This chapter details aspects of Islam’s teachings that are essential for providing a happy life for the individual and supporting a good and virtuous social order. These teachings include the proper etiquette for a servant to observe with God and with His Messenger, which we find in the five opening verses of the chapter; then there those which relate to how the human being interacts with others of his kind in the context of communal life; and those which relate to the superiority of individuals within that community, which is one of the most important aspects of how civil society is organized. All of these teachings are intended to guide the human being to live a happy, pleasant and wholesome life, and this is one of the ways in which the Religion of Truth is distinguished from all other social and legal systems. The chapter concludes by alluding to the essence of faith and submission (islām), and God extols the blessing of faith, which is a light that emanates from Him.
Sūrah al-Ḥujarāt was revealed in Medina, as is attested to by the content of its verses. An exception to this is said to be the verse , O mankind! Indeed We created you from a male and a female… (49:13), which we will discuss later.
