(Revealed before Hijrah)
The subject-matter of the preceding Surah is continued and explained more fully and clearly in this Surah. The truth of the Qur’anic teaching is sought to be proved from observation, inferences to this effect having been drawn from facts of history. It is pointed out that in circumstances similar to those of the Holy Prophet, Messengers of God were successful in their own day against very powerful opposition. The Holy Prophet, therefore, is also bound to succeed in his mission, in spite of the meagreness of his means. Then the Surah proceeds to say that the real purpose of the Qur’anic revelation is to provide guidance for mankind which is groping in darkness, and the Holy Prophet has been raised to bring people out of this Cimmerian darkness into light. Prophets had also appeared before him, prominent among them being Moses. The Surah sheds light on the main reason for the triumph of Divine Messengers over their opponents which is that they worship God and preach the Truth. After dealing with this subject the Surah lays down some prominent marks and characteristics of the revealed Word of God and the criteria by which its truth can be tested. Judged by these criteria the Qur’an is definitely proved to be God’s own revealed Word. Muslims then are advised how best to profit by its noble ideals and teachings. Next, the Surah points out that the change which was about to take place in Arabia through the Message of the Qur’an had been decreed ages ago by Almighty God. It had been God’s plan and purpose since Abraham went to the wilderness of Paran and settled his son Ishmael and his wife Hagar there that that barren and bleak country would one day become the centre of the greatest religious Movement the world had ever seen. Mecca was founded to fulfil this Divine plan. This is why, in spite of the sterility and barrenness of its soil, God has ever provided for its inhabitants their means of livelihood in an ample measure. While Abraham was reconstructing the House of God with the help of his son, Ishmael, they prayed that God might raise up among the Meccans a Messenger, who should recite to them His Signs and teach them the Book and wisdom and should purify them (2:130). This prayer was fulfilled in the person of the Holy Prophet. The Surah reminds the Faithful that their duties and responsibilities had already been explained to them by Prophet Abraham and that they should never lose sight of them. It ends with a warning to disbelievers that since Mecca had been founded to become the centre and citadel for the preaching and propagation of the doctrine of the Divine Unity, they should give up idolatry. All efforts on their part to oppose the Divine purpose were bound to end in complete failure and frustration.