وَٱلرُّجْزَ فَٱهْجُرْ 5
Translations
And uncleanliness avoid.
Transliteration
Wa-al-rujza fa-ahjur
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to abandon and avoid filth, impurity, and idolatry (al-rujz). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a directive to completely distance oneself from polytheism, false beliefs, and spiritual corruption. The command encompasses both physical and spiritual purification, establishing a foundational principle that believers must reject all forms of spiritual contamination and ungodliness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the early part of Surah Al-Muddaththir, which was revealed in the early Meccan period as one of the earliest revelations after Surah Al-Alaq. The surah addresses the Prophet during a critical phase of his mission, instructing him in the fundamentals of his prophetic responsibility. The context emphasizes the Prophet's role as a purifier and warner, necessitating his own spiritual cleansing and firm rejection of idolatry and false beliefs prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabia.
Related Hadiths
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Part of someone's being a good Muslim is leaving alone what does not concern him' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2318). Additionally, the Quran states in Surah Al-Maidah 5:90 about avoiding intoxicants and gambling as 'abominations (rujz) from the work of Satan,' showing the consistent usage of this term for things to be avoided.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that spiritual growth requires active rejection and avoidance of spiritual filth—whether through false beliefs, immoral practices, or corrupting influences. The command to 'abandon' suggests that merely refraining is insufficient; one must actively distance oneself from all forms of spiritual contamination to maintain closeness to Allah.