وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ صَبَرُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ تَخْرُجَ إِلَيْهِمْ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ 5
Translations
And if they had been patient until you [could] come out to them, it would have been better for them. But Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Transliteration
Wa law annahum sabaru hatta takhruja ilayhim la kana khayran lahum. Wa Allahu Ghafurun Rahimun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah advises that if the Bedouins who came to the Prophet ﷺ had waited patiently for him to come out to them rather than calling for him from outside his rooms, it would have been better for them in terms of respect and etiquette. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir note this teaches the importance of proper adab (manners) and patience when seeking an audience with those in authority, while emphasizing that Allah's forgiveness and mercy encompass all shortcomings in conduct.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Hujurat (49), revealed in Madinah regarding the conduct of Bedouin delegations who visited the Prophet ﷺ. The specific context concerns Arabs from the desert who would loudly call out to the Prophet from outside his private chambers rather than observing proper courtesy and waiting, showing a lack of understanding of proper etiquette in Islamic society.
Related Hadiths
The general principle is reinforced in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim regarding the Prophet's guidance on respect and adab. A thematically related hadith is in Sunan Abu Dawud regarding the importance of good manners as part of faith.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that demonstrating respect and patience in our interactions—particularly with those in positions of responsibility—reflects Islamic values and spiritual maturity. It reminds us that Allah's mercy covers our mistakes in etiquette, encouraging us to strive for better conduct while trusting in His compassion.
Related Ayahs
وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱقْتَتَلُوا۟ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ فَإِنۢ بَغَتْ إِحْدَىٰهُمَا عَلَى ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ فَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّتِى تَبْغِى حَتَّىٰ تَفِىٓءَ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن فَآءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمَا بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَأَقْسِطُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُقْسِطِينَ
And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allāh. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلصَّـٰدِقُونَ
The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allāh and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allāh. It is those who are the truthful.
يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَسْلَمُوا۟ ۖ قُل لَّا تَمُنُّوا۟ عَلَىَّ إِسْلَـٰمَكُم ۖ بَلِ ٱللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ هَدَىٰكُمْ لِلْإِيمَـٰنِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
They consider it a favor to you that they have accepted Islām. Say, "Do not consider your Islām a favor to me. Rather, Allāh has conferred favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you should be truthful."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَرْفَعُوٓا۟ أَصْوَٰتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ ٱلنَّبِىِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا۟ لَهُۥ بِٱلْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَن تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَـٰلُكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ
O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not.