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26. Al-Shuaraa
Name
The Sura takes its name from verse 224 in which the word Ash-Shuaraa' occurs.
Period of Revelation
The subject matter and the style show
and the traditions confirm
that it was revealed during the middle Makkan poriod. According to Ibn Abbas
Sura TaHa was revealed first
then Sura Al-Waqiah
and then Sura Ash-Shu'araa. (Ruh-ul-Ma'ani
Vol. xIx
p. 64). About Sura TaHa it is well known that it had been revealed before Hadrat Umar embraced Islam.
Subject Matter and Topics
The background of the Sura is that the disbelievers of Makkah were persistently refusing
on one pretext or the other
to accept the message of Islam given by the Holy Prophet. Sometimes they would say that he did not show them any sign to convince them of his Prophethood; some-times they would brand him as a poet or a sorcerer and mock his message; and sometimes they would ridicule his Mission
saying that his followers were either a few foolish youth
or the poor people and slaves whereas
they argued
if his Mission had really some value for the people
the nobles and the elders would have accepted it first. Thus
while on the one hand
the Holy Prophet was becoming wearied by his efforts to show them rationally the errors of their creeds and prove the truth of the Doctrines of
Tauhid and the Hereafter
the disbelievers
on the other
were never tired of adopting one kind of obduracy after the other. This state of affairs was causing great anguish and grief to the Holy Prophet.
Such were the conditions when this Sura was revealed. It begins with words of consolation to the Holy Prophet
implying
Why do you fret for their sake? If these people have not believed in you
it is not because they have not seen any Sign
but because they are obdurate. They will not listen to reason they want to see a Sign which makes them bow their heads in humility. When this Sign is shown in due course of time
they will themselves realize that what was being presented to them was the Truth.
After this introduction
till verse 191
one and the same theme has been presented continuously
and it is said: "The whole earth abounds in such Signs as can guide a seeker after truth to Reality
but the stubborn and misguided people have never believed even after seeing the Signs
whether these were the Signs of the natural phenomena or the miracles of the Prophets. These wretched people have stubbornly adhered to their erroneous creeds till the Divine scourge actually overtook them." It is to illustrate this that the history of seven of the ancient tribes has been told
who persisted in disbelief just like the disbelievers of Makkah. In this connection
the following points have been stressed:
- The Signs are of two kinds:
- Those which are scattered all over the earth
and by seeing which an intelligent person can judge for himself whether what the Prophet is presenting is the Truth or not and
- those which were seen by Pharaoh and his people
Noah's people
the Ad and the Thamud
Lot's people and the people of Aiykah. Now it is for the disbelievers to decide which kind of the Signs they are eager to see.
- The mentality of thc disbeliever has been the same throughout the ages; their arguments and their objections
and their excuses and subterfuges for not believing have been similar and ultimately the fates that they met have also been the same. Likewise
the Prophets in every age presented the same teachings
their personal character and their reasoning and arguments against their opponents were the same
and they were all similarly blessed with mercy by Allah Almighty. Both these patterns of behaviour and conduct are found in history
and the disbelievers could themselves see as to which respective patterns they and the Holy Prophet belonged.
- Allah is All Mighty
All Powerful and All Merciful at the same time. History contains instances of His Wrath as well as of His Mercy. Now
therefore
it is for the people to decide whether they would like to deserve Allah's Merey or His Wrath.
- Lastly
the discussion has been summed up
saying "O disbelievers
if at all you want to see the Signs
why should you insist on seeing those horrible Signs that visited the doomed communities of the
past? Why don't you see the Qur'an which is being presented in your own
language? Why don't you see Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and mercy) and his
Companions? Can the revelations of the Qur'an be the work of a satan or a
jinn? Does the recipient of the Quran appear to be a sorcerer? Are Muhammad and his Companions no different from a poet and his admirers? Why don't you give up disbelief and search your hearts for their judgment? When in the heart of your hearts you yourselves believe that the Revelations of the Quran have nothing in common with sorcery and poetry, then you should know that you are being cruel and unjust, and will certainly meet the doom meant for the cruel and unjust."
- those which are scattered all over the earth, and by seeing which an intelligent person can judge for himself whether what the Prophet is presenting is the Truth or not
- those which were seen by Pharaoh and his people, Noah's people, the Ad and the
Thamud, Lot's people and the people of Aiykah. Now it is for the disbelievers to decide which kind of the Signs they are eager to see.
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