What Our Name Means
“The woman who contests”
“Al Mujaadilah” is the title of the 58th chapter of the Qur’an. It means “the woman who contests”, and refers to Khawlah bint Tha’labah. Here is the historical context.
In 7th-century Arabia, there was a custom called dhihar, by which a husband could say to his wife: “your back is like the back of my mother.” This meant that he refused to consider her as his wife – although it was not a formal divorce.
Dhihar meant that she could not remarry, nor leave the marital home. She was in marital limbo. Furthermore, her husband had no obligation to provide for her. She was shunned until he decided to take her back – leaving her a prisoner of his whims, while causing her much emotional distress. This abusive practice was widespread. No one challenged the entrenched practice of dhihar – until Khawlah bint Tha’labah.
This is her story.
One day Khawlah had an argument with her husband, Aws ibn al-Samit. He became angry, pronounced dhihar upon her and left the house. Khawlah was outraged. She vowed that she would ask the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)1 to address this injustice, by which she was now a prisoner in her own home.
When Aws returned, he tried to make up with Khawlah – but she refused his entreaties.
She went to the Prophet (pbuh), pleading that she had given her husband the best years of her life, raised their children and now her efforts, sacrifice and devotion were undone by a single word, “dhihar.” And there was nothing she could do to change that. It was, plain and simple, wrong.
Then, the first four verses of the 58th chapter (Al-Mujaadilah) were revealed. These verses made it clear that Khawlah’s words had indeed been heard by God and unequivocally rejected the practice of dhihar. Men who pronounced dhihar were branded as liars. Those who realized the error of their ways could resume marital relations, but not before freeing a slave. If that was not possible, he had to fast two consecutive months as penance. If he was unable to do that, he was required to feed sixty needy people.
And so, dhihar was abolished because a woman refused to accept abuse in the name of culture. Her legitimate complaint was heard and answered. The 58th chapter of the Qur’an is named for her: “Al-Mujaadilah,” or the woman who contests.
Know her name: Khawlah bint Tha’labah2.
- “Peace be upon him”, an honorific title given to all of the Prophets in Islam
- For full reference to the story of Khawlah, please see, for example, a lecture by Sheikh Omar Suleiman
