23. Al-Mumenoon (The Believers) |
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Maududi's Introduction |
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The surah takes its name, Al-Mu'minun, from the first verse.
Both its style and theme indicate that it was revealed during the
middle stage of Prophethood at Makkah. Reading between the lines, one
feels that a bitter conflict had begun between the, Holy Prophet and
the disbelievers of Makkah, though the persecution by them had not yet
become tyrannical. It appears that the surah was sent down during the
climax of the "Famine" in Makkah (vv. 75-76), which according to
authentic traditions occurred during the middle stage of Prophethood.
Moreover, according to a tradition related by 'Urwah bin Zubair,
Hadarat Umar who had embraced Islam by that time, said, "This Surah was
revealed in my presence and I myself observed the state of the Prophet (Allah's
peace be upon him) during its revelation. When the revelation ended , the
Prophet (Allah's peace be upon him) remarked, 'On this occasion ten such verses have been sent
down to me that the one who measures up to them, will most surely go
to Paradise'. Then he recited the initial verses of the surah." (Ahmad,
Tirmizi, Nasai, Hakim).
The central theme of the surah is to invite the people to accept and
follow the Message of the Prophet (Allah's peace be upon him) and the whole Surah revolves
round this theme.
The fact that the people who have accepted the Message of the Prophet (Allah's
peace be upon him) have started acquiring such and such noble qualities of character is a practical proof of the truth of the Message. 1 - 11
In this passage, attention has been drawn to the creation of man and the universe to impress that the whole universe including man's own self, is a clear proof of the truth of
the Prophet's (Allah's peace be upon him) Message, which invites the people to accept Tauhid and life in the Hereafter. 12 - 22
Then the stories of the former Prophets and their communities have been cited as historical evidences of the truth of the Message. They prove the following things :
After relating the stories of the Prophets, a fundamental principle has been enunciated: Success and prosperity in the worldly life is not a criterion of success in the sight of Allah. If some persons (or a person) are enjoying prosperity, wealth, power and the like in this world, it does not mean that they are favourites of Allah. Likewise, the poverty and adversity of other people is not a proof that Allah is displeased with them. The real criterion is Faith (or lack of it). This declaration was needed because the antagonists of the Prophet (Allah's peace be upon him) were the great chiefs of Makkah, who (and their followers) were deluded by their own prosperity that God and their deities were well pleased with them. On the other hand, they argued, the fact that Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) and his followers were indigent and in a state of helplessness, was a clear proof that Allah was not pleased with them, and they were under the curse of their deities. 55 - 67 In this passage different arguments have been used to convince them that Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) was a true Prophet of Allah. Then they have been told that the Famine (vv. 75 - 76) was merely a warning and therefore "it is better for you to mend your ways; otherwise you will be visited by a terrible scourge." 68 - 77 Again they have been invited to observe the Signs in the universe and in their own selves because these are clear proofs of the truth of the Message of the Prophet (Allah's peace be upon him). 78 - 95 the Prophet (Allah's peace be upon him) has been told not to adopt any wrong way in retaliation to counteract the evil ways of the enemies, and to guard against the incitement of Satan. 96 - 97 In this concluding passage, the enemies of the truth have been warned that they shall have to render an account in the Hereafter and bear the consequences of their persecution of the Believers; therefore they should mend their ways. 98 - 118 |
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