The preceding Verse forbade believers from making decisions...

The preceding Verse forbade believers from making decisions in advance before the Messenger of Allah (S) and Divine Commands and the blessed Verse in question treats of speaking aloud in the presence of the Noble Prophet (S).

It is mentioned elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an ^3 : “Make not the calling of the Messenger (S) among you as you call one another.” The blessed Verse in questions says: “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 rendered fruitless while you perceive not.” The first clause, “Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet,” designates that such manner of speech before the Noble Prophet (S) is an act of indecency.

One is not supposed to show such indecency before one’s parents and teachers either. The following clause, “nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another,” may either lay further emphasis on the preceding one or make a reference to a novel point which is forbidding believers to address the Noble Prophet (S) by the phrase: “O Muhammad!” rather than “O Messenger of Allah!” Regarding the difference between the twain clauses, a number of Qur’anic exegets maintain that the former indicates that in speaking to the Noble Prophet (S) people were not supposed to raise their voices above his voice and the latter designates that when the Noble Prophet (S) was silent and people were talking to him, they were not supposed to raise their voices either.

It goes without saying that if such acts of indecency aim at affronting the most exalted state of Prophethood, they will lead to disbelief and without aiming at abusing his most exalted state, they will be regarded as abuse and sin. It is evident that the former results in rendering one’s good deeds fruitless, since disbelief leads to the same.

The latter may also lead to the same since such acts of indecency end in rendering many a righteous good deed fruitless owing to committing certain sins; in like manner, some of the sins committed may be definitely absolved through righteous good deeds. It is worthy of note that it is a general rule concerning righteous good deeds and sins and the same stands to reason as well.

According to a tradition, upon the revelation of the blessed Verse in question, Thabit ibn Qays, the preacher of the Noble Prophet (S) who was loud spoken, said: “It was I who raised my voice above that of the Noble Prophet (S).