Names
This surah is called Surat Al-Mujadilah. [372] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/456; Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 28/5.
Makki or Madani?
Surat Al-Mujadilah is Madani; more than one of the commentators narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [373] Those who narrated that there was consensus regarding that include: Ibn ?Atiyyah, Al-Qurtubi and Al-Fayruzabadi. See: Tafsir Ibn ?Atiyyah, 5/246; Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, 17/269; Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/456.
Objectives
The most important objectives of this surah include:
Explaining the ruling on zihar a jahili form of divorce in which a man said to his wife: ?You are to me like my mother?s back? and annulment of the forms of divorce that were practised during the Jahiliyyah. [374] See: Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 28/6; At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 14/242.
Exposing the hypocrites and highlighting their misguidance, their false arguments and blameworthy actions. [375] See: Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 28/6; At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 14/242.
Highlighting some of the etiquette that the believers must acquire. [376] At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 14/242.
Topics
The most significant topics addressed in Surat Al-Mujadilah include:
The woman who pleaded with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) regarding her husband; the ruling on zihar and the expiation for it.
Mention of those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, and the bad fate that awaits them.
Affirming the vastness of Allah?s knowledge, and that nothing is hidden from Him.
Mention of private conversations; what the enemies of Islam spoke of in their private conversations and how they greeted the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him); how the private conversations of believers should be; what Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, prescribed for the believers to do before they conversed privately with the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
Some of the etiquette to be observed in gatherings.
Some of the characteristics of the hypocrites, their taking the Jews as allies, their swearing to a lie, their forgetting the remembrance of Allah, and the bad fate that awaits them.
The surah ends with praise of the believers, highlighting their noble characteristics, and the good outcome that will be theirs.