The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 315
Place of Revelation CHAPTER 14 IBRAHİM (Revealed before Hijrah) The whole Surah was revealed at Mecca. Ibn 'Abbās and Qatādah, however, make an exception of verses 29-31, which according to them were revealed at Medina. Subject Matter The subject matter of the previous chapter has been continued and explained more fully and clearly in this chapter. In this Surah the truth of the Quranic teaching is sought to be proved from observation, inferences to this effect having been drawn from facts of history. It is pointed out that in circumstances similar to that of the Holy Prophet, Messengers of God were successful in their own day against very powerful opposition. The Holy Prophet, therefore, is also bound to succeed in his mission in spite of the meagreness of his means. The real purpose of Quranic revelation is to provide guidance for mankind, which is groping in darkness. The Holy Prophet has been raised to bring people out of this Cimmerian darkness into light. Prophets had also appeared before him, prominent among them being Moses, who is depicted in the Surah as saying to his people that Messengers of God who appeared before him had also been raised to serve the same object. The Surah then proceeds to enlighten us about the main cause of the triumph of Divine Messengers over their opponents. It was that they worshipped and preached truth. After having dealt with this subject, the Surah lays down the special marks and signs of the revealed Word of God and the criteria by which its truth can be tested. Judged by these standards, the Quran is definitely proved to be God's own revealed Word. Muslims then are advised as to how best they can profit by its noble ideals and teachings. Next the Surah points out that the change which was about to take place in Arabia through the Message of the Quran had been decreed ages before by Almighty God. It had been God's plan and purpose since Abraham went to the wilderness of Paran and settled his son Ishmael and his wife Hagar there, that this barren and bleak country would one day become the Centre of the greatest religious Movement that the world had ever seen. Nay, Mecca itself was founded to fulfil this divine plan. This is why, in spite of the barrenness of its soil, God has always provided for its inhabitants their means of livelihood in ample measure. While Abraham was reconstructing the Ka'bah with the help of his son, Ishmael, he prayed to God that He might raise up among them a Messenger from among 1523