(Revealed after Hijrah)
The Surah was revealed in the 9th year of the Hijrah, after the Fall of Mecca. When with the Fall of Mecca Islam had become a great political power and large masses of people had entered its fold, it was in the fitness of time that the newly initiated people should have been taught good manners and morals. The Surah teaches Muslims those good manners and morals. It also deals with some social evils which find their way into a materially-advanced and wealthy society (the Muslims had become such a society after the conquest of Arabia) and speaks of the accession to Islam of great political power and material wealth. Naturally, and quite appropriately, it embodies regulations for the settlement of international disputes. It opens with strict injunctions to Muslims to show full regard and respect to the Holy Prophet which befits his status as a great Divine Messenger. They are further enjoined not to anticipate his decisions but to give unquestioning obedience to him. They should not raise their voices above his voice; this not only constitutes bad manners but also shows lack of proper respect for the Leader which is calculated to undermine discipline in the Muslim Community. The Surah, then, warns Muslims to be on their guard against giving credence to false rumours, as such rumours are calculated to land Muslims into very awkward situations and lays down, in brief words, rules on which a League of Nations, or a United Nations Organization, can be built on sound and solid foundations. Next, it mentions some social evils which, if not guarded against and effectively checked in time, are calculated to eat into the vitals of a community and undermine its whole social structure. Of these social evils the common ones are suspicion, false accusation, spying, backbiting; and most pronounced and far-reaching in their evil consequences are conceit and pride born of a false sense of racial superiority. The Qur’an recognizes no basis of superiority save that of piety and righteous conduct.