Period of Revelation
Both its style and theme indicate that it was revealed during the middle stage of Prophethood at Makkah. Reading between the lines
one feels that a bitter conflict had begun between the
Holy Prophet and the disbelievers of Makkah
though the persecution by them had not yet become tyrannical. It appears that the sura was sent down during the climax of the "Famine" in Makkah (vv. 75-76)
which according to authentic traditions occurred during the middle stage of Prophethood. Moreover
according to a tradition related by 'Urwah bin Zubair
Hadarat Umarwho had embraced Islam by that time
said
This Sura was revealed in my presence and I myself observed the state of the Holy Prophet during its revelation. When the revelation ended
the Holy Prophet remarked
'On this occa- sion ten such verses have been sent down to me that the one who measures up to them
will most surely go to Paradise'. Then he recited the initial verses of the sura.
(Ahmad
Tirmizi
Nasai
Hakim).
Theme Topics
The central theme of the sura is to invite the people to accept and follow the Message of the Holy Prophet and the whole Sura revolves round this theme.