Tafsir of Al-Mujadilah 58:13

Al-Mujadilah (The Pleading Woman): Verse 13

Translation and Exegesis (Based on Mafatih al-Ghayb):

The meaning is: Did you fear presenting the charity (Sadaqah) because it involved spending wealth? Since you did not do what you were commanded, and Allah has pardoned you and granted you leniency not to do it, then do not neglect the Prayer (Salat), the Zakat, and the rest of the acts of obedience.

Addressing the Apparent Implication of Shortcoming:

If it is argued that the apparent meaning of the verse indicates a shortcoming on the part of the believers in fulfilling that obligation, this is evident in three ways:

1. The phrase: {أن تقدموا} (that you present/offer beforehand), which suggests they fell short.
2. The phrase: {فإذ لم تفعلوا} (So when you did not do it).
3. The phrase: {وتاب الله عليكم} (and Allah has turned to you in forgiveness).

The Refutation:

We say: The matter is not as you claim. This is because when the people were commanded to present the charity and engage in private consultation (Munajat), presenting the charity was a prerequisite. Therefore, whoever neglected the consultation was deficient.

However, if it were argued that they consulted without presenting the charity, this too is impermissible, because the consultation (Munajat) cannot take place unless the Messenger permits it. If he did not permit them to do so, they would be unable to consult.

Thus, we know that the verse does not indicate that a shortcoming originated from them.

As for the statement {أأشفقتم} (Did you feel apprehensive?), it is not impossible that Allah Almighty knew that many of them would feel constrained about giving charity in the future if the obligation persisted, so He posed this question.

As for the statement {وتاب الله عليكم} (and Allah has turned to you in forgiveness), it does not mean that He pardoned you for that specific shortcoming. Rather, it implies that if you are repentant, returning to Allah, and you establish the Prayer and give the Zakat, then this obligation suffices you.

As for the statement {والله خبير بما تعملون} (And Allah is All-Aware of what you do), it means He encompasses your actions and your intentions.

{ألم تر إلى الذين تولوا قوما غضب الله عليهم ما هم منكم ولا منهم ويحلفون على الكذب وهم يعلمون}

Translation:

Have you not seen those who allied themselves with a people upon whom Allah has brought His wrath? They are neither of you nor of them, and they swear falsely while they know [that they are lying].