Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:33

Al-Ahzab (The Confederates): 33

Verse: {وَقُرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ} (And stay in your houses)

This is derived from al-qarār (settling/remaining), with one of the doubled letters omitted, just as He said: {فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ} (So you remained amusing yourselves). Another opinion suggests it comes from al-wiqār (dignity/composure), similar to how wa‘ada (to promise) becomes ya‘idu (he promises) and qawla (speech).

Verse: {وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى} (And do not display yourselves like the display of the former days of ignorance)

It is said this means: Do not be coquettish or overly flirtatious. It is also possible that it means: Do not reveal your adornments.

Regarding {الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ الْأُولَى} (the former days of ignorance), there are two interpretations:

1. The "first" ignorance refers to the time of Noah, and the "other" ignorance refers to the time after him.
2. This is not the "first" in a sequence that implies a second one; rather, it means the ancient ignorance, like when someone says, "Where are the former mighty emperors (Akāsirah)?"

Then the Almighty said: {وَقُرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ تَبَرُّجَ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ} (And stay in your houses and do not display yourselves like the display of ignorance). This means that the obligation (Taklīf) is not solely contained in the prohibitions, such that it is fulfilled merely by saying {لَا تَخْضَعْنَ} (do not be soft in speech) and {وَلَا تَبَرَّجْنَ} (and do not display yourselves). Rather, it is also found in the commands, such as:

• {إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ} (towards prayer), which signifies abandoning imitation of the arrogant tyrant.
• {وَقُرْنَ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ} (And stay in your houses), which signifies imitating the Generous, the Merciful.
• {وَأَطِعْنَ اللَّهَ} (and obey Allah).

This means the obligation is not restricted to what has been mentioned, but rather, fulfill everything Allah has commanded and abstain from everything Allah has forbidden.

Verse: {إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا} (Allah only intends to remove from you the impurity, O People of the House, and to purify you with [complete] purification.)

This means the one who benefits from your adherence to these commands is not Allah, nor does your obedience benefit Him in what you do. Rather, the benefit is for yourselves, and His command to you is for your own welfare.

Regarding His saying: {لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ} (to remove from you the impurity, O People of the House, and to purify you), there is a subtle point: Impurity (al-rijs) might depart in essence, but the place itself is not purified. Thus, His saying {لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ} means He removes the sins from you, and {وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ} means He clothes you in the robes of honor.

Furthermore, Allah abandoned addressing the feminine plural and switched to the masculine plural by saying: {لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ} (to remove from you [masc. pl.] the impurity) so that the women of the People of the House and their men would be included.

Opinions have differed regarding who the "People of the House" (Ahl al-Bayt) are. The preferred view is that they are His descendants, His wives, Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn are among them, and ‘Alī is among them because he was part of the Prophet's household due to his companionship with the Prophet's daughter and his constant association with the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Verse: {وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلَىٰ فِي بُيُوتِكُنَّ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ لَطِيفًا خَبِيرًا} (And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and the wisdom. Indeed, Allah was ever Subtle and Acquainted.)