Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:35

Surah Al-Ahzab (33): Verse 35

{Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so—for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.}

Then the Almighty said: {Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women...}

After commanding and prohibiting them [women] and mentioning what is due to them, He mentioned ten ranks/levels for them:

1. Islam (Submission) and compliance with God's command.
2. Iman (Faith) in what God commands. A responsible person first says, "I accept everything you say," and this is Islam. Then, when God states something and he accepts it, his statement is verified, and his belief is sound—this is Iman.
3. This belief then calls him to good deeds and righteous actions, leading him to devotion and worship, which is the third rank mentioned by {...the obedient men and obedient women} (al-qānitīn wa al-qānitāt).
4. When he believes and acts righteously, he becomes complete, and he completes others by enjoining good and advising his brother. Thus, his speech is truthful when advising, which is meant by {...the truthful men and truthful women} (al-sādiqīn wa al-sādiqāt).
5. Furthermore, whoever enjoins good and forbids evil will suffer harm, so he must be patient, as stated by {...the patient men and patient women} (al-sābirīn wa al-sābirāt).
6. When he is complete and perfect, he might become proud of himself or admire his worship. To prevent this, He said {...the humble men and humble women} (al-khāshi'īn wa al-khāshi'āt). Alternatively, after mentioning these virtues, He pointed to what prevents them: either the love of status or the love of wealth (external matters), or desire (internal matters). Anger arises from either of these, as it results from a lack of status, loss of wealth, or prevention from a desired matter. Thus, {...the humble men and humble women} means the modest ones who are not swayed by status away from worship.
7. Then the Almighty said {...the charitable men and charitable women} (al-mutasaddiqīn wa al-mutasaddiqāt), meaning those who spend their wealth and do not hoard it due to excessive love for it.
8. Then the Almighty said {...the fasting men and fasting women} (al-sā'imīn wa al-sā'imāt), indicating those whom bodily desires do not prevent from worshipping God.
9. Then the Almighty said {...the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so} (al-hāfiẓīn furūjahum wa al-hāfiẓāt), meaning those whom sexual desire does not prevent [from worship].

Then the Almighty said {...and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so} (wa al-dhākirīna Allāha kathīran wa al-dhākirāt).

This means that in all these states, they remember Allah. Their Islam, faith, obedience, truthfulness, patience, humility, charity, fasting, and guarding of chastity are all done with a sincere intention for Allah.

Know that in most places where Allah mentions remembrance (dhikr), He couples it with abundance (kathrah). Here, and in the verse following this one: {O you who have believed, remember Allah with frequent remembrance} (Al-Ahzab: 41). And before this: {Whoever hopes for the meeting with Allah and the Last Day—let him remember Allah often} (Al-Ahzab: 21).

This is because excessive physical acts are either impossible or difficult, as a person's eating, drinking, and acquiring what sustains them prevents him from constantly engaging in prayer. However, there is no barrier preventing him from remembering Allah while eating, drinking, walking, buying, or selling. This is what He alluded to with His saying: {Those who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides} (Al 'Imran: 191). Moreover, all actions are rooted in the remembrance of Allah, which is the intention (niyyah).

Then the Almighty said: {Allah has prepared for them forgiveness} that erases their sins, and {and a great reward}, which we have mentioned previously.

{It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, to have the choice in their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.}