In the Name of
Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Extract from QUR’AANIC STUDIES – A Modern Tafsir PART II:
53. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la tadkhuloo buyoota alnnabiyyi illa an yu/thana lakum ila taAAamin ghayra nathireena inahu walakin itha duAAeetum faodkhuloo fa-itha taAAimtum faintashiroo walamusta/niseena lihadeethin inna thalikum kana yu/thee alnnabiyya fayastahyee minkum waAllahu layastahyee mina alhaqqi wa-itha saaltumoohunna mataAAan fais-aloohunna min wara-i hijabinthalikum atharu liquloobikum waquloobihinna wama kana lakum an tu/thoo rasoola Allahi wala an tankihoo azwajahu min baAAdihi abadan inna thalikum kana AAinda Allahi AAatheeman
33:53. O you who believe!
Enter not the houses of the Prophet unless invited there for a meal, but then
go not there too early as to wait for the meal to be ready. But enter at the
time you are invited, and as soon as you have finished your meals, disperse!
And linger not for a customary talk. This does indeed cause inconvenience to
the Prophet, but he is too embarrassed to tell you. And Allah is not
embarrassed to express the truth. And when you ask for anything from them
(ladies of the Prophet’s household), ask of them from behind a curtain. This
would be better for the purity of your hearts and of theirs. And it behoves you
not to cause inconvenience to the Messenger of Allah, nor to marry his wives
after him. This is indeed a matter of great significance with Allah.
These divine instructions were primarily meant for believers
living on this earth at the time the Prophet was living. But the etiquette, the
instructions point to, should largely be taken care of even now, while
accepting invitations from friends, relatives, and others.
Friday, the 12th
of March 2021.
