(Revealed at Mecca after Hijrah)
This is a Medinite Surah in the sense that it was revealed after Hijrah in the Medinite period, but is a Meccan Surah in the sense that it was revealed at Mecca on the occasion of the Last Pilgrimage, only about 70 or 80 days before the Holy Prophet’s death. All relevant historical data, coupled with reliable traditions and supported by such eminent authority as ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar, one of the very early and distinguished Companions of the Holy Prophet, have assigned this date to its revelation. This was the last whole Surah to be revealed, though the last verse with which the Qur’anic revelation came to an end was the 4th verse of Surah Al-Ma’idah. In the preceding Surah, disbelievers were plainly told that as their outlook on life, their ideals and principles, their religious practices and mode and manner of worship were quite different from those of believers, there was absolutely no possibility of a compromise between the two. They shall reap the consequences of their deeds while the Muslims will enjoy the fruits of their labour. In the present Surah believers are told that the victory promised to them has already come and people have begun to join the fold of Islam in large numbers. Therefore, they, particularly the Holy Prophet, should give thanks to his Lord, extol His praises and seek protection from Him against the shortcomings and moral weaknesses that generally find their way into a new Movement at a time when large groups of people join its fold, because, in view of the vast number of new converts and owing to lack of adequate number of experienced teachers to teach them the essentials of the new Movement, they fail to comprehend and assimilate properly its teachings and imbibe its spirit.