The seventh group of the Qur’ān begins with Sūrah al-Mulk (67) and ends
with Sūrah al-Nās (114), the last sūrah of the Qur’ān. It is evident from the
subject matter of these sūrah and from their arrangement in the group that the
first forty-six sūrahs were revealed in Makkah, while the last two – al-Falaq
and al-Nās – were revealed in Madinah immediately after migration.
Like other groups of the Qur’ān, this group also begins with Makkan Sūrahs
and ends with Madinan ones.
Though the Prophet (sws) is also addressed in this group, yet the real
addressees of this group are the leadership of the Quraysh organized under Abū
Lahab. Consequently, with the gradual development of the theme in the group,
this fact becomes so evident in the last sūrahs that there remains no room for
any other opinion in this regard.
The theme of this group is to warn the leadership of the Quraysh of the
consequences of the Hereafter, to unveil the truth in its ultimate form, and,
as a result, to warn them of a severe punishment, and to give glad tidings to
the Prophet (sws) of dominance of his religion in the Arabian peninsula.
This theme gradually reaches its culmination through the arrangement of
various sūrahs in this group with such precision and beauty that all the
stages – from propagation (da`wah) and warning (indhār) to migration (hijrah)
and acquittal (barā`at) – in the da`wah missions of the Prophets of Allah are
brought to light.
To understand this arrangement, a short summary of the contents of this
group is presented below:
Phase I: Indhār
Sūrah al-Mulk (67) to Sūrah al-Jinn (72)
The Day of Judgment is substantiated and the Quraysh are warned with
reference to it -- the consequences of denying the Prophet in his capacity of
a warner are stated. 67-68
Reward and punishment is substantiated, it is portrayed, and the evidence
of the seen (mā tubsirūn) and the unseen (mā lā tubsirūn) for the authenticity
of the Qur’ān as a warner is referred to -- those who make fun of this indhār
are warned and the Prophet (sws) is urged to be patient. 69-70
The evidence of the seen (mā tubsirūn) and the unseen (mā lā tubsirūn)
referred to earlier is elaborated upon, and with its reference, the Quraysh
are reprimanded for their behaviour. 71-72
Phase II: indhār-i-`Am
(Sūrah al-Muzzammil (73) to Sūrah Alam Nashrah (94)
The Prophet (sws) is directed to prepare for indhār-i-`ām -- he is directed
to commence this indhār and informed of its limits and requirements and the
beginning of this indhār is depicted. 73-74
The Day of Judgement is substantiated and the Quraysh are warned with its
reference. 75-76
The Day of Judgement is substantiated and the Quraysh are warned with its
reference. 77-78
The Day of Judgement is substantiated, the Quraysh are warned with its
reference and are reprimanded for their attitude towards it. 79-80
The cataclysm which will take place on the Day of Judgement is portrayed,
and the Quraysh are reprimanded with reference to the reward and punishment
which will take place on that day. 81-82
The Quraysh are reprimanded with reference to the reward and punishment
which will take place on the Day of Judgement. 83-84
The various doubts raised by he Quraysh about the Day of Judgement are
refuted, and they are warned of the torment they will suffer if they continue
to persecute the Muslims and scheme against the Prophet’s da`wah. 85-86
The Quraysh are warned of the Day of Judgement, and the Prophet (sws) is
given assurance in his capacity as a warner. 87-88
The leadership of the Quraysh is warned of the Day of Judgement, and
reprimanded for on their hostile and rebellious attitude. 89-90
The Quraysh are warned of the Day of Judgement, reprimanded for their
hostile and rebellious attitude, and the paths to salvation and doom are
explained to them in a categorical tone. 91-92
The Prophet (sws) in his capacity as a warner is given glad tidings of a
great success in the near future. 93-94
Phase III: Itmām -i- Hujjah
Sūrah al-Tīn (95) to Sūrah Quraysh (106)
The Day of Judgement is substantiated in the tone that the truth has now
been disclosed to the Quraysh in its ultimate form and they are reprimanded
for their attitude towards it, and one of their eminent leaders is threatened
of dire consequences on his arrogance in spite of being taught through the
Qur’ān. 95-96
The exalted status of the Qur’ān as a warner is depicted -- The Quraysh and
a section among the People of the Book are reprimanded for their nonsensical
demand that a book be given to them from the Almighty through some messenger
who descend on them from the heavens reading it out to them. 97-98
The Quraysh in this very tone are exhorted and urged about the Day of
Judgement: they must not remain in any sort of misconception about it;
nothing, on that Day, shall remain hidden from Allah. All of man’s deeds,
whether good or bad, small or big shall come before him --- They are
reprimanded that in spite of receiving the blessings of Allah and reaping the
benefits of peace and tranquility by living as the custodians of the Baytullāh
in the plunder laden and war stricken atmosphere of Arabia, they have adopted
an attitude of ingratitude towards their Creator by not spending in the way of
Allah; they should contemplate what their fate will be as a result of this
attitude. 99-100
The events of the Day of Judgement are portrayed and the Quraysh are
reprimanded in a very effective manner for being indifferent to it. 101-102
The law of retribution in substantiated, and, with its reference, the
leadership of the Quraysh are threatened of dire consequences on their
attitude that now their abode will be a fire which will reach their hearts.
103-104
The Quraysh are reprimanded and threatened with
reference to the incident of the elephant and urged in a categorical tone that
they should fulfil the rights of the favours they enjoy on account of being
the custodians of the Baytullāh. 105-106
Phase IV: Hijrat and Bara`at
Sūrah al-Mā`ūn (107) to Sūrah al-Ikhlās (112)
The leadership of the Quraysh are presented with a
charge sheet of their crimes and threatened of the punishment they would
encounter, and the Prophet (sws) is given glad tidings that the custodianship
of the Baytullāh would now be transferred to him, and that it is his enemies
who would be totally humbled. 107-108
The Prophet (sws) declares his acquittal from the arrogant disbelievers of Makkah, and is given glad tidings of the supremacy of the truth in the land of
Arabia. 109-110
The destruction of the leaders of the Quraysh, in particular Abu Lahab is
predicted by name, and a decisive proclamation is made of the belief of
monotheism at the end of this phase. 111-112
Phase V: The End
Sūrah al-Falaq (113) to Sūrah al-Nās (114)
At the end of this group, the Prophet (sws) is advised and counselled
that after unveiling the truth to his addressees in its ultimate form, the
devils among the Jews and the Quraysh and the progeny of Satan in the next
phases are going to launch an onslaught on him; so he should keep seeking
protection and refuge of the Almighty for himself and for his mission from all
the calamities and afflictions of the world. |