Message for Muslims

94 Sura Al-Inshirah (Have We Not Opened) Mecca

Like the preceding chapter this sura is very personal for Muhammad. It is generally placed in the first period of Muhammad’s life at the time when he was conceiving the idea of a divine mission. Here, his heart is said to be opened so that he can begin to understand the ‘revelation’ that he will later receive. Some think that the opening of his heart ocurred in infancy while others connect it to his journey to heaven.

Muhammad’s burden removed

“ Have We not expanded thee thy breast? And removed from thee thy burden the which did gall thy back?” (v.1-3)

Some commentators believe the expansion of the breast occurred when he took his journey to heaven. The legend is found in the the hadith as follows: Bukhari Volume 1, Book 8, Number 345: Narrated Abu Dhar: Allah’s Apostle said, “While I was at Mecca the roof of my house was opened and Gabriel descended, opened my chest, and washed it with Zam-zam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it. Then he took my hand and ascended with me to the nearest heaven………

Others more sensibly think his heart was expanded in order to begin to receive the ‘truth’ or others say that he was now free from an uneasiness he was experiencing.

Muhammad’s mission made easy

“And raised high the esteem (in which) thou (art held)? So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: Verily, with every difficulty there is relief. Therefore, when thou art free (from thine immediate task), still labour And to thy Lord turn (all) thy attention” (v.4-7).

* * * * * * * * * *

95 Sura At-Tin (The Fig) Mecca (Disputed)

This short chapter declares that mankind was created from the most excellent fabric but became the vilest of the vile except those who believe and act righteously.

The Oath

“By the fig and the olive, And the Mount of Sinai, And this city of security (Mecca)” (v.1-3)

96 Sura Al-Alaq (The Clot) Mecca

The first five verses of this chapter are generally regarded as the first ‘revelation’ of the Quran. Gabriel, in a vision, summoned Muhammad to the prophetic office. The tradition is that Gabriel commanded Muhammad to read, to which he replied ’I cannot read.’ This was repeated three times, and at last the angel repeated the first five verses.

This sura is a good example of the composite nature of the Quran. The rest of the chapter is said to have been revealed to denounce Muhammad’s opponent, Abu Jahl, but this situation only developed much later in Muhammad’s career.

Muhammad told to recite the Quran

“Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and C

herisher, Who created, created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:

Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful, He Who taught (the use of) the pen, Taught man that which he knew not” (v.1-5).

All men are said to be made from concealed or thick blood except Adam, Eve and Jesus.

The tradition behind these verses is given by Muslim  Book 1, Number 301: “There came to him the angel and said: Recite, to which he replied: I am not lettered. He took hold of me [the Apostle said] and pressed me, till I was hard pressed; thereafter he let me off and said: Recite. I said: I am not lettered. He then again took hold of me and pressed me for the second time till I was hard pressed and then let me off and said: Recite, to which I replied: I am not lettered. He took hold of me and pressed me for the third time, till I was hard pressed and then let me go and said: Recite in the name of your Lord Who created, created man from a clot of blood. Recite. And your most bountiful Lord is He Who taught the use of pen, taught man what he knew not” (An-Nahl 16: 1-4).

Denuncitaion of Abu Jahl for his opposition

“A votary when he (turns) to pray? Seest thou if he is on (the road of) guidance?

Or enjoins righteousness? Seest thou if he denies (truth) and turns away? Knoweth he not that Allah doth see?

Let him beware! If he desist not, We will drag him by the forelock, A lying, sinful forelock!

Then, let him call (for help) to his council (of comrades): We will call on the angels of punishment (to deal with him)!

Say, heed him not: But bow down in adoration, and bring thyself the closer” (9-19)!

‘Amr ibn Hisham, was called Abu Jahl (“Father of Folly”) by the Muslims. He is presented in the Quran as one of the most embittered opponents amongst the aristocracy in Mecca. He is said to have abused Muhammad verbally and to have been proud and boastful. He was killed at the battle of Badr and when Muhammad saw his corpse he is said to have called him “the Pharaoh of his people”. This picture is naturally drawn from the one sided Muslim traditions for in the mourning songs of the Meccans Abu Jahl is called “the Meccan chief, the noble-minded man who was never vulgar nor greedy.”

* * * * * * * * * *

97 Sura Al-Qadr (The Night of Decree/Power) Mecca (Disputed)

Muslims believe that the very words now found between the two covers of the Quran ‘revealed’ in time to Muhammad, have existed and been decreed from eternity; or, more emphatically, that they are the very words of God Himself, albeit in Arabic. Not the ideas alone but the words themselves, their spelling and grammar, are all God’s own and God’s alone. Further, the whole collection of these writings was brought down, in the time of Muhammad, from its place near God’s throne, on lailatu’l qadr, the night of power in the sacred month of Ramadan, to the lowest heaven. There it was stored up until Gabriel began to recite it “piecemeal”, as occasion required, to Muhammad.

The Quran revealed on the Night of Power

“We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power:

And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?

The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.

Therein come down the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) by Allah’s permission,on every errand:

Peace…this until the rise of morn!” (v 1-5)

The text states that to worship on the Night of Power is better than worshipping Allah for a thousand months i.e. eighty-three years and four months. Therefore Muslims are told to search diligently for this Night of Power which occurs on one of the odd last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. The traditions encourage believers to search diligently for this auspicious night: (Bukhari Volume 3, Book 32, Number 234) Narrated ‘Aisha: Allah’s Apostle said, “Search for the Night of Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.” Muslims usually spend the night in fasting and prayer.

* * * * * * * * * *

98 Sura Al-Bayyinah (The Clear Evidence) Mecca (Disputed)

The Muslim belief here seems to be that the ‘People of the Book’, as well as the idolaters expected a prophet to come and until that day arrived they would remain in their own religion. However, when the day arrived they were divided over the claims of Muhammad, some believing he was the foretold prophet others denying it. The religious system of those who rejected Muhammad’s claims was said to be have become totally corrupted and as they wandered away from the ’religion right and straight’ they became ‘the worst of creatures‘.

Christians, Jews and idolaters reject Muhammad

“Those who reject (truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, were not going to depart (from their ways) until there should come to them clear evidence,

A messenger from Allah, rehearsing scriptures kept pure and holy: Wherein are laws (or decrees) right and straight.

Nor did the People of the Book make schisms, until after there came to them clear evidence.

And they have been commanded no more than this:

To worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith); to establish regular prayer;

and to practise regular charity; and that is the religion right and straight”(v 1-5)

The worst of creatures – the People of the Book and Polytheists

“Those who reject (truth), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in hell-fire, to dwell therein. They are the worst of creatures” (v 1-6).

Here is a relevant hadith from Muslim Book 1, Number 284: “It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) observed: By Him in whose hand is the life of Muhammad, he who amongst the community of Jews or Christians hears about me, but does not affirm his belief in that with which I have been sent and dies in this state (of disbelief), he shall be but one of the denizens of Hell-Fire.”

The best of creatures – The Muslims

“Those who have faith and do righteous deeds, they are the best of creatures. Their reward is with Allah:

Gardens of eternity, beneath which rivers flow; they will dwell therein for ever; Allah well pleased with them, and they with Him: all this for such as fear their Lord and cherisher” (v 7,8).

* * * * * * * * * *

99 Sura Az-Zalzalah (The Earthquake) Mecca

On the sound of the trumpet the earth will be shaken violently giving up her treasures and dead bodies. The despairing creatures on earth will cry out to the earth and she will reply. God will then bring men arranged in distinct classes to judgement and they will be judged according to their deeds.

“When the earth is shaken to her (utmost) convulsion, And the earth throws up her burdens (from within),

And earth yieldeth up her burdens, And man cries (distressed): ‘What is the matter with her?’

On that day will she declare her tidings: For that thy Lord will have given her inspiration.

On that day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the deeds that they (had done).

Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it.”(v 1-8)