Period of Revelation
It is determined by an historical event that has been mentioned in vv. 29-32. This incident of the visit of the jinn and their going back after listening to the Qur'an had occurred
according to agreed traditions of the Hadith and biographical literature
at the time when the Holy Prophet had halted at Makkah during his return journey from Ta'if to Makkah. And according to all authentic historical traditions he had gone to Ta'if three years before the Hijrah; therefore it is determined that this Sura was sent down towards the end of the 10th year or in the early part of the 11th year of the Prophethood.
Historical Background
The 10th year of the Prophethood was a year of extreme persecution and distress in the Holy prophet's life. The Quraishand the other tribes had continued their boycott of the Bani Hashim and the Muslims for three years and the Holy Prophet and the people of his family aad Companions lay besieged in Shi'b Abi Talib. The Quraishhad blocked up this locality from every side so that no supplies of any kind could reach the besieged people. Only during the Hajjseason they were allowed to come out and buy some articles of necessity. But even at that time whenever Abu Lahab noticed any of them approaching the market place or a trading caravan he would call out to the merchants exhorting them to announce forbidding rates of their articles for them
and would pledge that he himself would buy those articles so that they did not suffer any loss. This boycott which continued uninterrupted for three years had broken the back of the Muslims and the Bani Hashim; so much so that at times they were even forced to eat grass and the leaves of trees. At last
when the siege was lifted this year
Abu Talib
the Holy Prophet's uncle
who had been shielding him for ten long years
died
and hardly a month later his wife
Hadrat Khadijah
who had been a source of peace and consolation for him ever since the beginning of the call
also passed away. Because of these tragic incidents
which closely followed each other
the Holy Prophet used to refer to this year as the year of sorrow and grief. After the death of Hadart Khadijah and Abu Talib the disbelievers of Makkah became even bolder against the Holy Prophet. They started treating him even more harshly. So much so that it became difficult for him to step out of his house. Of these days Ibn Hisham has related the incident that a Quraish scoundrel one day threw dust at him openly in the street. At last
the Holy Prophet left for Ta'if with the intention that he should invite the Bani Thaqif to Islam
for even if they did not accept Islam
they might at least be persuaded to allow him to work for his mission peacefully. He did not have the facility of any conveyance at that time
and travelled all the way to Ta'if on foot. According to some traditions
he had gone there alone
but according to others
he was accompanied by Zaid bin Harithah. He stayed at Ta'if for a few days
and approached each of the chiefs and nobles of the Bani Thaqif and talked to him about his mission. But not only they refused to listen to him
but plainly gave him the notice that he should leave their city
for they feared that his preaching might "spoil" their younger generation. Thus
he was compelled to leave Ta'if. When he was leaving the city
the chiefs of Thaqif set their slaves and scoundrels behind him
who went on crying at him
abusing him and petting him with stones for a long way from either side of the road till he became broken down with wounds and his shoes were filled with blood. Wearied and exhausted he took shelter in the shade of the wall of a garden outside Ta'if
and prayed: "O God
to Thee I complain of my weakness
little resource
and lowliness before men. O Most Merciful
Thou art the Lord of the weak
and Thou art my Lord. To whom wilt Thou confide me?To one afar who will misuge me?Or to an enemy to whom Thou hast given power over me?If Thou art not angry with me I care not. Thy favour is more wide for me. I take refuge in the light of Thy countenance by which the darkness is illumined
and the things of this world and the next are rightly ordered
lest Thy anger descend upon me or Thy wrath light upon me. It is for Thee to be satisfied until Thou art well pleased. There is no power and no might save in Thee." (Ibn Hisham:A. Guillaume's Translation
p. 193). Grieved and heart broken when he returned and reached near Qarn al-Manazil
he felt as though the sky was overcast by clouds. He looked up and saw Gabriel in front of him
who called out:"Allah has heard the way your people have responded. He has