Period of Revelation
Its subject matter so closely resembles that of Sura Ash-Shamsthat each Sura seems to be an explanation of the other. It is one and the same thing which has been explained in Sura Ash-Shamsin one way and in this Sura in another. This indicates that both these Suras were sent down in about the same period.
Theme and Subject Matter
Its theme is to distinguish between the two different ways of life and to explain the contrast between their ultimate ends and results. In view of the subject matter this Sura consists of two parts
the first part consisting of vv. 1-11 and the second of vv. 12-21. In the first part
at the outset it has been pointed out that the strivings and doings that the individuals
nations and groups of mankind are engaged in in the world
are
in respect of their moral nature
as divergent as the day is from the night
and the male from the female. After this
according to the general style of the brief Suras of the Quran
three moral characteristics of one kind and three moral characteristics of the other kind have been presented as an illustration from among a vast collection of the strivings and activities of man
from which every man can judge which style of life is represented by one kind of the characteristics and which style of life by the other kind. Both these styles have been described in such brief
elegant. and pithy sentences that they move the heart and go down into memory as soon as one hears them. Characteristics of the first kind are that one should spend one's wealth
adopt God- consciousness and piety
and acknowledge the good as good. The second kind of the characteristics are that one should be miserly
should least care for God's pleasure and His displeasure
and should repudiate what is good and right. Then it has been stated that these two modes of action which are clearly divergent
cannot be equal and alike in respect of their results. But
just as they are divergent in their nature
so they are divergent in their results. The person (or group of persons) who adopts the first mode of action
Allah will make easy for him the correct way of life
so much so that doing good will become easy for him and doing evil difficult. On the contrary
he who adopts the second mode of life
Allah will make easy for him the difficult and hard way of life
so much so that doing evil will become easy for him and doing good difficult. This passage has been concluded with a most effective and touching sentence
saying: "This worldly wealth for the sake of which man is even prepared to risk his life: will not go down with him into the grave; therefore
what will it avail him after death?"' In the second part also three truths have been stated equally briefly. First
that Allah has not left man uninformed in the examination hall of the world
but He has taken on Himself the responsibility to tell him which one is the straight and right way out of the different ways of life. Here
there was no need to point out that by sending His Messenger and His Book He has fulfilled His this responsibility
for both the Messenger and the Book were present to afford the guidance. Second
that the Master of both the world and the Hereafter is Allah alone. If you seek the world
it is He Who will give it
and if you seek the Hereafter
again it is He Who will give it. Now
it is for you to decide what you should seek from Him. The third truth that has been stated is that the wretched one who rejects the good
which is being presented through the Messenger and the Book
and turns away from it
will have a blazing fire ready for him. As for the God fearing person who spends his wealth in a good cause
without any selfish motive
only for the sake of winning his Lord's good pleasure
his Lord will be pleased with him and will bless him with so much that he will be well pleased with Him.