Period of Revelation
Although there is no tradition to indicate its period of revelation
yet there is in the subject matter of this Sura an internal evidence
which shows that it is one of the earliest Suras to be sent down at Makkah. After verse 15 the discourse is suddenly interrupted and the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) told: "Do not move your tongue to remember this Revelation hastily. It is Our responsibility to have it remembered and read. Therefore
when We are reciting it
listen to its recital carefully. Again
it is Our responsibility to explain its meaning." Then
from verse 2O onward the same theme which was interrupted at verse 15
is resumed. This parenthetical passage
according to both the context and the traditions
has been interpqsed here for the reason that when the Angel Gabriel was reciting this Sura to the Holy Prophet
the Holy Prophet
lest he should forget its words later
was repeating them at the same moment. This in fact happened at the time when the coming down and receipt of Revelation was yet a new experience for him and he was not yet fully used to receiving it calmly. There are two other instances also of this in the Qur'an. First
in Sura TaHathe Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been told: "And see that you do not hasten to recite the Qur'an belore its revelation is completed to you." (v. 114). Then
in Sura Al-A'la
it has been said: "We shall enable you to recite:
then you shall never forget. (v. 6). Later
when the Holy Prophet became fully used to receiving the Revelation well
there remained no need to give him any such instruction. That is why except for these
three
there is no other instance of this in the Qur'an.
Theme and Subject Matter
Most of the Suras
from here till the end of the Qur'an
in view of their content and style
seem to have been sent down in the period when after the first seven verses of Sura Al-Muddaththir
revelation of the Qur'an began like a shower of rain:Thus
in the succesively revealed Suras Islam and its fundamental concepts and moral teachings were presented so forcefully and effectively in pithy
brief sentences and the people of Makkah warned so vehemently on their errors and deviations that the Quraishchiefs were utterly confounded. Therefore
before the next Hajjseason came they held the conference for devising schemes to defeat the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) as has been mentioned in the Introduction to the Sura Al-Muddaththirabove. In this Sura
addressing thee deniers of the Hereafter
replies have been given to each of their doubts and objections
strong arguments have been given to prove the possibility
occurrence and necessity of the Resurrection and Hereafter
and also it has been pointed out clearly that the actual reason of the people's denying the Hereafter is not that they regard it as impossible rationally but because their selfish motives do not allow thein to affirm it. At the same time
the people have been warned
as if to say: "The event
the occurrence of which you deny
will inevitably come: all your deeds will be brought and placed before you. As a matter of fact
even before any of you sees his record
he will be knowing fully well what he has done in the world
for no man is unaware of himself
no matter what excuses and pretences he may offer to deceive the world and deceive himself in respect of his misdeeds."