Syaari Ab Rahman
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“Eternal beauty lies in the strength of the demeanour and the degree of knowledge; not on the appearance and attire.” (Hamka)
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CHAPTER 1
Hope for the Struggling Woman
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Surah At-Tahrim: The Story of the Whispering Woman Surah At-Tahrim is one of the Madaniyah or, The Madni Surahs, or Madani chapters of the Al-Quran which consists of 12 verses. The surah includes numerous stories from varied dimensions of time and location. However, the ultimate purpose of the surah is to reprimand Prophet SAW and us, as his ummah. The background of the surah tells a story about the misunderstanding between a husband and a wife, and in this context, it refers to Prophet SAW and his wives. This was regarding the disputes in their marriage caused by the jealousy amongst the wives of Prophet SAW.
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Asbab Nuzul Asbab Nuzul refers to the remembrance of the Companions regarding the purpose of revelation of the verses from Al-Quran to Prophet SAW. They consist of events or issues that happened during the revelation. There are two stories which became the Asbab Nuzul to Surah At-Tahrim:
The Story of Prophet SAW Drinking Honey One day, Prophet SAW went to visit all his wives after Asar prayer. Even though Prophet SAW was considered the busiest man in the city as he was also the leader of Madinah, it had always been a routine of his to visit all his wives and asked about their well-being. That afternoon, Prophet SAW went to one of his wives’ house, which belonged to Saidatina Zainab RHA (it was a normal visit and not the turn for Prophet SAW to overnight at her house). At that time, Saidatina Aisyah RHA found out that Prophet Muhammad SAW spent a long time at Zainab RHA’s house. Most of his wives noticed this after the routine repeated several times and consequently, they starting talking about it among themselves. It was discovered that during all of Prophet SAW’s visits to her house, Zainab RHA had served him his favourite drink,
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which was honey. Aisyah RHA began to feel uneasy about it that she had come up with an idea and conspired a plan with another Prophet SAW’s wife, Hafsah RHA. Aisyah RHA told Hafsah RHA to inform Prophet SAW that she could smell something unpleasant from him every time he arrived for her turn. If in any case Prophet SAW asked what kind of smell, Hafsah RHA should tell him, it was the smell of maghafil (the smell of spoilt honey). It was known that Prophet SAW’s cleanliness and hygiene care were his utmost priority. He was always using miswak (teeth cleaning twig) and taking frequent baths. On the day it was supposed to be the turn for Prophet SAW to overnight at Hafsah RHA’s house, she said to Prophet SAW what she and Aisyah RHA had already planned beforehand. “Ya Rasulullah, I could smell something unpleasant coming from your mouth.” Rasulullah SAW replied, “What smell could it be? I was only drinking honey. If that was the cause of it, I swear I will never drink honey at Zainab’s house anymore.” Certain scholars stated that Prophet SAW swore by saying, “Wallahi (I swear to Allah), I will never drink honey at Zainab’s house again.” Prophet SAW managed to convey to Hafsah RHA that he had declared honey to be haram only for himself, but not to the ummah, because honey is in fact, halal. However, Hafsah RHA had accidentally revealed regarding the matter of what Prophet SAW had declared haram for himself to Aisyah RHA.
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The Story of Prophet SAW Meeting Mariyah al-Qibtiyah at Hafsah RHA’s House One day, it was the turn for Prophet SAW to overnight at the house of one of his wives named Mariyah al-Qibtiyah RHA. However, Prophet SAW and Mariyah RHA had spent the time together at Hafsah RHA’s house because on that day, Hafsah RHA was not at home. Hafsah RHA had asked for permission from Prophet SAW to go visit her father, Saidina Umar alKhattab RA at his home. Coincidentally, Hafsah RHA suddenly returned from her visit and saw that Prophet SAW was talking and chatting with Mariyah RHA on her bed. Hafsah RHA felt disheartened and so she said, “Ya Rasulullah, what is all this?” Prophet SAW immediately whispered to Hafsah RHA and said, “I prohibit myself from any relationship with Mariyah and I will never be with her anymore.” Hafsah RHA was happy with the answer and told Aisyah RHA what had happened at her place. Soon after these two incidents, Surah At-Tahrim was revealed.
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The Help of Allah SWT to Prophet Muhammad SAW This surah is arranged to be placed after the other surahs of Surah Madaniyah like Al-Hadid (The Iron), Al-Mujadalah (The Pleading Woman), Al-Hasyr (The Exile), Al-Mumtahanah (She that is to be Examined), Ash-Shaff (The Ranks), Al-Jumu’ah (The Congregation, Friday), Al-Munafiqun (The Hypocrites), At-Taghabun (The Mutual Disillusion) followed by At-Talaq (The Divorce). Surah At-Tahrim (The Prohibition) came after. All the surahs mentioned above have similarities that we can discover, specifically on the themes of jihad, struggle and the functions of Prophet SAW as a leader of a country. Although jihad was not specifically mentioned, Allah SWT did mention about the Musyrikin who were strategising and planning to paralyse the Muslims. The more reason why Prophet Muhammad SAW had to be meticulous and careful in anything he did. Due to this, Prophet SAW had to occupy himself with the matters of the ummah as he had to be attentive and cautious with everything. Amid that hustle and bustle, matters of his marriages began to interfere and caused him difficulties and complications. Allah SWT therefore revealed the verse which contains the rulings to assist and help Prophet SAW in his marital affairs.
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When Entrusted With Husband’s Secrets Verse 1
َّ َ َ ٓ َ ُ ّ َ ُ َ َ َ َ ُ َّ ۡ َ ل ِم ت ِرم ما أحل ٱلل لك ۖ تبت ِغ ُ َ ُ َّ َ َ ٰ َ ۡ َ َّ ٞ ٞ ١ جكۚ وٱلل غفور رحِيم ِ أزو
َ َ ُّيأ ُّي َها ٱنلَّب ٰٓ ِ َ َم ۡر َض ات
O Prophet, why do you prohibit [yourself from] what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking the approval of your wives? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (Surah at-Tahrim: 1) The first verse is a warning towards Prophet SAW because he was influenced with what had been said by Hafsah RHA, who had beforehand made plans with Aisyah RHA. Allah SWT reprimands Prophet SAW in this verse.
Verse 2
َ َ َ ُ َ ُ َّ َ ۡ ُ ٰ َ ۡ َ َ َّ َ ۡ ُ َ ُ َّ ٱلل َم ۡو لىٰك ۡ ۖم ق ۡد ف َرض ٱلل لكم تِلة أ يمن ِك ۚم و ُ َو ُه َو ۡٱل َعل ُ ٱلك َ ۡ ِيم ٢ ِيم Allah has already ordained for you [Muslims] the dissolution of your oaths. And Allah is your protector, and He is the Knowing, the Wise. (Surah at-Tahrim: 2) IN THEIR TESTED MOMENTS | 21
Allah SWT informed Rasulullah SAW that he did not commit any sin as He had already forgiven him beforehand. However, let us pay attention to how this particular verse used the plural form, -kum (all of you) instead of -ka ([only] you) in the words mentioned in the verse, like; lakum, aimanikum and maulakum. Allah SWT may have had forgiven Prophet SAW but it was feared that in the future, the ummah of Prophet SAW themselves would be the ones to forbid something that has never been forbidden (not only honey, with reference to the first story; but regarding other things Allah SWT has made halal). In other words, the particular usage of plural form for the verb in the verse, is like a reminder to the ummah¸ “O Ummah, if you had done something alike Prophet SAW, he was already forgiven; but bear in mind that you are still not forgiven until you say the istighfar.” Allah SWT has presented a way for us, the ummah, to redeem ourselves if in any case we have gone astray by forbidding something halal or made halal something which is haram using His name, by swearing upon the name of Allah SWT. We can justify and compensate ourselves by making tawbah and to pay the kafarah (expiation of sin, referred to special sanction to compensate for the offense or sin), by providing food and clothing to ten underprivileged and poor people as much as we can, but moderately. This verse has shown us the way of how we can rescue ourselves from all the dilemma and problems that trouble us.
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Verse 3
َ َ ُّ َّ َّ َ َ ۡ ۡ َ َّ َ َّ َ َ ٗ َ ۡ ۡ َ َ ٰ ٰ جهِۦ حدِيثا فلما نبأت ِ ِإَوذ أ س ٱنل ِب إ ِل بع ِض أ زو َ َ ُ َّ ُ َ َ ۡ َ َ ۢٱلل َعل ۡيهِ َع َّر َف َب ۡع َض ُه ۥ َوأ ۡع َر َض َعن بِهِۦ وأ ظهره َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ۡ ََب ۡعض فَلَ َّما َن َّبأ َها بهِۦ قَال َ ت َم ۡن أ ۢنبأ َك هٰذ اۖ قال ٖۖ ِ َ َ ۡ ِيم ُ ٱلب ُ ن ۡٱل َعل َ ِ َن َّبأ ٣ ري ِ And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement; and when she informed [another] of it and Allah showed it to him, he made known part of it and ignored a part. And when he informed her about it, she said, “Who told you this?” He said, “I was informed by the Knowing, the Acquainted.” (Surah at-Tahrim: 3) This verse tells us about the warning Allah SWT had given to Hafsah RHA and Aisyah RHA. Their inability to keep the secrets of their husband was paid a great attention by Allah SWT. Above all, in this verse, the most important matter we need to pay attention to, is regarding the absence of mentioning any names. Most of the identities portrayed in the verses in the Al-Quran are generally mentioned. Whenever Allah SWT does not mention any specific name, there is a possibility that something similar might happen again in the future, by other people, at other times. There could be other wives who might
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expose their own husbands’ secrets which have been entrusted to them. Another important matter to take note is, it is not wise to reveal the name of the person who makes mistakes and wrongdoings, and shame them in public. For example, the names of the wives as told in this story. They had long gone leaving the rest of us, but we should never forget that they were honoured and exalted by Allah SWT. The wisdom of Allah SWT not mentioning the name of Aisyah RHA and Hafsah RHA in the verse is because He honours the women who were loved and protected by their husband, who was none other than Prophet Muhammad SAW. In Surah At-Talaq, Allah SWT honours and protects the women hated by their husbands. Anytime a husband decides to divorce his wife, it must be in accordance with the commandment of Allah SWT, and not decided based on the human emotions. Surah At-Tahrim acts as a guideline for husbands on how to manage their beloved wives, while Surah At-Talaq acts as a guideline for husbands on how to manage wives whom they no longer love or care for.
Verse 4
ََ ُ ُ ُ ُ ۡ َ َ ۡ َ َ َّ َ ٓ َ ُ َ وبك َماۖ ِإَون تظٰ َه َرا إ ِن تتوبا إِل ٱللِ فقد صغت قل َ ُ ۡ َ ُ ٰ َ ۡ َ َ ُ َ َّ َّ َ ۡ َ َ َ ۡ ۡ ۖ بيل َو صٰل ُِح ٱل ُمؤ ِمن ِني ِ عليهِ فإِن ٱلل هو مو لىه و ِ ج َ ٰٓ َ َ ۡ َ ٌ ك ُة َب ۡع َد َذٰل َِك َظه ٤ ري ِ وٱلملئ ِ 24 | SYAARI AB RAHMAN
If you two [wives] repent to Allah, [it is best], for your hearts have deviated. But if you cooperate against him - then indeed Allah is his protector, and Gabriel and the righteous of the believers and the angels, moreover, are [his] assistants. (Surah at-Tahrim: 4) This verse describes the solution to both women as mentioned in the previous conflict (Hafsah RHA and Aisyah RHA) to make tawbah. Although it was poor judgments made by the wives of Prophet SAW, Allah SWT declared Himself as the Advocator for Prophet Muhammad SAW, while Angel Jibril, the Believers and other angels as His assistants. It is like Allah SWT has declared a war towards these Prophet’s wives (Aisyah RHA and Hafsah RHA). When the verse was recited to the sahabah, they were wondering if the enemies of Islam, which were the people of Ghassan, had arrived in Madinah to attack them. It was told that Ibnu Abbas RA, one of Prophet SAW’s sahabah, was so intrigued by the people mentioned in this verse. Only two years after the passing of Prophet Muhammad SAW did he get his answer, which happened while he was helping the Caliph Umar RA in completing his ablution. That was when Umar RA told him that the people mentioned in the verse were Hafsah RHA and Aisyah RHA.
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Verse 5
ُ َ َّ َ ِٗل ٓۥ أَ ۡز َو ٰ ًجا َخ ۡيا ُ َ ك َّن أَن ُي ۡبد ٰ َ َع س َر ُّب ُه ٓۥ إ ِن طلق َ َ ُ ّ َ ٰٓ َ ِنك َّن ُم ۡسل َِمٰت ُّم ۡؤم َِنٰت َقٰن َِتٰت م ت ٖ ٰ ت عٰبِد ٍ ٰتئِب ٖ ٖ ٖ َ َ ۡ َ ٰ َ ّ َ ٰ َ ٰٓ َ ٗ ك ٥ ارا ت وأ ب ٖ ت ثيِب ٖ سئِح Perhaps his Lord, if he divorced you [all], would substitute for him wives better than you - submitting [to Allah], believing, devoutly obedient, repentant, worshipping, and traveling - [ones] previously married and virgins. (Surah at-Tahrim: 5) This verse could be considered like a ‘threat’ to the wives of Prophet SAW to make tawbah every time they sin or make mistakes. Their failure to do so, might cause them to be divorced by Prophet SAW and Prophet SAW had the right to do that. If they were no longer the wives to the Prophet SAW, there would no longer be any difference between them and other women. Allah SWT declares that only the women with the qualities of qonitat (women who are faithful and obedient towards their husbands) were worthy of becoming Prophet SAW’s wives. In any case, if any of the wives refused to repent which causes them to lose the qualities of qonitat in themselves, Allah SWT shall replace them with more suitable and better women than them. Whenever they refused to obey Prophet
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SAW even for the littlest thing, it could also mean that there were possibilities they could never obey in other obligatory matters.
Verse 6
ۡ َ َ ۡ ُ َ ُ َ ْ ٓ ُ ْ ُ َ َ َ َّ َ ُّ َ ٰٓ َ ُ ِٗيك ۡم نَار ا يأيها ٱلِين ءامنوا قوا أنفسكم وأ هل ٞ َ ٌ َ ٰٓ َ َ َ ۡ َ َ ُ َ َ ۡ َ ُ َّ َ ُ ُ لئِكة غِلظ َوقودها ٱنلاس وٱل ِجارة عليها م َ ُ َ ۡ َ َ ۡ ُ َ َ َ ٓ َ َ َّ َ ُ ۡ َ َّ ٞ َ َون ما شِداد ل يعصون ٱلل ما أ مرهم ويفعل َ ۡ ٦ يُؤ َم ُر ون
O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (Surah at-Tahrim: 6) This verse challenges us to be more cautious and wary of the boundaries set by Allah SWT in marriages. The wives of the Prophet SAW should never go beyond their boundaries once they became the wives to Prophet Muhammad SAW. This was also a great reminder to Prophet SAW to never go beyond the boundaries which was to make haram matters that were actually made halal by Allah SWT. These are called, ‘hudud’ limit or restriction. IN THEIR TESTED MOMENTS | 27
Anytime we tend to go beyond our boundaries, it would be the same as if we have lost our taqwa (piety, fear of God). Taqwa means to protect, preserve and defend ourselves from going beyond the boundaries, especially for things forbidden and limited by Allah SWT. Allah SWT ordered Hafsah RHA and Aisyah RHA together with all the believers to really guard the piety of themselves and their families. Allah SWT also reminds all the believers to protect, guard and defend our husbands, wives, children, and family members from going beyond the boundaries because there will be no mercy for us in the frightening and terrifying Hellfire.
Verse 7
َ ۡ َ ۡ ُ َ َّ َ ۡ َ ۡ ْ ُ َ ۡ َ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ َّ َ ُّ َ ٰٓ َ يأيها ٱلِين كفر وا ل تعتذِر وا ٱلوم ۖ إِنما تز و ن َ ُ َ ُ ُ َ ما ك ٧ نت ۡم ت ۡع َملون O you who have disbelieved, make no excuses that Day. You will only be recompensed for what you used to do. (Surah at-Tahrim: 7) This verse is clearly aimed to the non-believers. A matter we need to differentiate and be affirmed with are the nature characteristics of the non-believers. In this context, Allah SWT ْ ََ used “ya ayyuhallazina kafaruu” ( )كف ُر واto make reference to the non-believers already residing in the Hellfire, as specifically
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mentioned in the verse. A different context of verse could have been used, like “ya ayyuhal kafiruun” to refer to the nonbelievers still existing on this world. From the verse, it is like Allah SWT is saying, “O the nonbelievers, there is really no need of your repentance, appeal and persuasion so that I would pity and let all of you out of the Hellfire.” In other words, the repentance made by these non-believers will never be accepted as it was already considered too late for them. They were already in the Hellfire. Allah SWT is reminding us to never stop making tawbah as long as we still have the opportunities to do so, while we are still alive, living in this world. The question is, who in this world are urged to make tawbah? Allah SWT answers the question in the next verse.
Verse 8
َ ْ ُ ُ ْ ُ َ َ َ َّ َ ُّ َ َ َّ ً ٱللِ تَ ۡو َب ٗة نَّ ُص ٰٓ وحا وب ٓوا إ ِل يأيها ٱلِين ءامنوا ت َ َّ ُ ُ ُ ٰ َ َع س َر ُّبك ۡم أ ن يُك ِف َر َعنك ۡم َس ّي ِ َـٔا ت ِك ۡم َ َۡۡ َۡ ۡ َ ٰ َّ َ ۡ ُ َ ۡ ُ َ ت ت ِري مِن تت ِ َها ٱلن َه ٰ ُر يَ ۡو َم ل ٖ ويدخِلكم جن ُۡ َ ِين َء ُ َّ يزي ُ ُام ُنوا ْ َم َع ُه ۖۥ ن َ ب َو َّٱل َّ َّٱلل ٱنل ٰ َ ور ُه ۡم ي َ ۡس ع ِ ِ َ َ ُ َ َ ۡ ۡ َ ٓ َ َّ َ َ ُ ُ َ ۡ ٰ َ ۡ َ َ ۡ ۡ َ َ ۡ َ بي أيدِي ِهم وبِأيمن ِ ِهم يقولون ر بنا أت ِمم لا نور نا ّ ُ ٰ َ َ َ َّ ٓ َ َ ۡ ۡ َ ٞ ش ٖء قَد ۡ َ ك وٱغ ِفر لا ۖ إ ِنك ٨ ِير ِ ع IN THEIR TESTED MOMENTS | 29
O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, “Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent.” (Surah at-Tahrim: 8) This verse is solely dedicated to the believers still living in this world - us. The believers who still have time to repent. We still have the time to amend and improve ourselves through tawbah.
On Repentance The best kind of tawbah is of course, tawbah nasuha. Nasuha here refers to “advice”. It is the kind of tawbah that would help us turn into someone who would automatically be prompted to remember about our repentance whenever we had the urge to repeat the same sin or mistake. That is why it is named the repentance that advises us – that constant poke or trigger, as a reminder, in our mind. Although we have made the effort for tawbah, there would inevitably be tendencies of us repeating the same kind of mistakes or sins. In short, if our tawbah does not act like an advisor to us, it would undoubtedly be too easy for us to repeat the same sin we did before all over again.
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Four conditions of tawbah nasuha are: 1. to proclaim repentance wholeheartedly with tears and in seriousness. 2. to
be
immensely
regretful
and
admit
the
disgracefulness of the past mistakes and sins done. 3. to instill strong determination and resolutions to never revisit the past mistakes and sins. 4. to do good deeds so that Allah SWT forgives all mistakes and sins. On the Judgment Day, all the believers would be gathered and assembled together with our Prophet SAW as decreed by Allah SWT in the eighth verse stated above:
ْ َ َ َ َّ َ ام ُنوا َم َع ُه ۖۥ وٱلِين ء ‘...and those who believed with him.’ (Surah at-Tahrim: 8) The wisdom behind the use of the word ma’ahu which translates into “together with” in Surah At-Tahrim refers to the occasion of sirat (the bridge between Hellfire and Paradise). Reading this verse would give the interpretation as if to inform the non-believers; although they might be able to be together (ma’ahu) or to be during the same time as Prophet SAW in this living world; nevertheless, they would never get the same
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opportunity on the judgment day, because their permanent and final destination will always be at the bottom of Hellfire as how they deserved to be.
ٓ َ ۡ َ َ ُ َ َ ۡ ۡ َ ٓ َ َّ َ ۖ ور نا َوٱغ ِف ۡر لَا ربنا أت ِمم لا ن “Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us.” (Surah at-Tahrim: 8) Some scholars interpreted that this is a particular du’a uttered by the believers who were crossing the sirat bridge in total darkness. They were crossing the bridge which below lies the Hellfire with its raging fire. As it happens, this particular bridge will not even have any handles for the believers to hold on to. So, how can the believers walk across the sirat successfully? This is the part where the nur (light) from this remarkable verse will help to guide the believers. To those who sincerely and constantly make tawbah, Allah SWT will bestow upon them the guiding light to help them cross over the bridge of sirat heading towards Heaven victoriously. It is therefore why we need to constantly remind ourselves to make tawbah while we are still alive in this world because our consistent effort of repentance will be the bridge that helps us cross towards Paradise, the home of eternity.
َّ َ ٓ َ ُ َ إ ِن تت ِوبا إ ِل ٱلل If you two repent to Allah, (Surah at-Tahrim: 4) 32 | SYAARI AB RAHMAN
َّ َ ْ ُ ُ ْ ُ َ َ َ َّ َ ُّ َ ٰٓ َ يأيها ٱلِين ء امنوا ت ِوب ٓوا إ ِل ٱلل O you who have believed, repent to Allah (Surah at-Tahrim: 8) There is a difference between tawbah mentioned in the fourth verse and the eighth verse. In the former, the deliverance of tatuba means “to choose” to repent due to loyalty, sincerity, and not pressured by anyone – sincere intention of turning over a new leaf. This is called upon Hafsah RHA and Aisyah RHA. Meanwhile in the latter, the deliverance of tubu in the eighth verse means “asked”, instructed, or commanded to repent. This is called upon as an obligation to all of us; for us to be able to attain for the help and guidance of Allah SWT on the Judgment Day.
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