98. Baiyina

Syed Abu-Ala' Maududi's Chapter Introductions to the Quran



Name

The Sura is so designated after the word al-bayyinah occurring at the end of the first verse.

Period of Revelation

Where it was revealed at Makkah or Madinah is also disputed. Some commentators say it is a Makki revelation according to most scholars; others say it is a Madani revelation according to most scholars. Ibn Az Zubair and Ata bin Yasar hold the view that it is Madani. Ibn Abbas and Qatadah are reported to have held two views first that it is Makki second that it is Madani. Hadrat Aishah regards it as a Makki Sura. Abu Hayyan author of Bahr al-Muhit and Abdul Munim ibn al- Faras author of Ahkam al-Quran alsa have preferred to regard it as Makki. As for its contents there is nothing in it to indicate whether it was revealed at Makkah or at Madinah.

Theme and Subject Matter

Its having been placed after Suras Al-Alaqand Al-Qadrin the arrangement of the Quran is very meaningful. Sura Al-Alaqcontains the very first revelation while Sura Al-Qadrshows as to when it was revealed and in this Sura it has been explained why it was necessary to send a Messenger along with this Holy Book. First of all the need of sending a Messenger has been explained saying: The people of the world be they from among the followers of the earlier scriptures or from among the idolaters could not possibly be freed from their state of unbelief until a Messenger was sent whose appearance by itself should be a clear proof of his apostleship and he should present the Book of God before the people in its original pristine form which should be free from every mixture of falsehood corrupting the earlier Divine Books; and which should comprise sound teachings. Then about the errors of the followers of the earlier Books it has been said that the cause of their straying into different creeds was not that Allah had not provided any guidance to them but they strayed only after a clear statement of the Right Creed had come to them. From this it automatically follows that they themselves were responsible for their error and deviation. Now if even after the coming of the clear statement through this Messenger they continued to stray their responsibility would further increase. In this very connection it has been stated that the Prophets who came from Allah and the Books sent down by Him did not enjoin anything but that the way of sincere and true service to Allah be adopted apart from all other ways no one else's worship service or obedience be mixed with His the salatbe established and the zakatbe paid. This same has been the true religion since ever. From this also it automatically follows that the followers of the earlier scriptures straying from this true religion have added extraneous things to it which are false and Allah's this Messenger has come to invite them back to the same original faith. In conclusion it has been pointed out clearly that the followers of the earlier Books and the idolaters who would refuse to acknowledge this Messenger are the worst of creatures: their punishment is an everlasting Hell; and the people who would believe and act righteously and would spend life in the world in awe of God are the best of creatures: their reward is eternal Paradise wherein they will live for ever. Allah became well pleased with them and they became well pleased with Allah.