Name
The Sura takes its name "Al-Furqan" from the first verse. Though it is symbolic like the
names of many other Suras
it has a close relation to its subject matter.
Period of Revelation
It appears from its style and subject matter that
like Sura Al- Mu'minun
it was also revealed during the third stage of Prophethood at Makkah. Ibn Jarir and
Imam Razi have cited a tradition of Dahhak bin Muzahim that this Sura was revealed
eight years before Sura AnNisa. This also confirms our opinion as to its period of
revelation. (Ibn Jarir
Vol. XIX
pp. 28-30
and Tafsir Kabir
Vol. VI
p. 358). Subject Matter and Topics The Sura deals with the doubts and objections that
were being raised against the Qur'an
the Prophethood of Muhammad (Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his
teachings by the disbelievers of Makkah. Appropriate answers to each and every
objection have been given and the people have been warned of the consequences of
rejecting the Truth. At the end of the Sura
a clear picture of the moral superiority of the Believers has been depicted as in the
beginning of Sura Al-Mu'minun
as if to say
'Here is the criterion for distinguishing the genuine from the counterfeit. This is the
noble character of those people who have believed in and followed the teachings of the
Holy Prophet and this is the kind of people that he is trying to train. You may yourselves
compare and contrast this type of people with those Arabs
who have not as yet accepted the Message
and who are upholding "ignorance" and exerting their utmost to defeat the Truth. Now
you may judge for yourselves as to which you would like to choose." Though this
question was not posed in so many words
it was placed before every one in Arabia in a tangible shape. It may be noted that
during the next few years
the practical answer given to this question by the whole nation
with the exception of a small minority
was that they chose Islam.
