What does “Islam” mean? The word الإسلام [Islam] is an infinitive word derived from س ل م [silm] root in if‘al pattern and used as noun and infinitive. The word silm means “release/keeping away; and to be distant from fear, doubt, trouble, lack of peace, unhappiness, fight, war, pain, suffering, material and spiritual inconveniences, weakness and decaying, and all the negativities.” This word is also the root of salim, selam, teslim, Islam etc. The word’s “Islam” form means “strengthening” [removal from problems, worries, fear, unhappiness, fights, wars, and similar negative things]. Hence, the religion Islam means the “the religion that strengthens humans [entire range of principles that protects and secures people by putting a distance between them and problems, worries, war, weakness, spiritual illness, unhappiness, and similar things].”

1. 1
SURAH AL-AHZAB (THE CONFEDERATES)
MEDINAN PERIOD
Division: 504
1O Prophet! Surrender under the guardianship of Allah, do not obey the
infidels; those who consciously deny the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is
Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]. Surely, Allah is the Most
Knowing, the Best Law-Maker.
2And follow that which has been revealed to you by your Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]. Surely, Allah is the Most Knowing of what
you do.
3And rely unto Allah for the matter, “Allah is sufficient as the One Who
“arranges all creatures according to a specific schedule and maintains, supports and
implements that schedule”.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/1-3)
Division: 505
4Allah has not created two hearts within the chest cavity of the man; a man
cannot be a believer and an infidel at the same time, he must be one of them. And He
has not accepted your wives as your mothers when you take Zihar [oath of
abstinence];355 when you make your wives the subject of the oath of abstinence by
declaring they are like the back of your mother to you. And He has not accepted your
adopted children as your true children. This is what you say with your mouths. Allah
speaks of the Truth only. And He guides to the righteous path.
5Call the adopted children by the name of their fathers; this is more appropriate
with Allah. If you do not know their fathers, then they are your brothers in religion
and your acquaintances by covenant. There is no sin upon you for that which you
have made as a mistake other than that which your hearts do intentionally;
consciously and on a plan. And Allah is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/4-5)
Division: 506
6Prophet is closer to the believers than their very souls and wives of Prophet
are mothers of the believers. And as for relatives; they are all same in the decree of
Allah, -except for treating your protectors in a manner that is acceptable for all-

2. 2
they are more privileged than the believers and the emigrants. This is written in the
Scripture.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/6)
Division: 507
7,8And when We took certain covenants from prophets; Noah, Abraham, Moses
and Jesus, son of Mary to question the righteous about their righteousness. We took
from them a solemn covenant. And Allah has prepared a painful punishment for the
infidels; those who consciously deny the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is
Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer].
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/7-8)
Division: 508356
9O you who have believed! Remember the favor of Allah upon you. When
armies came upon you and We sent upon them a storm and armies that you could not
see. And Allah is the Most Seeing of your deeds.
10When they came upon you from above and from below. And when eyes were
fainted and hearts reached the throats. And you were assuming various assumptions
about Allah.
11Thus were the believers tested by means of attrition and shaken with a strong
tremor.
12And at the time, the infidels and the ill-hearted were saying: “Allah and His
Messenger have promised us nothing but deception”.
13And when a group from among them said: “O the people of Yathrib/Medina!
There is no place for you to stay, get back immediately”. And some of them asked
the Prophet for his permission, saying: “Our houses are vulnerable”. Yet their houses
were not vulnerable. They only wished to escape.
14And if they had entered upon them from all around their houses and
demanded them to set a social fire, they would have done it indeed. And they would
have not waited long.
15And surely, they had promised by Allah that they would not turn away and
flee. And the covenant of Allah/promises given to Allah impose a liability.
16Say: “If you avoid dying or killing, fleeing will never avail you. And then
you shall earn but a little”.

3. 3
17Say: “Had Allah wished to cast evil upon you or to have mercy upon you,
who else can protect you against Allah? And they cannot find a guide and a protector
from among the subordinates of Allah; and no helpers as well.
18,19Surely, Allah knows those who forbid, omit, and who say to their brothers
in jealousy: “Come to us!”. And they are not able to stand against distress but a little.
And when that terror came to them, you saw them looking at you with fainted eyes
like the one who is being overwhelmed by death. And when that terror departed, they
showed their forked tongues against you, envying the good. They disbelieved so
Allah made their deeds fail. And it is easy for Allah.
20they thought that the confederates had not yet withdrawn. Should enemy
troops arrive, they would wish they were in desert, among the Bedouins and to ask
about your news. Had they been among you, they would not fight but a little.
21Surely, the Messenger of Allah has an excellent example for you; for those
who hope to meet Allah and the last day and remember Allah frequently.
22And when the believers saw the enemy troops, they said: “This is the promise
of Allah and His Messenger. So Allah and His Messenger have told us the Truth”.
That increased their strength in faith and assurance.
23,24And there were such people among the believers who were faithful to that
which they had to do for Allah according to their belief. Some of them have been
true to their votives/have died, and some of them who wait. –They did not act
liberally and alter their behaviors relying onto the fact that Allah will reward the
righteous for their righteousness and punish the infidels or give them the chance to
repent.-. Surely, Allah is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
25And Allah repelled the infidels; those who consciously deny the Divinity of
Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]
with their grudge and without gaining a benefit. And Allah was sufficient for the
believers in their fight. And Allah is the Omnipotent, the Most Exalted.
26,27And Allah brought down those from among the Companions of the
Scripture, who helped the infidels, from their castles. And He terrorized their hearts:
you slaughtered some of them and took some of them as prisoners. And Allah made
you inherit their lands, homes, wealth and another place upon which you had not set
foot yet. And Allah is the Omnipotent, Competent over all things.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/9-27)
Division: 509

4. 4
28,29O Prophet! Say to your wives: “If you desire this simple worldly life and its
deluding adornments, let me pay you a compensation for divorce and release you in a
good manner. If you desire Allah and His Messenger and the last settlement, then
Allah has surely prepared for those among you who do good deeds a great reward”.
30,31O women of the Prophet! Should one of you commit a blatant, abominable
immorality, her punishment will be doubled. And it is easy for Allah. And whoever
of you is devout and shows respect to Allah and His Messenger and do good deeds,
her reward will be doubled. And We have prepared for her a supreme provision.
32-34O women of the Prophet! You are not like any other woman; should you
surrender under the guardianship of Allah, speak modestly so those ill-minded;
malicious people may not be tempted. Speak in compliance with the tradition/in a
way that is acceptable for all. Be modest at your houses, do not make a display after
first such display done out of ignorance, perform Salat [Support financially and
spiritually; establish and maintain institutions that enlighten the community], give
zaqat/tax, obey Allah and His Messenger. –O Ahl al-Bayt [Companions of the
House]! Truly, Allah wishes to purify and clean you.- And remember the Ayat of
Allah that are recited in your homes and also the laws, rules, principles that are set
forth to prevent injustice, mischief and chaos. Surely, Allah is the Most Gracious, the
Most Knowing of that which is hidden, and He knows the mysteries and secrets of all
things.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/28-34)
Division: 510
35No doubt that the men and the women who have converted to Islam, the
believer men and women, respectful men and women, righteous men and women,
patient men and women, humble men and women, those men and women who give
away charity, fasting men and women, those men and women who guard their
chastity, those men and women who remember Allah frequently; Allah has prepared
for them a forgiveness and a great reward.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/35)
Division: 511
36And when Allah and His Messenger make a decision over a matter, no
believing man or woman is free in their respective affairs. And whoever rebels
against Allah and His Messenger has clearly gone astray with perversion.
37When you said to the one whom Allah had given His blessings and you had
made a favor: “Keep your wife beside you and surrender under the guardianship of
Allah!” but kept secret that which Allah would disclose, fearing people. But Allah

5. 5
was more worthy of you fearing Him with respect, love and knowledge. And when
Zayd357 severed his ties with Zaynab, We married Zaynab with you. So there would
be no dispute among the believers concerning the marriage of wives of adopted
children when they have divorced. Command of Allah has been fulfilled.
38,39There is no obstacle upon the Prophet concerning that which Allah has
imposed upon him as the implementation of Allah upon those who have passed
away; those who fulfill their duties as messengers of Allah, who fear Him in respect
and love and knowledge and who fear none but Allah with respect, love and
knowledge. Command of Allah is a specified and predetermined destiny. Allah is
sufficient as Reckoner.
40Muhammed begets no children from among you. However, he is the last
messenger and prophet of Allah. And Allah is the Most Knowing of all things.358
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/36-40)
Division: 512
41,42O you who have believed! Remember Allah with ‘frequent remembrance’.
And exonerate Him at all times from all deficiencies.
43,44He is the One Who supports you to bring you out of darkness and into the
light. His forces of the nature/harbinger Ayat that He sends down provide support.
And He is the Most Merciful upon the believers. On the day they will meet Him,
their greeting will be “Salam!”. Allah has prepared for them a noble reward.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/41-44)
Division: 513
45-48O Prophet! Surely, We have sent/appointed you as a witness, a harbinger of
good tidings, a warner, an inviter to Allah by His consent/will and a lantern that
illuminates. Give the believers the good tidings that you are a great gift to you from
Allah. Do not obey the infidels; those who consciously deny the Divinity of Allah
and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer], do not
care about their annoyances. And rely unto Allah for your affairs. For Allah, the One
Who “arranges all creatures according to a schedule and maintains, supports and
implements that schedule”, is sufficient for you.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/45-48)
Division: 514

6. 6
49O you who have believed! When you marry to believing women and divorce
them without touching them, no abstinence term will be for you. Give them
compensation and release them in a good manner.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/49)
Division: 515
50O Prophet! We have given you the permission [halal] to marry the
concubines/prisoners of war who have been given you359 as booty of war, who are
under your possession by covenant,
daughters of your uncles and aunts who have emigrated along with you
and the believing women who devote themselves to Prophet and whom Prophet
wishes to marry –only for you but not for anyone else-. We know/have declared
before what We have imposed upon the believer concerning their wives and their
concubines under covenant.360 This matter; provisions concerning the polygamy and
all other respective provisions are set forth only as a convenience for you. And Allah
is the Most Forgiving and the Most Merciful of the sins of His servants, He is the
Possessor of Vast Mercy.
51You can leave behind whomever of them and take whomever of them with
you. Should you wish to return to those of them whom you desire, there will be no
sin upon you. This is the way closest to the best for them so they may be content and
not grieve and be grateful for what you give them. Allah knows what is within your
hearts. Allah is the Most Knowing, the Indulgent.
52From now on, women and replacing these women with other women –even
though you are pleased with their beauty- is made haram [forbidden] to you. Except
for those whom your covenant possesses/the prisoners who are given under your
command; you can marry to them. Allah observes and supervises all things.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/50-52)
Division: 516
53O you who have believed! Enter Prophet’s house only when you are invited
for dinner –without considering the time-. When you are invited, enter right away.
And when you finish your meal, leave immediately. Do not wait, expecting a
conversation. Surely, this would annoy the Prophet and he is shy to dismiss you.

7. 7
Allah is never shy of the Truth/reality. Should you ask his wives for something, ask it
behind the curtain/without entering their room. It is purer for your hearts and their
hearts. And it is absolutely not appropriate for you to annoy the Prophet and marry to
his wives after he has passed away. This is an enormity in the eye of Allah.
54Whatever you should hide or disclose, you would know that Allah is the Most
Knowing of all things.
55There is no sin upon wives of the Prophet concerning their fathers, sons,
brothers, sons of their brothers, sons of their sisters, women and those whom their
covenant possesses.361 –And you/wives of the Prophet; surrender under the
guardianship of Allah.- Surely Allah is the Best Witness to all things.
56Surely, Allah and His forces of the nature/Ayat of the Qur’an that He has
revealed support/help/protect the Prophet. O you who have believed! You
support/help/protect the Prophet as well and secure him with a complete safety!
57Surely, as for those who annoy Allah and His Messenger; Allah will curse
them in this world and in Akhirat [Afterlife]. And He has prepared them a
humiliating punishment.
58Those who torture the believing men and women for that which they have not
done; they have burdened with slander and a clear sin.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/53-58)
Division: 517
59O Prophet! Tell your wives, daughters and wives of the believers to wear
their outer garments. This is most appropriate for them so they will not be harassed.
Allah is the Most Forgiving and the Most Merciful.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/59)
Division: 518
60-62Surely, should the infidels and those ill-hearted, malicious people and those
who made mischief in Medina not desist their evil deeds, We will surely curse them
and inflict you upon them. Then, they cannot be your neighbors there for a long time;
as with the implementation of Allah upon those who have passed away, they shall be
seized and slain wherever they are found. You will not find an alteration on the
law/implementation of Allah!
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/60-62)

8. 8
Division: 519
63-73They ask you about the moment of Qiyamat [Resurrection]. Say:
“Information thereof is only with Allah so He may punish infidel men and women,
those men and women who associate others with Allah; and so He may accept the
repentance of believing men and women. And who knows; the moment of Qiyamat
[Resurrection] is closer. And Allah is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.362
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/63, 73)
Division: 520
64-66Surely, Allah has cursed and forsaken the infidels; those who consciously
deny the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the
Nurturer, the Sustainer] and prepared for them a blazing fire so they will abide
therein eternally. They shall not be able to find any helpers, guides and protectors
there. On the day when their faces will twist and turn in the fire, they will say: “If
only we obeyed Allah and His Messenger!”.
67,68And they said: “O our Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the
Sustainer]! Surely, we followed our masters and ancestors so they averted us from
the righteous path. O our Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]!
Double their punishment and curse them/deprive them of Your mercy”.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/64-68)
Division: 521
69O you who have believed! Be not like those who tortured Moses. Allah
cleared him of what they said. And he was a noble/honorable man in the eye of
Allah.
70,71O you who have believed! Surrender under the guardianship of Allah and
speak the truth. So Allah may correct your affairs for you and forgive your sins.
Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will be saved with a great victory.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/69-71)
Division: 522

9. 9
72Surely, We spread the trust [unity, perfection, flawlessness] over the
Heavens, the Earth and the mountains and also We made it prevalent, but they did
not agree to bear/conceal it, to render it unrecognizable and to disgrace it. They
feared that the unity, perfection and flawlessness would be taken away and would be
rendered unrecognizable. And mankind bore/concealed it, made it unrecognizable
and disgraced it [Mankind betrayed it]. Surely, mankind did wrong; acted against
their own good and were ignorant.
(90/33; Al-Ahzab/72)
355 With this Ayah, a Jahilliyah era tradition [Az-Zihar] was abolished. According to
Arabic tradition, when a man resented his wife for whatever reason, he would say “You are to me as
the back of my mother”. Thereupon, she would become forbidden [haram] to him although their
marriage did not become void. However, as an actual divorce did not take place, woman had no
choice but living in the distress of this situation. This is mentioned in the Surah Al-Mujadila/1-4
(Division: 641).
356 These Ayat deal with the Battle of the Trench (Khandaq) that took place in 5 AH. As
with the Battle of Badr, Allah created many miracles during this battle. In this passage, certain scenes
of the Battle of the Trench and Banu Qurayza are mentioned. In order to fully comprehend the passage
and to learn about the details of the incident, encyclopedic information of the Battle of the Trench
should be obtained.
Al-Ahzab [the Coalition, the Opposing Party] is the plural form of the word “Hizb” and means
the Meccan clans, Banu Ghatafan, Banu Qurayza and other Arab clans (united groups associating
others with Allah) which united against the Muslims.
357 Zayd was a member of the Kalb Tribe. As a boy, he was taken prisoner in the clan
wars and sold at the Ukkaz slave market. One of the nephews of Hagira, Hakeem ibn-Hizam
purchased and brought Zayd to Mecca and offered him to his aunt as a gift. When Rasulullah [the
Messenger of Allah] married to Hagira, he found Zayd at the service of his wife. He requested him
from his wife due to his kindness and good nature. Thus, the lucky boy entered into the servitude of
the perfect man who would become a prophet in a couple of years. At the time Zayd was 15 year old.
When his father and uncles became aware that he was in Mecca, they visited Muhammad and
demanded their son back against a ransom. Muhammad said to them: “I will ask the boy whether he
wants to go with you or to stay with me; he will decide. Should he want to stay with me, I will never
let go a person who wants to stay with me”. They agreed. Zayd preferred to stay with Rasulullah [the
Messenger of Allah]. Muhammad immediately set Zayd free and declared in the Kaaba before a group
of Quraysh members, “Be my witnesses, from now on, Zayd is my son. I am his successor and he is
mine successor”, thus adopting Zayd. Thereafter, Zayd would be called as Zayd ibn-Muhammad. All
this happened before Muhammad was declared prophet. Zayd became one of the first four people who
believed in Muhammad after he declared his prophethood. At the time, Zayd was 30 years old and had
been serving Rasulullah [the Messenger of Allah] for 15 years. In 4 AH, Rasulullah [the Messenger of
Allah] married him to Zaynab, daughter of his aunt.
358 The Qur’an will be protected and had protected and no new scriptures will be
revealed. Non-revelation of a new scripture means there will be no messengers in the future.

10. 10
Allah made Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) the last prophet and thus ending the prophethood.
However, He obviously assigned his people with such tasks as warning, giving good tidings,
conveying admonition, commanding the good, forbidding from the evil, which are otherwise assigned
to a prophet, - as can be understood from the Surat Al-Baqara/143 (Division: 421), Ali-Imran/10, 110
(Division: 494) and Al-Hajj/78 (Division: 638).
359 See Footnote No. 345.
360 See Footnote No. 303.
361 See Footnote No. 303.
362 Due to technical and semantic reasons, we merged the 73th Ayah of the Official
Mushaf with the 63rd Ayah. For detailed information, see Al-Tabyeen al-Qur’an.