Essence of the Holy Qur’an — Page 71
71 Chapter 33 Al-A h z a b => ? (Revealed after Hijrah) Date of Revelation and Context The S u rah was revealed at Medina. It was revealed between the 5th and the 7th year of the Hijrah , possibly up to the 8th and the 9th year. There is sufficient internal evidence to establish this fact. In the preceding few Chapters the prophecy was repeatedly and emphatically made that Islam would continue to make progress and gather strength, till the whole of Arabia would accept its Message, and idolatry would disappear from the country, never to return. In the immediately preceding S u rah —As-Sajdah—it was stated that Muslims would be favoured with all sorts of physical comforts and material prosperity. Towards its end the disbelievers had tauntingly asked when the prophecy about the victory of Islam and its great spread and expansion would be fulfilled. That question has received an emphatic answer in the present S u rah. It is stated that prophecy about the rise and progress of Islam has already been fulfilled and Islam has become a great power. Subject-Matter With the accession to Islam of great political power and prestige and with its emergence as a full-fledged State, the ordinances of the Shar i ‘ah began to be revealed in quick succession to guide Muslims in political and social matters. This S u rah embodies several such ordinances. At the outset it abolishes a deep- rooted custom of the Arabs—the adoption of another person’s son as one’s own. Then it refers to a very deep and real spiritual relationship that subsists between the Holy Prophet and Muslims. In his capacity as their spiritual father he stands closer to them than even their own selves and his wives are their spiritual mothers. Next, the S u rah gives a somewhat detailed description of the Battle of the Trench which was the fiercest encounter in which the Muslims had so far been engaged. The whole of Arabia had risen like one man against Islam and a well-equipped army, numbering from 10,000 to 20,000 strong, had marched on Medina. The Muslims were a paltry 1200, though according to some writers the total number of those employed in digging the Trench including women and children was in the neighbourhood of 3000. The combat was quite unequal. The Muslims were in sore straits. But God sent His hosts and the powerful enemy was routed and scattered. In the next few verses the S u rah states that while in a religious community there is no dearth of sincere and devoted followers, there are also to be found in its ranks, hypocrites and the weak of faith. These hypocrites loudly profess to be true followers but when in the Prophet’s time Medina was attacked by a mighty force, they asked to be