Surah Al-Mujadilah was revealed in Medina.
The Revelation Point of Surah Al-Mujadilah
Surah Al-Mujadilah (Arabic: المجادلة), meaning "She Who Disputes" or "The Pleading Woman," is the 58th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, comprising 22 verses (ayat). It is definitively categorized as a Medinan Surah, indicating its revelation occurred in Medina after the Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijra) from Mecca.
Characteristics of Medinan Surahs
The period of revelation for Qur'anic chapters is broadly divided into Meccan and Medinan phases, each characterized by distinct themes and styles. Medinan Surahs, like Al-Mujadilah, typically share several common characteristics:
- Legislation and Law: They often address legal matters, social regulations, civil and criminal laws, and ethical guidelines for the emerging Muslim community.
- Community Organization: Focus on the organization and administration of the nascent Islamic state, including matters of governance, justice, and inter-communal relations.
- Detailed Rulings: Provide specific directives on various aspects of life, such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and economic transactions.
- Engagement with Other Communities: Address interactions with Jewish and Christian communities, as well as hypocrites (Munafiqun) within Medina.
Surah Al-Mujadilah's focus on legal issues, particularly the pre-Islamic divorce method of zihar, aligns perfectly with the thematic hallmarks of Medinan revelations. To understand more about the distinction between Meccan and Medinan periods, you can explore resources on Quranic revelation periods.
Context and Key Themes
The revelation of Surah Al-Mujadilah in Medina reflects the evolving needs of the Muslim community as it transitioned from a persecuted minority to a structured society with its own legal and social framework. During this period, the Prophet Muhammad was establishing the foundational principles of the Islamic state.
One of the primary issues addressed in Surah Al-Mujadilah is the pre-Islamic method of divorce known as zihar. This was a practice where a husband would declare his wife to be like his mother's back, effectively making her unlawful to him without a formal divorce, leaving her in a suspended state. The revelation of this surah provides a clear legal ruling on zihar, abrogating this unjust practice and offering a path for reconciliation or proper divorce, thereby bringing justice and clarity to family law within the Muslim community.
