Essence of the Holy Qur’an — Page 109
109 Chapter 56 Al-W a qi‘ah 7 " (Revealed before Hijrah) Date of Revelation and Context This is the last of the group of seven Chapters which begin with S u rah Q a f. These seven Chapters were revealed at Mecca, more or less at the same time, in the early years of the Holy Prophet’s ministry. Naturally, therefore, they are very much similar in tone and tenor; but in no other case perhaps, is this similarity so marked as it is between this S u rah and its predecessor, S u rah Ar-Ra h m a n. The subject in S u rah Ar-Ra h m a n is completed in this S u rah and thus it forms a befitting sequel to S u rah Ar-Ra h m a n. In S u rah Ar-Ra h m a n, for instance, three groups of people—(a) those fortunate ones who are granted special nearness to God, (b) the general body of believers who have achieved Divine pleasure, and (c) the rejectors of Divine Messengers—were referred to only by implication. In the present S u rah , however, they have been expressly mentioned. The S u rah dealing particularly with the important subjects of the Resurrection, Revelation and the repudiation of idolatry, was quite appropriately revealed early at Mecca where the preaching of the Qur’ a nic Message was directed exclusively to the idolatrous Quraish, who believed neither in Resurrection nor in Revelation. The seven Chapters also contain certain prophecies about the great and glorious future of Islam, side by side with direct and emphatic mention of the inevitability of the Resurrection, thus drawing attention to the inescapable conclusion that the fulfilment of those prophecies about the progress of Islam would prove that the Resurrection was also an undeniable fact. Subject-Matter The S u rah opens with a firm and emphatic declaration that the great and Inevitable Event, which was foretold in the preceding S u rah , will most surely come to pass, and when it came to pass it will shake the earth to its depths, and the mountains shall be shattered, causing a new world to emerge from the ashes of the old. Further, as a result of this Great Event people will become sorted out into three groups: (a) The fortunate ones who will enjoy God’s special nearness, (b) the true and righteous believers who will receive handsome rewards for their good deeds and (c) the unfortunate disbelievers who will be punished for their evil deeds. The S u rah then gives a graphic description of the Divine blessings and favours in store for the first two classes, following with a description of the punishment to be meted out to the deniers of the Divine Message. Next, it advances the usual argument of the creation of man and of his development from a seminal drop into a full-fledged human being, to prove his second birth