Essence of the Holy Qur’an — Page 80
80 Chapter 37 A s - Sa ff a t ٓ D (Revealed before Hijrah) Place of Revelation and Context Baihaq i and Ibn Mardawaih report Ibn ‘Abb a s as saying that the S u rah was revealed at Mecca. According to Qur t ub i the consensus of scholarly opinion also regards the S u rah as having been revealed very early in the Holy Prophet’s ministry at Mecca. Its style and subject matter also support this view. In the preceding S u rah the Holy Prophet was called "The Perfect Leader" who was given the Qur’ a n as an infallible guide for the whole of humanity till the end of time. In the beginning of the present S u rah it is stated that this "Perfect Leader" will, with the help of the Qur’ a n and by his own noble example, succeed in bringing into being a community of righteous men. Subject-Matter The S u rah opens with a firm declaration that under the fostering care of the Holy Prophet—"The Perfect Leader"—a community of noble and righteous men will be born who not only themselves will glorify God and sing His praises—so much so that the sandy wilderness of Arabia will resound with them—but by precept and practice will prevent others from idol-worship and evil practices, till the Unity of God will become firmly established in Arabia and from there the light of Islam will spread to the ends of the earth. The S u rah , then proceeds to say that whenever there appears a Prophet of God in the world, forces of darkness seek to obstruct the spread of his Message by misrepresenting and misinterpreting it, or by misquoting the Prophet and tearing a passage out of his revelation and mixing much falsehood with it. But they completely fail in their evil designs, and truth continues to make progress. It further says that when disbelievers are told that the teachings of the Qur’ a n will bring about a great change in Arabia and the spiritually dead Arabs will not only receive a new life but, having received it themselves, will impart it to others, the disbelievers jeer and scoff at the idea and call it the ravings of a maniac and the phenomenon as outside the bounds of possibility like the coming into life of those who are physically dead. The S u rah replies to the firm denial of the disbelievers of this phenomenon with a firmer affirmation that such a thing will certainly come to pass and they will suffer disgrace and humiliation. Next, the S u rah gives a brief description of the heavenly blessings that will be bestowed upon the righteous and chosen servants of God. The account of heavenly blessings and bounties, to be bestowed on the believers is followed by an account of the punishment which will be meted out to the rejectors of truth and persecutors of God’s Prophets. Further, the S u rah gives a