“Windows To Spirituality”
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...
12. Surah Yusuf (Joseph) When and Why Revealed? The subject matter of the Surah Yusuf indicates that it was revealed during the last stage of the Holy Prophet‘s residence at Makkah, when the Quraish were considering the question of killing or exiling or imprisoning him. At that time some of...
11. Surah Hud Name The Surah Hud has been named after Prophet Hud whose story has been related in vv. 50-60. Period of Revelation If we consider its theme deeply, we come to the conclusion that it was revealed during the same period as Surah Yunus and most probably followed...
10. Surah Yunus (Jonah) Name The Surah Yunus takes its name from V. 98, in which there is a reference to Prophet Yunus (Jonah). The name, as usual, is symbolical and does not indicate that the Surah deals with the story of Prophet Jonah. Period of Revelation We learn from...
9. Surah At Taubah (The Repentance) Name The Surah At Taubah is known by two names — At-Taubah and Al-Bara’at. It is called At-Taubah because it enunciates the nature of taubah (repentance) and mentions the conditions of its acceptance. (vv. 102. 118). The second name Bara’at (Release) is taken from...
8. Surah Al Anfal (The Spoils Of War) Name The Surah Al Anfal takes its name Al-Anfal (The Bounties) from the first verse. The Period of Revelation It was revealed in 2 A. H. after the Battle of Badr, the first battle between Islam and kufr. As it contains a detailed...
7. Surah Al Aaraf (The Heights) Name This Surah Al Aaraf takes its name from vv. 46-47 in which mention of A’araf occurs. Period of Revelation A study of its contents clearly shows that the period of its revelation is about the same as that of Al-An’am, i. e., the...
6. Surah Al Anaam (The Cattle) Name This Surah Al Anaam takes its name from verses 136, 138, and 139 in which some superstitious beliefs of the idolatrous Arabs concerning the lawfulness of some cattle (an`am) and the unlawfulness of some others have been refuted. Period of Revelation According to...
5. Surah Al Maidah (The Table Spread) Name The Surah Al Maidah takes its’ name from verse 112 in which the word mai’dah occurs. Like the names of many other surahs, this name has no special relation to the subject of the Surah but has been used merely as a symbol...
4. Surah An Nisa (The Women) Period of Revelation The Surah An Nisa comprises several discourses which were revealed on different occasions during the period ranging probably between the end of A.H. 3 and the end of A.H. 4 or the beginning of A.H. 5. Although it is difficult to...
