Period of Revelation
Whether it is a Makki or a Madani Sura is disputed. Hadrat Abdullah bin Masud
Jabir
Hasan Basri
Ikrimah
and Ata say that it is Makki. Hadrat Anas bin Malik
and Qatadah say that it is Madani; and from Hadrat Ibn Abbas two views have been reported
first that it is a Makki Sura
and second that it is Madani. But the subject matter of the Sura and its style clearly indicate that it is no only Makki but was revealed in the earliest stage of Makkah.
Theme and Subject Matter
Its object is to make the people realize how evil man becomes when he denies the Hereafter
or becomes heedless of it
and also to warn them that in the Hereafter not only their visible and apparent deeds but even the secrets hidden in their hearts too will be subjected to scrutiny. For this purpose the general chaos and confusion prevailing in Arabia
with which the whole country was in turmoil
has been presented as an argument. Bloodshed
loot and plunder raged on every side. Tribes were subjecting tribes to raids
and no one could have peaceful sleep at night from fear that some enemy tribe might raid his settlement early in the morning. Every Arab was fully conscious of this state of affairs and realized that it was wrong. Although the plundered bemoaned his miserable
helpless state and the plunderer rejoiced
yet when the plunderer himself was plundered
he too realized how abject was the condition in which the whole nation was involved. Referring to this very state of affairs
it has been said: Unaware of the second life after death and his accountability before God in it
man has become ungrateful to his Lord and Sustainer. He is using the powers and abilities given by God for perpetrating tyranny and pillage; blinded by the love of worldly wealth he tries to obtain it by every means
however impure and filthy
and his own state itself testifies that by abusing the powers bestowed by his Lord he is being ungrateful to Him. He would never have behaved so
had he known the time when the dead will be raised from the graves
and when the intentions and motives with which he had done all sorts of deeds in the world
will be exposed and brought out before everyone to see. At that time the Lord and Sustainer of men shall be well informed of what one had done and what punishment or reward one deserved.