Period of Revelation
Its period of revelation also could not be determined from any authentic tradition
but the internal evidence of the subject matter shows that this Sura too was sent down in the same period in which Sura Zukhruf and a few other earlier Suras had been revealed. However
this Sura was sent down somewhat later. Its historical background is this: When the disbelievers of Makkah became more and more antagonistic in their attitude and conduct
the Holy Prophet prayed: O God
help me with a famine like the famine of Joseph. He thought that when the people would be afflicted with a calamity
they would remember God
their hearts would soften and they wonud arccept the admonition. Allah granted his prayer
and the whole land was overtaken by such a terrible famine that the people were sorely distressed. At last
some of the Quraishchiefs among whom Hadrat AbdullahbinMasudhas particularly mentioned the name of Abu Sufyan came to the Holy Prophet and requested him to pray to Allah to deliver his people from the calamity. On this occasion Allah sent down this Sura.
Subject Matter and Topics
The introduction to the address revealed on this occasion for the admonition and warning of the people of MaKkah contained some important points
which are as follows (1) "You
O People of Makkah
are wrong in thinking that the Quran is being composed by Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace). This Book by itself bears the clear testimony that it is not the composition of a man but of Allah
Lord of the worlds." (2) "You are making a wrong estimate of the worth of this Book. You think it is a calamity that has descended on you
whereas the Hour when Allah
out of sheer mercy
decided to send His Messenger and His Book to you was highly blessed." (3) "You are foolishly involved in the misunderstanding that you will fight this Messenger and this Book and will win
whereas the fact is that the Messenger has been raised and the Book sent down in that particular Hour when Allah decides the destinies
and Allah's decisions are not so weak that they may be changed to a person's liking
nor are they based on ignorance and folly that there may be the likelihood of a mistake or error or weakness in them. They are rather the firm and unalterable decisions of the Ruler of the Universe
Who is All Hearing
All Knowing and All Wise. Therefore
they cannot be treated lightly. (4) "You yourselves acknowledge that Allah alone is the Master and Lord of the earth and heavens and of everything in the Universe and also admit that life and death are only in His power
yet you insist on making others your deities
for which the only argument you offer is that that had been the practice since the time of your forefathers
whereas if a person has the conviction that Allah alone is the Master
Sustainer and Giver of life and death
he can never entertain the doubt that there can be other gods also beside Him
who can be worthy of worship. If your forefathers had committed this folly
there is no reason why you also should continue committing it blindly. As a matter of fact
their Lord too was only One God
Who is your Lord
and they also should have worshipped only Him
Whom you should worship." (5) "The only demand of Allah's Providence and Mercifulness is not this that He should feed you
but also this that He should arrange guidance for you. For this very guidance He has sent His Messenger and His Book." After this introduction
the question of the famine that was raging in Makkah has been discussed. As already mentioned
this famine had occurred on the Holy Prophet's prayer
and he had prayed for it so that when the calamity befell it would break the stubbornness of the disbelievers and then they would listen to the rebuke. It looked as if this expectation was being fulfilled to some extent
for some of the most stubborn enemies of the Truth
on acount of the severities of the famine
had cried out: "O Lord
avert this torment from us and we will believe." At this
on the one hand
the Holy Prophet has been foretold :"These people will not learn any leason from such calamities. When they have turned away from the Messenger
whose life
character
works and speech clearly show that he is Allah's true Messenger
how will a mere famine help remove their disbelief?" On the other
the unbelievers have been addressed
so as to say : "You lie when you say that you will believe as soon as the torment is removed from you. We shall just remove it to see how sincere you are in your promise. There is a graver disaster about to fall upon you. You need a much more crushing blow :minor misfortunes cannot set you right." In this very connection
a reference has been made a little below to Pharaoh and his people
implying that those people also had met with precisely the same trial as the chiefs of the disbelieving Quraishare now afflicted. To them also a similar noble and honourable Messenger had come; they also had seen those express pointers and signs which clearly showed that he had been appointed by Allah; they also had gone on witnessing one sign after the ot