Message for Muslims

Sura 109 Al-Kafirun (The Unbelievers) Mecca

The Muslim commentators say that the occasion of this sura was when some Meccan leaders, Abu Jahl, ‘As, Walid and others proposed a compromise with Muhammad that he would worship their gods for a year and then they would worship his for the same period. Muhammad did not accept the compromise and in this sura distinctly rejects idolatry.

110 Sura An-Nasr (Succour) Medina

Although the southern portion of the Roman Empire had been invaded and the Muslims were soundly beaten at the battle of Muta, Muhammad realised the attack had been somewhat premature. Before entering on further conquests abroad he felt his position in Arabia had to be strengthened. Here, with the encouragement of these verses he consolidated his position before seeing ’men entering the religion of God by troops.’ With a united national Arab concept and the possibility of the taking of Mecca likely, Islam could go from strength to strength.

Once again Muhammad needs to pray for forgiveness. Muslim commentators try to evade the plain and direct references to Muhammad’s sin by saying that the Arabic word used for Muhammad’s failure is the term thanib. This term when used of the sins of others as found in At-Tauba 9:103 ” is translated variously as; ’others have acknowldged their wrong-doings’; ’others acknowledged their faults’; ’others have confessed their faults.’ Tradition clearly represents Muhammad as seeking pardon as for example the Mishkatul-Musbih 10, chapter 3 has the following: ‘Verily I ask par

don of God and turn from sin towards Him more than seventy times daily.’ ‘I ask pardon of God one hundred times daily.’ If Muslims must confess that even Muhammad was a sinner, how much more must they allow that all other men are sinners.

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111 Sura Al-Masad (Palm Fibre) Mecca

Here we meet ‘Abd al-’Uzza, who is known to the Muslims as Abu Lahab, ‘Father of Flame’, i.e. man of hell. Along with his wife they were staunch opponents of Muhammad. The sura is said to have been revealed when Muhammad called the Qurraish chiefs together for a meeting on the hill Safa. Here, he addressed his relatives in the following terms, ‘If I announced to you an approaching enemy would you not believe me? ‘Yes’, they answered. ’Well’, he said, I caution you against a great punishment!’ At this, Abu Lahab approached Muhammad and said ’Mayest thou perish! Hast thou called us together for this? This sura then is the heavenly response. Apart from Abu Lahab, Zaid is the only relative or friend mentioned in the Quran.

“Perish the hands of the Father of Flame! Perish he!

No profit to him from all his wealth, and all his gains! Burnt soon will he be in a fire of blazing flame!” (v. 1-3)

The call for destruction of Abu Lahab

Abu Lahab is depicted as a wealthy, large corpulent man who quickly became angry. His son, ‘Utba, had married one of Muhammad’s daughters before Islam was preached, but when Muhammad announced that he was a prophet, he divorced her. Abu Lahab resolutely opposed Muhammad but was prevented from going to the battlefield at Badr. On hearing of the defeat at Badr he fell into such a rage that he behaved violently towards the news-bearer and his wife. According to Ibn Hisham, seven days later he died of smallpox. His sons feared to touch the corpse and it was left to putrefy but was eventually buried in an undignified way.

The background of this sura is found in the following hadith: (Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 495): Narrated Ibn Abbas: When the verse: ‘And warn your tribe of near kindred.’ (26.214) was revealed. Allah’s Apostle went out, and when he had ascended As-Safa mountain, he shouted, “O Sabahah!” The people said, “Who is that?” “Then they gathered around him, whereupon he said, “Do you see? If I inform you that cavalrymen are proceeding up the side of this mountain, will you believe me?” They said, “We have never heard you telling a lie.” Then he said, “I am a plain warner to you of a coming severe punishment.” Abu Lahab said, “May you perish! You gathered us only for this reason? “Then Abu Lahab went away. So the “Sura ” ‘Perish the hands of Abu Lahab!’ (111.1) was revealed.

The call for the destruction of the wife of Abu Lahab

112 Sura Al-Ikhlas (The Declaration of God’s Unity)

T his chapter is highly venerated by Muslim people and declared by tradition to be equal in value to a third of the whole Quran. The Meccans did not give pre-eminent worship to Allah for they believed that God physically begat angels (‘Allah has begotten; and most surely they are liars’ (As-Saffat 37:152), through whom they sought intercession. They ask Muhammad what were the distinguishing attributes of the God he invited them to follow and this revelation was said to have been received.

“Say: He is Allah, the One and Only

Allah, the Eternal, Absolute

He begetteth not, nor is He begotten

And there is none like unto Him.”

Here are two traditions in respect of this sura:

1. Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Number 471: Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: A man heard another man reciting (in the prayers): ‘Say (O Muhammad): “He is Allah, the One.” (112.1) And he recited it repeatedly. When it was morning, he went to the Prophet and informed him about that as if he considered that the recitation of that Sura by itself was not enough. Allah’s Apostle said, “By Him in whose hand my life is, it is equal to one-third of the Quran.”
2. Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Number 472: Narrated ‘Aisha: The Prophet sent (an army unit) under the command of a man who used to lead his companions in the prayers and would finish his recitation with (the Sura 112): ‘Say (O Muhammad): “He is Allah, the One.” ‘ (112.1) When they returned (from the battle), they mentioned that to the Prophet. He said (to them), “Ask him why he does so.” They asked him and he said, “I do so because it mentions the qualities of the beneficent and I love to recite it (in my prayer).” The Prophet; said (to them), “Tell him that Allah loves him” (See also Muslim Book 4 Number 1769).

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113 Sura Al-Falaq (The Daybreak) Mecca

Muhammad had a dream in which he was told that he had been bewitched by a Jew named Lobeid, who had been assisted by his daughters. It seems that they had got hold of his comb, taken the hair from it, and then tied them onto a cord and thrown it in a well. When suras 113 and 114 were said to be revealed the angel Gabriel told Muhammad where the cord was hidden. Ali fetched the cord, and the Prophet repeated over it these two suras. At every verse a knot was loosed and when the last verse was reached he was entirely freed for the charm. ‘Aisha relates that Muhammad used to recite these two suras regularly in what appears an occultish manner.

“Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Dawn

From the mischief of created things;

From the mischief of Darkness as it overspreads;

From the mischief of those who practise secret arts;

And from the mischief of the envious one as he practises envy.”

Muhammad looked at many things created by God with fear. He was afraid of the night. He was afraid of sorcerers and women who tried to have influence on others by making knots and blowing on them. Muhammad felt the power of evil spirits in one who had become envious.

Here Bukhari describes the traditional setting for these verses: (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 54, Number 490) Narrated ‘Aisha: Magic was worked on the Prophet so that he began to fancy that he was doing a thing which he was not actually doing. One day he invoked (Allah) for a long period and then said, “I feel that Allah has inspired me as how to cure myself. Two persons came to me (in my dream) and sat, one by my head and the other by my feet. One of them asked the other, “What is the ailment of this man?” The other replied, ‘He has been bewitched” The first asked, ‘Who has bewitched him?’ The other replied, ‘Lubaid bin Al-A’sam.’ The first one asked, ‘What material has he used?’ The other replied, ‘A comb, the hair gathered on it, and the outer skin of the pollen of the male date-palm.’ The first asked, ‘Where is that?’ The other replied, ‘It is in the well of Dharwan.’ ” So, the Prophet went out towards the well and then returned and said to me on his return, “Its date-palms (the date-palms near the well) are like the heads of the devils.” I asked, “Did you take out those things with which the magic was worked?” He said, “No, for I have been cured by Allah and I am afraid that this action may spread evil amongst the people.” Later on the well was filled.(See also Bukhari volume 7, book 71, number 660 and Bukhari volume 6, book 61, number 535).

The connection with knots is also found in the following hadith: (Bukhari volume 4, book 54, number 491): Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, ‘The night is, long, so keep on sleeping,’ If that person wakes up and celebrates the praises of Allah, then one knot is undone, and when he performs ablution the second knot is undone, and when he prays, all the knots are undone, and he gets up in the morning lively and gay, otherwise he gets up dull and gloomy. “

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114 Sura An-Nas (Mankind) Mecca

This chapter was revealed on the same occasion as sura 113.

“Say: I seek refuge with the Lord and cherisher of mankind,

The King of mankind,

The God of mankind,

From the mischief of the whisperer, who withdraws (after his whisper),

(The same) who whispers into the hearts of mankind,

Among Jinns and among men.”

In these verses, we find Muhammad experienced three sources of fear: man, Satan and demons and he sought to find refuge in Allah from each of these created beings. Muhammad acknowledged demons and spirits and sought refuge from Satan who whispered into his innermost being.It is with such words that the Quran finishes! Here it ends. Not a word of comfort, but with a cry for refuge.