Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)

SÛRAH XLIX

Al-Ḥujurât takes its name from v. 4, which, with the following verse, is said to refer to the behaviour of a deputation at a time when deputations from all parts of Arabia were coming to Al-Madînah to profess allegiance to the Prophet. The whole Sûrah, dealing as it does with manners, and particularly with behaviour toward the Prophet, evidently belongs to a period when there were many seeking audience, among them many who were quite uncivilised.

The date of revelation is the ninth year of the Hijrah, “the year of deputations,” as it is called.

The Private Apartments

Revealed at Al-Madînah
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

1. O ye who believe! Be not forward in the presence of Allah and His messenger, and keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower.

2. O ye who believe! Lift not up your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor shout when, speaking to him as ye shout one to another, lest your works be rendered vain while ye perceive not.

3. Lo! they who subdue their voices in the presence of the messenger of Allah, those are they whose hearts Allah hath proven unto righteousness. Theirs will be forgiveness and immense reward.

4. Lo! those who call thee from behind the private apartments, most of them have no sense.

5. And if they had had patience till thou earnest forth unto

Cite this page

Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, Consulted online at “Quran Archive - Texts and Studies on the Quran” on 28 Mar. 2024: http://quran-archive.org/explorer/marmaduke-pickthall/1930?page=539