Surah Ahzab

Sūrat al-Aḥzāb (Arabic: سورة الأحزاب‎‎, "The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces") is the 33rd sūrah of the Qur'an with 73 ayat. The sūrah takes its name from the mention of the parties (al-aḥzāb), or confederates (an alliance among the Quraysh and other tribes), who fought the Muslims at the Battle of the Trench (5/627), also known as the Battle of the Parties and as the Siege of Madinah.

This sura mentions what happened at the [Battle of the Trench] to remind believers the mercy and power of Allah since Allah made the various tribes who attacked Madina leave. Since this sura is a Madinan sura, it also contains instructions regarding treatment of the Prophet and his wives and warns the hypocrites of their bad behavior.[2] According to some scholars, Medinan verses are concerned with the legal matters in Islamic society.[3] These suras generally contain rules and regulations for the believers to follow.

Verses 5-6 are concerned with the differences between adopted and blood-related persons. Verse 5 refers to Adoption in Islam and verse 6 contains a reference to the term Mother of Believers, who were Prophet's wives. This perhaps suggests their elevated standing with the community and in the later verses, these women are described as "unlike any other." [4]

Verses 7-8 show that God will test even the sincerity of the prophets. The beginning of the sura seems to be concerned with truthfulness. The sura reinforces that "God is enough to trust...All this is written in the Scripture...God will question [even] the truthful about their sincerity, and for those who reject the truth He has prepared a painful torment...speak in a direct fashion." [5] Truthfulness and trust seem to be emphasized for believers and Muhammad since he was dealing with hypocrites and betrayers in Medina, who spread lies, deserted the army during the battle, or supported the attackers.[6]

Verses 9-27 are concerned with the believers and hypocrites' reactions to the Battle of the trench (or sometimes known as the Battle of the Ditch). The believers are those who remain steadfast in their belief and courage whereas the hypocrites try to run for safety, abandon the Muslim army, and doubt God and Prophet Muhammad. Verse 26 contains a reference to the Siege of the Banu Qurayza and consequent taking of the betrayer's possessions.

Verses 28-34 contain a reference to Muhammad's wives and tell the believers the proper conduct with Muhammad and his household. The prophet's wives are called the Mothers of the Believers and thus have to follow certain rules and regulations as women who are "unlike other women." [7] As such, some scholars have suggested that these rules apply exclusively to only Prophet's wives.[8] According to Shi'a interpretation, verse 33 contains a reference to Ahl al-Bayt (the Event of the Cloak) and Verse of purification.