Names
This surah is called Surat Al-Hujurat. [318] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/435; Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 26/213.
Makki or Madani?
Surat Al-Hujurat is Madani; more than one of the commentators narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [319] Those who narrated that there was consensus regarding that include: Ibn ?Atiyyah, Ibn Al-Jawzi and Al-Qurtubi. See: Tafsir Ibn ?Atiyyah, 5/127; Tafsir Ibn Al-Jawzi, 4/141; Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, 16/300.
Objectives
The most important objectives of this surah include:
Instructing the believers to observe good etiquette with Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,, with the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and with their fellow believers. [320] See: Tafsir Ar-Razi, 28/97; At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 13/296.
Topics
The most significant topics addressed in Surat Al-Hujurat include:
Teaching the believers what is required of them in terms of etiquette towards their Creator and towards their Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
Instructing the believers to check and verify the news that reaches their ears.
Highlighting some aspects of the manifestations of Allah?s bounty to the believers.
Explaining what is required of the believers towards their brethren when fighting occurs among them, which is to reconcile between them and fight the group that is in the wrong, if they persist in their wrongdoing and refuse to reconcile, until it complies with the command of Allah.
Forbidding the believers to mock others; the command to avoid thinking ill of others; the prohibition on spying and backbiting.
Addressing a call to people explaining to them that they were all created from a male and female, and that the noblest among them is the most righteous among them.
Refutation of the Bedouin who said ?we believe,? without faith taking root in their hearts; description of the characteristics of the sincere believers.
Criticism of those who think that they are doing Allah and His Messenger a favour by believing; it is Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, who grants a favour to them by guiding them to faith.
The surah ends by stating that Allah?s knowledge encompasses the unseen in the heavens and earth, and that He is aware of all deeds.