Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)

32. “O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any of the (other) women if you are in awe of Allah, then be not soft in speech lest he in whose heart is disease aspires (at you) and speak honourable words.”

The circumstance of the families of religious leaders is different from that of others and they should be more careful of their behaviour than others.

When the wives of the Prophet (S), most of whom were old and aged and had a simple life, are warned that they should not speak with an amorous gesture, the young and beautiful women must count their own account.

So, in this verse, Allah says:

“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any of the (other) women if you are in awe of Allah…”

From one side, because of your connection to the Prophet (S), and that you are inside the centre of revelation and hear the verses of the Qur’an and teachings of Islam, on the other side, you have such a particular situation that you can be a model for all women, whether in the way of piety, or in the way of sin, therefore, you must recognize your situation and do not neglect your heavy responsibility.

You should know that if you are pious you will have a very excellent rank with Allah.

Next to this fair premise, which makes them prepare for accepting responsibilities and consider personality for them, it issues the first divine command in the field of chastity, and, in particular, refers to a narrow subject so that other issues in this relation would be made clear. It says:

“…then be not soft in speech lest he in whose heart is disease aspires (at you)…”

You should be severe and dry in speech, and speak ordinarily, not like some low women who try to speak with some stimulative changes in their voice and gesture that cause the voluptuous persons to fall in the thought of sin.

The application of the Qur’anic clause: “He in whose heart is disease” is a very explicit meaning upon this fact that the existence of sexual instinct in the level of moderation and religion is the sign of health, but when it is beyond this level it is a kind of disease, so much so that it becomes nigh to madness and is usually called: ‘sexual madness!’

Nowadays, the concerning scientists have explained in their books different kinds of this psychological sickness, which come into being as the result of the increase of this instinct and submitting to kinds of sexual pollutions in corruptive environments.

The Qur’an issues the second command as follows:

“…and speak honourable words.” In fact, the phrase “…be not soft in speech…” refers to the modality of speaking, and the phrase: “speak honourable words” points to the content of speech.

Of course, the phrase ‘honourable words’, here, has a vast meaning that, besides what was said, negates any kind of false, vain, and sinful saying which is opposite to the truth.

By the way, the recent sentence can be an explanation for the former one, lest no one think that the wives of the Prophet (S) must encounter strangers insidiously or far from discipline, but their manner must be decent, polite and, in the meanwhile without having any sort of behaviour with stimulation.