(Revealed before Hijrah)
Like the preceding one this Surah was revealed early in the Holy Prophet’s ministry at Mecca. Noldeke assigns its revelation to the fourth year of the Call. The preceding Surah had dealt with two resurrections—a spiritual resurrection which was to be brought about by the teachings of the Qur’an and the Final Resurrection in the Life after death, the former resurrection having been cited as an argument in support of the latter. The Surah opens with an important prophecy that a body of highly righteous men would come into existence through the influence of the Qur’anic teaching. Like moisture-laden clouds which give rain to vast areas of parched and burnt land and make them blossom into new life, this holy band of righteous believers, having themselves awakened to a new spiritual life, would carry the Qur’anic Message to the ends of the earth, sweeping all opposition before their onward march. The prediction, seemingly impossible of fulfilment, would constitute, when turned into a palpable reality, an invincible argument in support of the fact of the Final Resurrection. The Surah, further, says that whenever a Divine Messenger appears in the world to tell his people that there is a life beyond the grave in which they will have to account for their deeds they laugh him to scorn, and oppose and persecute him; and cites the case of the people of Lot who were punished for their iniquities and unnatural and immoral practices. It also briefly refers to the punishment that overtook Pharaoh, ‘Ad, Thamud and the people of Noah, and towards the end draws pointed attention to the supreme object of man’s creation which is that he should cultivate and demonstrate in himself Divine attributes and should discharge fully and faithfully his obligations to God and his fellow-beings.