Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet (Surah Al-Hujurat 49: 2-3)

Verily, those who lower their voices in the presence of Allah's Messenger, they are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for Taqwa. For them is forgiveness and a great reward. (Surah Al-Hujurat 49: 3)

Ordering Respect towards the Prophet  

O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet.   This contains another kind of favorable behavior. Allah the Exalted is teaching the believers that they should not raise their voices above the voice of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). It was stated that this Ayah was revealed about Abu Bakr and `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma). Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn Abi Mulaykah said, "The two righteous ones, Abu Bakr and `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhuma), almost earned destruction when they raised their voices before the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) who was receiving the delegation of Bani Tamim. One of them recommended Al-Aqra` bin Habis the member of the Banu Mujashi` while the other recommended another man. Nafi` (a subnarrator) said: "I don't remember his name.'' Abu Bakr (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said to `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhu), `You only wanted to contradict me,' while `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, `I did not intend to contradict you.' Their voices then became loud, thereupon Allah the Exalted sent down this Ayah,

O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds should be thwarted while you perceive not.''  `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr said, "After that, `Umar's (Radhi Allahu Anhu) voice was so low that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) had to ask him to repeat what he said so that he could understand what he was saying to him.'' `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr did not mention the same regarding his father, Abu Bakr, (Radhi Allahu Anhu) Muslim did not collect this Hadith. In another narration collected by Al-Bukhari, he said that a delegation from the tribe of Banu Tamim came to the Prophet and that Abu Bakr (Radhi Allahu Anhu) recommended Al-Qa`qa` bin Ma`bad to be appointed as their leader, while `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhu) recommended Al-Aqra` bin Habis. Muslim did not collect this narration.

Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas bin Malik (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said, "The Prophet missed Thabit bin Qays and a man said, `O Allah's Messenger! I will find out about his news.' That man went to Thabit and found him sitting at home with his head lowered and asked him, `What is the matter' Thabit said, `An evil matter!' And he said that he used to raise his voice above the voice of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam). He feared that his good deeds would be useless and he would be among the people of the Fire. The man went back to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and conveyed Thabit's statement and returned to Thabit with a wonderfully good news. The Prophet said,

Go back to him and tell him this news; you are not among the people of the Fire. Rather, you are among the dwellers of Paradise.'' Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith with this wording. Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik said, "When this Ayah was revealed,

O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, until,

while you perceive not,  Thabit bin Qays bin Ash-Shammas, whose voice was loud, said, `I was the one who raised his voice above the voice of Allah's Messenger . I am among the dwellers of the Fire. My good deeds have been done in vain.' He remained in his house feeling distressed, and the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) noticed his absence. So some men went to Thabit and said to him, `The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) noticed your absence. What is the matter with you' Thabit said, `I used to raise my voice above the voice of the Prophet and speak loudly in front of him. My deeds have been rendered useless and I am among the people of the Fire.' They went to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and told him what Thabit said and the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,

Nay, he is among the dwellers of Paradise.''  Anas commented, "We used to see Thabit walk among us knowing that he was (to be) among the dwellers of Paradise. During the battle of Yamamah, our forces suffered retreat. Suddenly, Thabit bin Qays bin Shammas came, having put on his Hanut and shrouds, and said, `The worst habit is the one you acquire from your enemy and do not set a bad example for your companions.' And he went on fighting until he was martyred, may Allah be pleased with him.'' Allah then prohibited speaking to the Prophet in a loud voice, just as one speaks loudly to another in a way that offends him. Instead, they were required to speak to him in terms of respect, honor and calmness. This is why Allah the Exalted and Most Honored said,

nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another, just as He said in another Ayah,

Make not the calling of the Messenger among you as your calling one of another. (Surah An-Nur 24: 63) Allah's statement,

lest your deeds should be thwarted while you perceive not,  means, `We ordered you to refrain from raising your voices to the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam), so that he will not get angry with you, because in doing so, you will also anger Allah.' The good deeds of he who caused the Prophet's (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) anger will become useless without him even knowing. In the Sahih, there is a Hadith that states,

Verily, a man might utter a word that pleases Allah the Exalted, even though he does not recognize the significance of his word, and on its account Paradise is written for him. Verily, a man might utter a word carelessly that angers Allah the Exalted, and on its account, he is cast in the Fire farther than the distance between the heavens and earth.  Allah then ordains lowering one's voice before the Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) and encourages, directs and recommends this better behavior.

Verily, those who lower their voices in the presence of Allah's Messenger, they are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for Taqwa whose hearts have been purified by Allah and made as a residence and dwelling for the Taqwa,

For them is forgiveness and a great reward. Imam Ahmad recorded in the Book of Az-Zuhd that Mujahid said, "Someone wrote to `Umar (Radhi Allahu Anhu) , `O Leader of the faithful! Who is better, a man who does not feel the desire to commit a sin and does not commit it, or a man who feels desire to commit a sin, but does not commit it' `Umar replied, `He who feels desire to commit a sin, but does not commit it,

they are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for Taqwa. For them is forgiveness and a great reward.'''



Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)