The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 634
CHAPTER 33 AL-AḤZĀB (Revealed after Hijrah) Title, Date of Revelation and Context The Surah takes its title from the word i. e. the confederated tribes (v. 21). The whole of Arabia instigated by Banū Naḍīr, the banished Jewish tribe of Medina, had formed itself into a grand confederacy and had marched against Medina to deliver a crushing blow to the rising power of Islam. The confederates totally failed in their nefarious design and Islam came out of this ordeal with its power and prestige greatly enhanced. The whole of the Surah was admittedly revealed at Medina. There is sufficient internal evidence to show that its revelation ranged from 5th to 7th year of the Hijrah, possibly up to the 8th or 9th. In the preceding few Surahs of the group, the prophecy was repeatedly and emphatically made that Islam would continue to make progress and gather strength, and disbelief would face defeat and discomfiture till the whole of Arabia would accept Islam, and idolatry would disappear from the country, never to return. In the immediately preceding Surah, As-Sajdah, it was stated that Muslims would be favoured with all sorts of physical comforts and material prosperity. They would enjoy prosperity and prestige for a thousand years and then darkness would enshroud the world and divine light would ascend to heaven and Muslims would fall on evil days and Islam would decline. Towards the end of that Surah the disbelievers had tauntingly asked as to 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 Surah. It is stated that prophecy about the rise and progress of Islam has already been clearly fulfilled and Islam has become a great power. A somewhat detailed description is given of the Battle of the Ditch in order to show that, having realised that Islam was fast gaining ground and that it was for them the question of now or never, the forces of darkness made one last attempt to deliver Islam a coup de grace. The whole of Arabia rose like one man and a mighty force of 10,000 to 20,000 strong marched on Medina. But the disbelievers totally failed in their evil design. The confederated armies were completely routed and dispersed. Henceforward the idol worshippers of Arabia never had the courage to take the field against Islam. They quite despaired of arresting its progress and Islam was now definitely in the ascendant. Summary of Subject Matter With the accession to Islam of great political power and prestige and 2548