“Windows To Spirituality”
32. Surah As Sajdah (The Prostration) Name The Surah As Sajdah has been entitled As-Sajdah after the theme of Sajdah (prostration) as expressed in verse 15. Period of Revelation From the style of the Surah, it appears that it was sent down during the middle Makkah period, more particularly in its initial...
31. Surah Luqman Name The Surah has been named Surah Luqman after Luqman the Sage, whose admonitions to his son have been related in vv. 12-19 of this Surah. Period of Revelation A perusal of the subject matter shows that it was sent down in the period when persecution to...
30. Surah Ar Rum (The Romans) Name The Surah takes its name Surah Ar Rum (Ar-Rum) from the second verse in which the words ghulibat-ir-Rum have occurred. Period of Revelation The period of the revelation of this Surah is determined absolutely by the historical event that has been mentioned at the...
29. Surah Al Ankabut (The Spider) Name The Surah Al Ankabut takes its name from verse 41 in which the word Ankabut (Spider) has occurred. Period of Revelation Verses 56 to 60 clearly show that this Surah was sent down a little before the migration to Habash, and this is supported...
28. Surah Al Qasas (The Story) Name The Surah Al Qasas takes its name from verse 25 in which the word Al-Qasas occurs. Lexically, qasas means to relate events in their proper sequence. Thus, from the viewpoint of the meaning too, this word can be a suitable title for this Surah, for...
27. Surah An Naml (The Ant) Name The Surah An Naml takes its name from the phrase wad-in-naml which occurs in verse 18, implying that it is a Surah in which the story of An-Naml (the Ant) has been related. Period of Revelation The subject matter and the style bear full...
26. Surah Ash Shuaraa (The Poets) Name The Surah Ash Shuaraa takes its name from verse 224 in which the word Ash-Shu`araa‘ occurs. Period of Revelation The subject matter and the style show, and the traditions confirm, that it was revealed during the middle Makkan period. According to Ibn Abbas, Surah...
25. Surah Al Furqan (The Criterion) Name The Surah Al Furqan takes its name “Al-Furqan” from the first verse. Though it is symbolic like the names of many other Surahs, it has a close relation to its subject matter. Period of Revelation It appears from its style and subject matter...
24. Surah An Noor (The Light) Name This Surah takes its name, An Nur, from verse 35. The Surah An Noor (An-Nur) was sent down to repair the cracks that had appeared in the unity of the Muslim Community. Period of Revelation The consensus of opinion is that it was...
23. Surah Al Muminoon (The Believers) Name The Surah Al Muminoon takes its name, Al-Mu’minun, from the first verse. Period of Revelation. 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...
22. Surah Al Hajj (The Hajj) Name This Surah takes its name from v. 27. Surah Al Hajj is addressed to: (1) The mushriks of Makkah, (2) the wavering Muslims, and (3) the True Believers. Period of Revelation As this Surah contains the characteristics of both the Makki and the Madani...
21. Surah Al Anbiyaa (The Prophets) Name The name of the Surah Al Anbiyaa has not been taken from any verse but it has been called Al-Anbiyaa because it contains a continuous account of many Anbiyaa (Prophets). Nevertheless, it is a symbolic name and not a title. Period of Revelation Both the subject...
20. Surah Ta Ha Name The Surah Ta Ha takes its name from its first word “Ta Ha.” This name, like the names of many other Surahs, is merely symbolic. Period of Revelation The period of its revelation is the same as that of Surah Maryam. It is just possible...
19. Surah Maryam (Mary) Name The Surah Maryam takes its name from verse 16. Period of Revelation It was revealed before the Migration to Habash. We learn from authentic Traditions that Hadrat Ja’afar recited vv. 1-40 of this Surah in the court of Negus when he called the migrants to...
18. Surah Al Kahf (The Cave) Name The Surah Al Kahf takes its name from verse 9 in which the word (al-kahf) occurs. Period of Revelation This is the first of those Surahs which were sent down in the third stage of Prophethood at Makkah. We have already divided the...
17. Surah Al Isra (The Night Journey) AKA Surah Bani Israil (The Children of Israel) Name The Surah Al Isra or Surah Bani Israil takes its name (Bani Israil) from verse 4. But this name is merely a distinctive appellation like the names of many other surahs and not a...
16. An Nahl (The Honey Bee) Name The name, An-Nahl, of this Surah, has been taken from verse 68. This is merely to distinguish it from other Surahs. All the topics of the Surah An Nahl revolve around different aspects of the Message. Period of Revelation The following internal evidence...
15. Surah Al Hijr (The Rocky Tract) Name The Surah Al Hijr takes its name from verse 80. Period of Revelation It is clear from its topics and style that the period of its revelation is about the same as that of Surah Ibrahim (the last stage of the Makkan...
14. Surah Ibrahim (Abraham) Name The Surah Ibrahim takes its name from verse 35 in which mention has been made of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). But it does not mean that it contains the life story of Prophet Abraham. The name is merely a symbol lid the names of many other...
13. Surah Ar Ra’ad (The Thunder) Name The Surah Ar Ra’ad takes its name from the word (ar-Ra’ad) (thunder) that occurs in verse 13. It is merely the symbolic name of the Surah and does not in any way mean that the Surah deals with the scientific problems connected with...
