorded with Allah as a liar.) And there are many Hadiths on this topic.

وَالصَّـبِرِينَ وَالصَّـبِرَتِ

(the men and the women who are patient,) This is the attribute of those who are steadfast, which is patience in the face of adversity and knowing that what is decreed will inevitably come to pass. So, they face it with patience and steadfastness. Patience is the most difficult when disaster first strikes, then after that it becomes easier, and this is true steadfastness.

وَالْخَـشِعِينَ وَالْخَـشِعَـتِ

(the Khashi`: men and the women,) Khushu` means serenity and tranquillity, deliberation and dignity and humility. What motivates a person to be like this is the fear of Allah and the awareness that He is constantly watching, as mentioned in the Hadith:

«اعْبُدُ اللهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاك»

(Worship Allah as if you can see Him, for if you cannot see Him, He can see you.)

وَالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَالْمُتَصَدِّقَـتِ

(the men and the women who give Sadaqat,) As-Sadaqah (charity) means doing good to people who are in need or who are weak and have no means of earning a living and none to financially support them. They give them from the excess of their wealth in obedience to Allah and as a good deed to His creation. It was recorded in the Two Sahihs:

«سَبْعَةٌ يُظِلُّهُمُ اللهُ فِي ظِلِّهِ يَوْمَ لَا ظِلَّ إِلَّا ظِلُّهُ فَذَكَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَرَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْفَاهَا حَتَّى لَاتَعْلَمَ شِمَالُهُ مَا تُنْفِقُ يَمِينُه»

(There are seven whom Allah will shade with His Shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His Shade -- and among them he mentioned -- . ..a man who gave in charity and concealed it to the extent that his left hand did not know what his right hand was giving.) According to another Hadith:

«وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِىءُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِىءُ الْمَاءُ النَّار»

(Sadaqah extinguishes bad deeds just as water extinguishes fire.) There are many Hadiths which encourage charitable giving; this topic is discussed in detail elsewhere.

والصَّـئِمِينَ والصَّـئِمَـتِ

(the men and the women who fast,) According to a Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah:

«وَالصَّوْمُ زَكَاةُ الْبَدَن»

(Fasting is the Zakah of the body.) In other words, it purifies it and cleanses it of things that are bad in both physical and Shar`i terms. Sa`id bin Jubayr said: "Whoever fasts Ramadan and three days of each month, is included in the Ayah,

والصَّـئِمِينَ والصَّـئِمَـتِ

(the men and the women who fast,)" Fasting is also one of the greatest means of overcoming one's desires, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«يَامَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْكُمُ الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ، فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاء»

(O young men! Whoever among you can afford to get married, let him do so, for it is most effective in lowering the gaze and protecting the chastity. And whoever cannot get married, then let him fast, for it will be a protection for him.) It is quite apt that next should be mentioned:

وَالْحَـفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَالْحَـفِـظَـتِ

(the men and the women who guard their chastity) i.e., they protect their private parts from forbidden and sinful things, except for that which is permitted. Allah says:

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـفِظُونَ - إِلاَّ عَلَى أَزْوَجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ - فَمَنِ ابْتَغَى وَرَآءَ ذلِكَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ

(And those who guard their chastity. Except from their wives or the whom their right hands possess -- for they are not blameworthy. But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers.) (70:29-31)

وَالذَكِـرِينَ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً وَالذَكِرَتِ

(and the men and the women who remember Allah much) Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«إِذَا أَيْقَظَ الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّيَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ كُتِبَا تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ مِنَ الذَّاكِرِينَ اللهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَات»

(If a man wakes his wife at night and they pray two Rak`ahs, they will recorded that night as being among the men and the women who remember Allah much.) This was recorded by Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah from the Hadith of Abu Sa`id and Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with them both, from the Prophet . Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was walking along a road in Makkah, and he came to (the mountain of) Jumdan, and said,

«هَذَا جُمْدَانُ، سِيرُوا، فَقَدْ سَبَقَ الْمُفَرِّدُون»

(This is Jumdan, go ahead, for the Mufarridun have gone ahead.(The men and the women who remember Allah much) Then he said,

«اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُحَلِّقِين»

(O Allah, forgive those who shaved their hair.) They said, `And those who shortened.' He said,

«اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُحَلِّقِين»

(O Allah, forgive those who shaved their hair.) They said, `And those who shortened.'

«وَالْمُقَصِّرِين»

(And those who shortened.) This was recorded by Imam Ahmad with this chain of narration. It was also recorded by Muslim, except for the last part of it.

أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةً وَأَجْراً عَظِيماً

(Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.) Here Allah tells us that for all of those mentioned in this Ayah, He has prepared for them forgiveness of their sins and a great reward, meaning, Paradise.

Indeed the men who have submitted to God and the women who have submitted to God and the believing men and the believing women and the obedient men and the obedient women and the men who are truthful and the women who are truthful in their faith and the patient men and the patient women steadfast in performing acts of obedience and the humble men and the humble women and the charitable men and the charitable women and the men who fast and the women who fast and the men who guard their private parts and the women who guard their private parts from what is unlawful and the men who remember God often and the women who remember God often — for them God has prepared forgiveness of their acts of disobedience and a great reward for their acts of obedience.

Commentary

The Qur'anic addresses in masculine gender normally include women: The Wisdom behind it

In the usual injunctions of the noble Qur'an, though, both men and women have been included as addressees, but generally the address is made to men. Women are included there as a corollary. Everywhere, by using the words: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ (0 those who have believed) women have been addressed as being included and contained therein. This releases a hint suggesting that all matters relating to women are shielded, concealed and curtained. In this, there is honor and esteem for them. Particularly, if we were to ponder over the entire Qur'an, we shall discover that no woman except Sayyidah Maryam bint ` Imran (علیہا السلام) has been referred to by her personal name. Instead, when comes the occasion to mention them, they have been mentioned under the cover of their attribution to men, such as, اِمرَأۃ فِرعَون (the woman or wife of the Pharaoh), اِمرَٔۃُ نُوح (the wife of Nuh) and اِمرَأۃ لُوط (the wife of Lut). The exception of Sayyidah Maryam (علیہا السلام) may perhaps be for the reason that Sayyidna 'Isa (علیہ السلام) 'Sell could have not been attributed to any father, therefore, the attribution had to be to the mother. So, it was for this attribution that her name was disclosed. And it is Allah who knows best.

Though, this style of the Qur'an was rooted in great wisdom and expediency, yet it was natural that women should have a feeling of some sort of discomfort about it. Therefore, there are several narrations in Hadith in which women have been reported to have said to the Holy Prophet ﷺ ،"We see that Allah Ta’ ala mentions only men everywhere in the Qur'an and it is them alone that He addresses. This tells us that women have almost no good in them. We are scared about our acts of ` Ibadah. May be, even that is not accepted from us (reported by al-Baghawi from the blessed wives). Similar submissions of this nature from Sayyidah Umm ‘Umarah al-Ansariyyah appear in Tirmidhi with the authority rating of hasan (good) and from Sayyidah Asma' bint ` Umays ؓ in some other narrations. And in all these narrations, this very submission has been identified as the cause of the revelation of the verse cited above.

In these verses special mention has been made of the acceptability of their deeds to mollify the hearts of women. Here, it has been made very clear that the touchstone of acceptance and appreciation with Allah Ta’ ala is the righteousness of deeds and the spirit of obedience to Him. In this, there is no discrimination between man and woman.

The Injunction of Making the Dhikr of Allah Abundantly and Its Wisdom

Islam stands on five acts of ` Ibadah or worship - Salah, Zakah, Siyam (fasting), Hajj and Jihad. But, there is just no injunction in the entire Qur'an that commands any act of Ibadah from out of these to be done abundantly. However, the doing of the Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah (by heart or tongue) abundantly has been ordered in several verses of the Holy Qur'an as in Surah Al-Anfal (8:45) and Surah Al-Jumu'ah (62:10) while in the present verse of Surah Al-Ahzab it was said: وَالذَّاكِرِ‌ينَ اللَّـهَ كَثِيرً‌ا وَالذَّاكِرَ‌اتِ (and the men remembering Allah much and the remembering women - 35).

What is the wisdom behind it? To begin with, it can be said that the Dhikr of Allah is the essential spirit of all acts of worship as it appears in a narration of Sayyidna Mu` adh Ibn Anas ؓ . Someone asked the Holy Prophet ﷺ ،"Who from among the Mujahidin deserves the best of returns?" He said, "One who makes the Dhikr of Allah most abundantly." It was asked again, "Who from among the fasting is most reward-worthy?" He said, "One who makes the Dhikr of Allah most abundantly." Then, similar questions were asked about Salah, Zakah, Hajj and Sadaqah. Every time he said: 'One who makes the Dhikr of Allah most abundantly,' that is, he or she is more deserving of the reward (reported by Ahmad, from Ibn Kathir)

Secondly, it is the easiest of all acts of ` Ibadah. The Shari'ah too has placed no condition for it. Be it with wudu' or without, be it lying, sitting, or walking, the Dhikr of Allah can be done at all times. It demands no hard labor from anyone nor does it require any formal free time. Yet, so great is the effect and benefit of the Dhikr of Allah that, through it, even worldly chores transform into worship and religious acts. The prayers that are made before and after eating, on going out and on coming back, before travel, in travel and on returning home, and before and after starting a business have all been taught to us by the Holy Prophet ﷺ . The outcome of this enormous, treasure of prophetic prayers is that no Muslim should do anything at any time while he or she may be heedless toward or negligent of Allah. And should one make it a point to recite these prayers as part of what he or she has to do in life and its work, then, dunya becomes deen, i.e. worldly duties start releasing the fragrance of faith, a wonderful experience indeed.

Surely submitted men and submitted women, faithful men and faithful women, devout men and devout women, truthful men and truthful women, patient men and patient women, humble men and humble women, charitable men and charitable women, fasting men and fasting women, men who guard their private parts and women who guard, men who remember God much and women who remember-God has prepared for them forgiveness and a tremendous wage. In this verse, the Lord of the Worlds makes clear for His servants the way stations of traveling on the road of the religion. Then in His gentleness He praises them for their traveling and with His mercy He gives them a tremendous wage and a generous reward. He Himself shows the road, He keeps them traveling, and then He praises the servants for that. Here you have generosity and gentleness! Here you have mercy and clemency! Submitted men and submitted women. They are Muslims, having placed the rulings of the Shariah on their necks and having thrown themselves into the road of the Haqiqah. Faithful men and faithful women. They are the faithful through attesting with the tongue, assenting to the truth from the depth of the spirit, and acting with the limbs. Devout men and devout women. They are those who act with obedience and observe the commands, who by day are in the work of the religion and by night drunk with the wine of certainty. Truthful men and truthful women. They are truthful in both speaking and acting, in both compact and covenant. Patient men and patient women. They are patient at the descent of trials and unexpected decrees. Humble men and humble women. They are the broken and the lowly, approving of the decree and standing on the feet of incapacity before the ruling power of the Haqiqah. Charitable men and charitable women. They are the bestowers of their possessions and themselves; they do not put aside anyone's rightful due against them and have left the road of antagonism toward people. Fasting men and fasting women. They hold themselves back from the unworthy, they are silent toward what is displeasing by the decree of the Tariqah, and they keep the fast according to the Shariah. Men who guard their private parts and women who guard. They watch over their outwardness so that they do not fall into the forbidden, and they guard over their inwardness so that they do not see the creatures.