Journey Through the Quran by Haroon Hanif

Author:Haroon Hanif [Hanif, Haroon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Islamic Texts for the Blind

SECTION 19

AL-FURQĀN 21 – AL-NAML 59

Sūrat al-Furqān continues by speaking about those who denied the Quran and answers the question of why the Quran was not revealed all at one time, unlike previous revelation. This is then followed by a brief mention of some of the prophets and their people who denied and the punishment that descended.

Then comes mention of some signs in creation revealing the presence of the Creator, and calling upon the unbelievers in Makka who denied al-Raḥmān (the Most Merciful) to recognise Him and prostrate to Him.

Then we have a lengthy passage describing qualities of the slaves of the Most Merciful which includes the following: they walk humbly; they respond to the ignorant with peace; they spend the night calling on their Lord; they ask for protection from Hellfire; they spend moderately; they only worship Him; they don’t kill or fornicate; they don’t give false testimonies; they pass by worthless talk with dignity; and they pray for righteous partners and children.

This sūra is followed by Sūrat al-Shu‘arā, which is the longest sūra in the Quran after Sūrat al-Baqara by number of verses.

The sūra begins by speaking of the Quran, which was sent as guidance and how the unbelievers denied it. Then we have the stories of eight prophets. This begins with a fairly detailed discussion of

Mūsa (upon him be peace), how he was sent against Pharaoh, a challenging conversation between the two of them, Mūsa (upon him be peace) against the sorcerers, followed by the destruction of Pharaoh and his armies.

The passage ends by two repeated verses that come at the end of each narrative: ‘Indeed in that is a sign but most of them are not believers and truly your Lord is the Mighty, the Wise.’1

Then comes Ibrāhīm (upon him be peace) challenging his father and his people in their denial with a description of the fates of believers and unbelievers.

Then comes Nūḥ, Hūd, Ṣāliḥ, Lūṭ and Shu’ayb (upon them be peace). Each passage begins with almost the same set of verses (the people rejecting and the prophets explaining their purpose) and ends with the two verses above, while each different type of rejection is mentioned in between, showing that, although the situations differed, the message and the struggles of all the prophets were essentially the same.

The sūra ends by confirming that the Quran was revealed to the heart of the Prophet (prayers and peace be upon him), and refutes the lie of the unbelievers that he was a poet by referring to many poets as being inspired by devils.

Then comes Sūrat al-Naml. These two sūras along with the sūra to follow were revealed in succession. It is rare to find in the Quran similar cases of sūras revealed in succession that are placed in succession. Hence, the theme of this sūra and the sūra before and after are the same. This is confirmed by them having virtually the same beginnings - Sūrat al-Shu‘ara beginning with Ṭā Sīn Mīm, Sūrat al-Naml beginning with Ṭā Sīn and Sūrat al-Qaṣaṣ beginning with Ṭā Sīn Mīm.

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