Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Ahzab Verse 32

Mufti Taqi Usmani

O wives of the prophet, you are not like any other women, if you observe taqwā (righteousness). So, do not be too soft in your speech, lest someone having disease in his heart should develop fancies (about you); and do speak with appropriate words.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women: if you are mindful ˹of Allah˺, then do not be overly effeminate in speech ˹with men˺ or those with sickness in their hearts may be tempted, but speak in a moderate tone.

Ruwwad Translation Center

O wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other women: if you fear Allah, do not be complaisant in your speech, lest those with sickness in their hearts should be moved with desire; but speak in an appropriate manner.

A. J. Arberry

Wives of the Prophet, you are not as other women. If you are godfearing, be not abject in your speech, so that he in whose heart is sickness may be lustful; but speak honourable words.

Abdul Haleem

Wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other woman. If you are truly mindful of God, do not speak too softly in case the sick at heart should lust after you, but speak in an appropriate manner;

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

wives of the prophet! ye are not like any others of women, if ye are God-fearing. So be not soft in speech, lest one in whose heart is disease should be moved with desire, bun speak a reputable speech.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

O Consorts of the Prophet! Ye are not like any of the (other) women; if ye do fear (Allah), be not too complacent of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire; but speak ye a speech (that is) just.

Abul Ala Maududi

Wives of the Prophet, you are not like other women. If you fear Allah, do not be too complaisant in your speech lest those with diseased hearts should covet you; but speak in a straight forward manner.

Ahmed Ali

O wives of the Prophet, you are not like other women. If you are mindful of God, do not be too obliging in your speech, lest some one sick of heart should covet your person; so say only customary things.

Ahmed Raza Khan

O the wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women – if you really fear Allah, do not speak softly lest the one in whose heart is a disease have any inclination, and speak fairly.

Ali Quli Qarai

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like other women: if you are wary [of Allah], do not be complaisant in your speech, lest he in whose heart is a sickness should aspire; speak honourable words.

Ali Ünal

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any of the other women, provided that you keep from disobedience to God in reverence for Him and piety (and therefore act with awareness of your special status). So (even more than other believing women) do not be complaisant in your speech (when addressing men), lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved to desire, but speak in an honorable way.

Amatul Rahman Omar

O wives of the Prophet! you are like no other women, if you would guard against evil, so be not soft in speech lest he who carries a disease in his heart should feel tempted, and you should speak decent words in a dignified tone.

English Literal

You, the prophet`s women (wives), you are not as anyone from the women, if you feared and obeyed so do not soften/submit/obey with the word/opinion and belief, so wishes/desires who in his heart/mind (is) sickness/disease, and say (F) a kind/generous word/opinion and belief .

Faridul Haque

O the wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women - if you really fear Allah, do not speak softly lest the one in whose heart is a disease have any inclination, and speak fairly.

Hamid S. Aziz

And whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Messenger and does good, We will give to her a double reward, and We have prepared for her an honourable sustenance.

Hilali & Khan

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And whoever of you is obedient to Allah and His Messenger and does good, We shall give her a double reward, and We have prepared for her an honourable sustenance.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

O wives of the Prophet! you are not like any other of the women; If you will be on your guard, then be not soft in (your) speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease yearn; and speak a good word.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

O ye wives of the Prophet! Ye are not like any other women. If ye keep your duty (to Allah), then be not soft of speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease aspire (to you), but utter customary speech.

Muhammad Sarwar

Wives of the Prophet, you are not like other women. If you have fear of God, do not be tender in your speech lest people whose hearts are sick may lust after you.

Qaribullah & Darwish

O wives of the Prophet, you are not like other women. If you fear (Allah), do not be to complaisant in your speech, lest he in whose heart there is a sickness may desire (of his mother); but speak honorable words.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep you have Taqwa, then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner.

Wahiduddin Khan

Wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other women. If you fear God, do not be too soft-spoken in case the ill-intentioned should feel tempted. Speak in an appropriate manner.

Talal Itani

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women, if you observe piety. So do not speak too softly, lest the sick at heart lusts after you, but speak in an appropriate manner.

Tafsir jalalayn

O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other, group of, women. If you fear, God, for you are more exalted [in status], then do not be complaisant in your speech, with men, lest he in whose heart is a sickness, hypocrisy, aspire [to you], but speak honourable words, without any complaisance.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Enjoining certain Manners so that the Mothers of the Believers may be an Example; and the Prohibition of Tabarruj

Allah enjoined upon the wives of the Prophet;

يَا نِسَاء النَّبِيِّ لَسْتُنَّ كَأَحَدٍ مِّنَ النِّسَاء إِنِ اتَّقَيْتُنَّ

O wives of the Prophet!

You are not like any other women. If you keep you have Taqwa,

These are the good manners which Allah enjoined upon the wives of the Prophet so that they would be an example for the women of the Ummah to follow. Allah said, addressing the wives of the Prophet that they should fear Allah as He commanded them, and that no other woman is like them or can be their equal in virtue and status.

Then Allah says;

فَلَ تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ

then be not soft in speech,

As-Suddi and others said, this means, do not be gentle in speech when addressing men.

Allah says;

فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ

lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire,

means, something unclean.

وَقُلْنَ قَوْلاً مَّعْرُوفًا



but speak in an honorable manner.

Ibn Zayd said;

"Decent and honorable talk that is known to be good."

This means that she should address non-Mahram men in a manner in which there is no softness, i.e., a woman should not address a non-Mahram man in the same way that she addresses her husband