The first of the Mufaṣṣal chapters descended late in the ninth year of the Madinan period to establish a strict social and moral order. The text takes its name, Al-Hujurat (The Private Apartments), from the rude behavior of the Banū Tamīm tribe, who stood outside the personal living quarters of the Prophet (ﷺ) and called out to him.

The revelation opens by defining the etiquette required when addressing the Messenger of Allah, before shifting to the internal mechanics of the society. It mandates verifying news to prevent unrest, outlines procedures for resolving conflicts between believers, and outlaws the specific sins that fracture brotherhood: mockery, slander, suspicion, and backbiting. Tribal lineage is completely stripped away as a measure of nobility, replaced solely by taqwā (piety).

A stark warning remains against resting on outward conformity. The superficial submission of the nomadic Arabs is firmly rejected, leaving true faith defined entirely by the distinct, internal characteristics of a believer.