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
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنَادُونَكَ مِن وَرَآءِ ٱلْحُجُرَٰتِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
Indeed, those who call you, [O Muḥammad], from behind the chambers - most of them do not use reason.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُوا۟ وَلَا يَغْتَب بَّعْضُكُم بَعْضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن يَأْكُلَ لَحْمَ أَخِيهِ مَيْتًا فَكَرِهْتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ رَّحِيمٌ
O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is Accepting of Repentance and Merciful.
قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ ٱللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Say, "Would you acquaint Allāh with your religion while Allāh knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth, and Allāh is Knowing of all things?"
وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ لَوْ يُطِيعُكُمْ فِى كَثِيرٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْرِ لَعَنِتُّمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَبَّبَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْإِيمَـٰنَ وَزَيَّنَهُۥ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَكَرَّهَ إِلَيْكُمُ ٱلْكُفْرَ وَٱلْفُسُوقَ وَٱلْعِصْيَانَ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلرَّٰشِدُونَ
And know that among you is the Messenger of Allāh. If he were to obey you in much of the matter, you would be in difficulty, but Allāh has endeared to you the faith and has made it pleasing in your hearts and has made hateful to you disbelief, defiance and disobedience. Those are the [rightly] guided.