Period of Revelation
A study of its contents clearly shows that the period of its revelation is about the same
as that of AL-AN'AM
i. e.
the last year of the Holy Prophet's life at Makkah
but it cannot be asserted with certainty which of these two was sent down earlier.
Anyhow the manner of its admonition clearly indicates that it belongs to the same
period. As both have the same historical background the reader should keep in view the
preface to AL-AN'AM.
Topics of Discussion
The principal subject of this sura is "invitation to the Divine Message sent down to
Muhammad" (Allah's peace be upon him)
which is couched in a warning. This is because the Messenger had spent a long time in
admonishing the people of Makkah without any tangible effect on them. Nay
they had turned a deaf ear to his message and become so obdurate and antagonistic
that
in accordance with the Divine Design
the Messenger was going to be commanded to leave them and turn to other people
. That is why they are being admonished to accept the Message but
at the same time
they are being warned in strong terms of the consequences that followed the wrong
attitude of the former people towards their Messengers. (Now that the Holy Prophet was
going to" migrate from Makkah the concluding portion of the address has been directed
towards the people of the Book with whom he was going to come into contact. This
meant that the time of migration was coming near and the "invitation" was going to be
extended to mankind in general
and was not to be confined to his own people in particular as before. During the course
of the address to the Jews
the consequences of their hypocritical conduct towards Prophethood have also been
pointed out clearly
for they professed to believe in Prophet Moses but in practice opposed his teachings
disobeyed him and worshipped falsehood and consequently were afflicted with
ignominy and disgrace. At the end of the Sura
some instructions have been given to the Holy Prophet and his followers for carrying
out the work of the propagation of Islam with wisdom. The most important of these is
that they should show patience and exercise restraint in answer to the provocations of
their opponents. Above all
they have been advised that under stress of the excitement of feeling
they should not take any wrung step that might harm their cause.
