English Translation of Al-Quran
[33].Surah Al-Ahzab [The Confederates]
Ayat 06. The Prophet ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their (believers’) mothers (as regards respect and marriage). And blood relations among each other have closer personal ties in the Decree of Allah (regarding inheritance) than (the brotherhood of) the believers and the Muhajirun (emigrants from Makkah, etc.), except that you do kindness to those brothers (when the Prophet ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) joined them in brotherhood ties). This has been written in the (Allah’s Book of Divine) Decrees (Al’Lauh AlMahfuz).”
Tafseer of Surah Al Ahzab (The Confederates) Ayat 06. The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers. Blood-relations among each other have closer personal ties, in the Decree of Allah. Than (the Brotherhood of) Believers and Muhajirs: nevertheless do ye what is just to your closest friends: such is the writing in the Decree (of Allah. In spiritual relationships the Prophet is entitled to more respect and consideration than blood-relations. The Believers should follow him rather than their fathers or mothers or brothers, where there is conflict of duties. He is even nearer-closer to our real interests-our own selves. In some Qiraahs, like that of Ubayy Ibn Kaab, also the words “and he is a father of them”, which imply his spiritual relationship and connection with the words “and his wives are their mothers’ ‘. Thus his spiritual fatherhood would be contrasted pointedly with the repudiation of the vulgar superstition of calling any one like Zayd Ibn Harithah by the appellation Zayd Ibn Muhammad (33:40): such an application is really disrespectful of the Prophet. This Surah establishes the dignity and position of the Prophet’s wives, who had a special mission and responsibility as Mothers of the Believers. They were not to be like ordinary women: they had to instruct women in spiritual matters, visit and minister to those who were ill or in distress, and do other kindly offices in aid of the Prophet’s mission. No man should deprive his blood relations of such rights of maintenance and property as they might have. The community of Believers, inhabitants of Madinah and those who had migrated to Madinah from Makkah, also had their mutual rights, but they were not to be put forward as an excuse to defeat the prior rights of natural relationships. In the early Madinah days, Ansar were allowed to inherit from Muhajirs whose natural relations had not emigrated, but this practice was discontinued when normal relations were re-established between Makkah and Madinah.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Zaid bin Arqam (May Allah be pleased with him) “One day Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) stood up to deliver a Khutbah at a watering place known as Khumm between Makkah and Al-Madinah. He praised Allah, extolled Him, and exhorted (us) and said, `Amma Ba’du. O people, I am a human being. I am about to receive a messenger (the angel of death) from my Rubb and I will respond to Allah’s Call, but I am leaving with you two weighty things: the first is the Book of Allah, in which there is right guidance and light, so hold fast to the Book of Allah and adhere to it.’ He exhorted (us to hold fast) to the Book of Allah and then said, `the second is the members of my household, I remind you (to be kind) to the members of my family. I remind you (to be kind) to the members of my family.
[Muslim Book 31, Chapter 04, Hadith # 5920]
Another narration is: Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) said, “I am leaving behind me two weighty things. One of them is the Book of Allah (Al-Quran); that is the strong rope of Allah. Whosoever holds firmly to it, will be the guide, and whosoever leaves it goes astray”.
[Muslim Book 31, Chapter 04, Hadith # 5922]
Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Al-Ahzab Ayat 06. “And blood relations among each other have closer personal ties in the Decree of Allah” This Hadith brings out the following points: 1. Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) was a human being. He too was subject to the inevitable law of death.
2. It stresses upon the establishment of a firm bond with the Book of Allah (the Qur’an) and lays emphasis on showing respect and honor to the members of the Prophet’s ﷺ [SAWW] family.
3. The members of the Prophet’s family are classified into two categories:
Firstly, wives of Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) or Mothers of the believers. This is established from the categorical Verses of the Noble Qur’an.
Secondly, persons who have close relationship with Messenger of Allah ﷺ [SAWW](PBUH) . They are Banu Hashim and Banu Abdul-Muttalib.
