Sūrah 49 · Medinan

How Sūrah Al-Hujuraat was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Al-Hujuraat → The revelation story
Where revealed Medinan

Revealed in the Madīnan period, after the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #106

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 18 ayahs

2 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Madinan surah serves as the comprehensive code of conduct for the Islamic community. Its purpose is to establish and purify the social and moral order, defining the proper etiquette towards the Prophet (ﷺ), mandating the verification of news, regulating internal conflict between Muslims, and teaching that nobility is based solely on piety (taqwā) and not tribal lineage.

Themes and purpose:

This Madinan surah serves as the comprehensive code of conduct for the Islamic community. Its purpose is to establish and purify the social and moral order, defining the proper etiquette towards the Prophet (ﷺ), mandating the verification of news, regulating internal conflict between Muslims, and teaching that nobility is based solely on piety (taqwā) and not tribal lineage.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Madinan by unanimous agreement. It was revealed around 9 AH, making it one of the very late surahs.

Context: The surah descended to address specific social events that occurred in Madinah, primarily the rude behavior of the tribe of Banū Tamīm when they called out to the Prophet (ﷺ) from outside his private rooms (al-ḥujurāt), as well as the need to stabilize the community's internal relations.

Name: The surah's established name is "Sūrat al-Ḥujurāt" (The Private Apartments). It is named for the unique mention of the al-ḥujurāt [4] (the private apartments of the Prophet's wives) in the context of teaching proper etiquette for calling the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).

Order: It is the 108th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Mujādilah and before al-Taḥrīm. In terms of the compiled order, it is generally considered the first of the Mufaṣṣal surahs, which span until the end of the Quran.

Ayah Count: 18 by consensus.

Surah Overview:

  • Teaching the essential etiquette due to the Prophet (ﷺ) in speech, address, and interaction. [1-5]
  • Mandating the verification of news to prevent social unrest and mischief. [6]
  • The necessity of avoiding the characteristics of the hypocrites and disbelievers (e.g., being quick to accept false reports). [6]
  • Establishing the fundamental principle that believers are brethren and detailing the procedure for resolving conflict between them. [9-10]
  • Prohibiting key social sins: mockery, slander, backbiting, and suspicion. [11-12]
  • Defining the proper etiquette and rules for social mixing, greeting, and visiting. [e.g., 12]
  • Establishing the principle of equality, affirming that status is based solely on piety and not tribal or national origin. [13]
  • Warning against adopting the superficial belief of the nomadic Arabs and defining the true characteristics of faith. [14-15]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 7 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah1
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4367

    حَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَنَّ ابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ أَنَّهُ، قَدِمَ رَكْبٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَمِّرِ الْقَعْقَاعَ بْنَ مَعْبَدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ‏.‏ قَالَ عُمَرُ بَلْ أَمِّرِ الأَقْرَعَ بْنَ حَابِسٍ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَا أَرَدْتَ إِلاَّ خِلاَفِي‏.‏ قَالَ عُمَرُ مَا أَرَدْتُ خِلاَفَكَ‏.‏ فَتَمَارَيَا حَتَّى ارْتَفَعَتْ أَصْوَاتُهُمَا فَنَزَلَ فِي ذَلِكَ ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تُقَدِّمُوا‏﴾‏ حَتَّى انْقَضَتْ‏.‏

    Narrated Ibn Abi Mulaika: `Abdullah bin Az-Zubair said that a group of riders belonging to Banu Tamim came to the Prophet, Abu Bakr said (to the Prophet (ﷺ) ), "Appoint Al-Qa'qa bin Mabad bin Zurara as (their) ruler." `Umar said (to the Prophet). "No! But appoint Al-Aqra bin H`Abis." Thereupon Abu Bakr said (to `Umar). "You just wanted to oppose me." `Umar replied. "I did not want to oppose you." So both of them argued so much that their voices became louder, and then the following Divine Verses were revealed in that connection:-- "O you who believe ! Do not be forward in the presence of Allah and His Apostle..." (till the end of Verse)...(49.1)

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  2. Relates to āyah2
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4845

    حَدَّثَنَا يَسَرَةُ بْنُ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ جَمِيلٍ اللَّخْمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا نَافِعُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، قَالَ كَادَ الْخَيِّرَانِ أَنْ يَهْلِكَا ـ أَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ رَفَعَا أَصْوَاتَهُمَا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ قَدِمَ عَلَيْهِ رَكْبُ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ، فَأَشَارَ أَحَدُهُمَا بِالأَقْرَعِ بْنِ حَابِسٍ أَخِي بَنِي مُجَاشِعٍ، وَأَشَارَ الآخَرُ بِرَجُلٍ آخَرَ ـ قَالَ نَافِعٌ لاَ أَحْفَظُ اسْمَهُ ـ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِعُمَرَ مَا أَرَدْتَ إِلاَّ خِلاَفِي‏.‏ قَالَ مَا أَرَدْتُ خِلاَفَكَ‏.‏ فَارْتَفَعَتْ أَصْوَاتُهُمَا فِي ذَلِكَ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ‏﴾‏ الآيَةَ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ فَمَا كَانَ عُمَرُ يُسْمِعُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعْدَ هَذِهِ الآيَةِ حَتَّى يَسْتَفْهِمَهُ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ ذَلِكَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ‏.‏

    Narrated Ibn Abi Mulaika: The two righteous persons were about to be ruined. They were Abu Bakr and `Umar who raised their voices in the presence of the Prophet (ﷺ) when a mission from Bani Tamim came to him. One of the two recommended Al-Aqra' bin Habeas, the brother of Bani Mujashi (to be their governor) while the other recommended somebody else. (Nafi`, the sub-narrator said, I do not remember his name). Abu Bakr said to `Umar, "You wanted nothing but to oppose me!" `Umar said, "I did not intend to oppose you." Their voices grew loud in that argument, so Allah revealed: 'O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet.' (49.2) Ibn Az-Zubair said, "Since the revelation of this Verse, `Umar used to speak in such a low tone that the Prophet (ﷺ) had to ask him to repeat his statements." But Ibn Az-Zubair did not mention the same about his (maternal) grandfather (i.e. Abu Bakr).

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7302

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُقَاتِلٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ نَافِعِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، قَالَ كَادَ الْخَيِّرَانِ أَنْ يَهْلِكَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَعُمَرُ، لَمَّا قَدِمَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَفْدُ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ، أَشَارَ أَحَدُهُمَا بِالأَقْرَعِ بْنِ حَابِسٍ الْحَنْظَلِيِّ أَخِي بَنِي مُجَاشِعٍ، وَأَشَارَ الآخَرُ بِغَيْرِهِ، فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِعُمَرَ إِنَّمَا أَرَدْتَ خِلاَفِي‏.‏ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ مَا أَرَدْتُ خِلاَفَكَ‏.‏ فَارْتَفَعَتْ أَصْوَاتُهُمَا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنَزَلَتْ ‏﴿‏يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ‏﴾‏ إِلَى قَوْلِهِ ‏{‏عَظِيمٌ‏}‏‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ قَالَ ابْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ فَكَانَ عُمَرُ بَعْدُ ـ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ ذَلِكَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ يَعْنِي أَبَا بَكْرٍ ـ إِذَا حَدَّثَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِحَدِيثٍ حَدَّثَهُ كَأَخِي السِّرَارِ، لَمْ يُسْمِعْهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَفْهِمَهُ‏.‏

    Narrated Ibn Abi Mulaika: Once the two righteous men, i.e., Abu Bakr and `Umar were on the verge of destruction (and that was because): When the delegate of Bani Tamim came to the Prophet, one of them (either Abu Bakr or `Umar) recommended Al-Aqra' bin H`Abis at-Tamimi Al-Hanzali, the brother of Bani Majashi (to be appointed as their chief), while the other recommended somebody else. Abu Bakr said to `Umar, "You intended only to oppose me." `Umar said, "I did not intend to oppose you!" Then their voices grew louder in front of the Prophet (ﷺ) whereupon there was revealed: 'O you who believe! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet..a great reward.' (49.2-3) Ibn Az-Zubair said, 'Thence forward when `Umar talked to the Prophet, he would talk like one who whispered a secret and would even fail to make the Prophet (ﷺ) hear him, in which case the Prophet (ﷺ) would ask him (to repeat his words).

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  3. Relates to āyah9
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2691 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4513, 4514, 4515
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4650

    حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا حَيْوَةُ، عَنْ بَكْرِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ بُكَيْرٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، جَاءَهُ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَلاَ تَسْمَعُ مَا ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ ‏﴿‏وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا‏﴾‏ إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ، فَمَا يَمْنَعُكَ أَنْ لاَ تُقَاتِلَ كَمَا ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَخِي أَغْتَرُّ بِهَذِهِ الآيَةِ وَلاَ أُقَاتِلُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَغْتَرَّ بِهَذِهِ الآيَةِ الَّتِي يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ‏﴿‏وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا‏﴾‏ إِلَى آخِرِهَا‏.‏ قَالَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ ‏﴿‏وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ‏﴾‏‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ قَدْ فَعَلْنَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذْ كَانَ الإِسْلاَمُ قَلِيلاً، فَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ يُفْتَنُ فِي دِينِهِ، إِمَّا يَقْتُلُوهُ وَإِمَّا يُوثِقُوهُ، حَتَّى كَثُرَ الإِسْلاَمُ، فَلَمْ تَكُنْ فِتْنَةٌ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَنَّهُ لاَ يُوَافِقُهُ فِيمَا يُرِيدُ قَالَ فَمَا قَوْلُكَ فِي عَلِيٍّ وَعُثْمَانَ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ مَا قَوْلِي فِي عَلِيٍّ وَعُثْمَانَ أَمَّا عُثْمَانُ فَكَانَ اللَّهُ قَدْ عَفَا عَنْهُ، فَكَرِهْتُمْ أَنْ يَعْفُوَ عَنْهُ، وَأَمَّا عَلِيٌّ فَابْنُ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَخَتَنُهُ‏.‏ وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ وَهَذِهِ ابْنَتُهُ أَوْ بِنْتُهُ حَيْثُ تَرَوْنَ‏.‏

    Narrated Ibn `Umar: That a man came to him (while two groups of Muslims were fighting) and said, "O Abu `Abdur Rahman! Don't you hear what Allah has mentioned in His Book: 'And if two groups of believers fight against each other...' (49.9) So what prevents you from fighting as Allah has mentioned in His Book?"' Ibn `Umar said, "O son of my brother! I would rather be blamed for not fighting because of this Verse than to be blamed because of another Verse where Allah says: 'And whoever kills a believer intentionally..." (4.93) Then that man said, "Allah says:-- 'And fight them until there is no more afflictions (worshipping other besides Allah) and the religion (i.e. worship) will be all for Allah (Alone)" (8.39) Ibn `Umar said, "We did this during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) when the number of Muslims was small, and a man was put to trial because of his religion, the pagans would either kill or chain him; but when the Muslims increased (and Islam spread), there was no persecution." When that man saw that Ibn `Umar did not agree to his proposal, he said, "What is your opinion regarding `Ali and `Uthman?" Ibn `Umar said, "What is my opinion regarding `Ali and `Uthman? As for `Uthman, Allah forgave him and you disliked to forgive him, and `Ali is the cousin and son-in-law of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) ." Then he pointed out with his hand and said, "And that is his daughter's (house) which you can see."

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The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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