Background
The Holy Prophet had been propagating Tauhidfor the previous twelve years and his
opponents had been doing all they could to make his Mission a failure
but in spite of all their opposition
Islam had spread to every corner of Arabia and there was hardly any clan which had
not been influenced by his invitation. In Makkah itself the true Believers had formed
themselves into a small community and were ready and willing to face every danger to
make Islam a success. Besides them
a very large number of the people of Aus and Khazraj (two influential clans of
Al-Madinah) had accepted Islam. Thus the time had come for the Holy Prophet to
emigrate from Makkah to Al- Madinah and there gather together the scattered Muslims
and establish a state based on the principles of Islam. These were the conditions when
Mi'raj took place and on his return the Holy Prophet brought down the Message
contained in this Sura.
Theme and Topics
This Sura is a wonderful combination of warning
admonition and instruction
which have been blended together in a balanced proportion. The disbelievers of
Makkah had been admonished to take a lesson from the miserable end of the Israelites
and other communities and mend their ways within the period of respite given by Allah
which was about to expire. They should
therefore
accept the invitation that was being extended by Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon
him) and the Quran; otherwise they shall be annihilated and replaced by other people.
Incidentally
the Israelites
with whom Islam was going to come in direct contact in the near future at Al-Madinah
have also been warned that they should learn a lesson from the chastisements that
have already been inflicted on them. They were warned
Take advantage of the Prophethood of Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him)
because that is the last opportutury which is being given to you. If even now you
behave as you have been behaving
you shall meet with a painful torment.
As regards the education of mankind
it has been impressed that human success or failure
gain or loss
depends upon the right understanding of Tauhidlife-after- death and Prophethood.
Accordingly
convincing arguments have been put forward to prove that the Quran is the Book of
Allah and its teachings are true and genuine the doubts of the disbelievers about these
basic realities have been removed and on suitable occasions they have been
admonished and rebuked in regard to their ways of ignorance. In this connection
those fundamental principles of morality and civilization on which the Islamic System of
life is meant to be established have been put forward. Thus this was a sort of the
Manifesto of the intended Islamic state which had been proclaimed a year before its
actual establishment. It has been explicitly stated that that was the sketch of the system
on which Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) intended to build human life first in
his own country and then in the outside world. Besides these
the Holy Prophet has been instructed to stick firmly to his stand without minding the
opposition and difficulties which he was encountering and should never think of making
a compromise with unbelief. The Muslims who sometimes showed signs of impatience
when they met with persecution
calumny
and crooked arguments
have also been instructed to face adverse circumstances with patience and fortitude
and keep full control over their feelings and passions. Moreover
salatwas prescribed in order to reform and purify their souls
as if to say
This is the thing' which will produce in you those high qualities of character which are
essential for everyone who intends to struggle in the righteous way Incidentally
we learn from Traditions that Mi'raj was the first occasion on which the five daily
Prayers were prescribed to be offered at fixed times.
