The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 797
CHAPTER 38 ŞĀD (Revealed before Hijrah) Title, Date and Place of Revelation Like its predecessors this Surah is also admittedly of Meccan origin. It was revealed in the early years of the Holy Prophet's life at Mecca. Ibn 'Abbās, as reported by Baihaqi and Ibn Merdawaih, also subscribes to this view, and other scholars, too, agree with him. From its contents and subject matter the Surah bears a very close resemblance to Aṣ-Ṣāffat. It takes its title from its opening word Ṣād, i. e. the Truthful God. Connection with Aş-Şaffāt The preceding Surah ended with the challenging Divine declaration that "God's hosts shall be victorious and it shall be an evil day for the disbelievers when Divine punishment shall descend into their courtyard. " The present Surah opens with an equally emphatic declaration that it is an unalterable decree of the Truthful God and it shall happen without fail that the believers shall attain wealth, power and eminence by acting upon the teachings of the Quran, while disbelievers shall meet with disgrace and destruction like those who disobeyed and defied Divine Prophets in the past. Summary of the Subject Matter As stated above the Surah opens with a firm declaration-in fact, God swears by the Quran-that by acting upon its teaching and by making it a rule of their lives the believers will achieve glory and eminence and will come to occupy a most honoured place in the comity of mighty nations; and disbelievers will suffer humiliation and disgrace because they "are steeped in false pride and enmity. " Disbelievers are further warned to take a lesson from the histories of past generations of disbelievers who, because of their rejection of the Divine Message, met with a very sad fate. The Surah proceeds to say that the Meccan disbelievers repeat the parrot-cry that they will not give up the worship of their gods at the behest of a man who is just one of them. In reply to this foolish plea they are asked: Since when have they begun to arrogate to themselves the possession of the treasures of God's grace and mercy? It is God's own prerogative that He chooses whom He deems fit for the conveyance of His will to His creatures; and now He has chosen the Holy Prophet Muḥammad for this purpose. If they will not believe in him their combined forces will be routed and they will be destroyed like the opponents of past Messengers; and Islam will triumph and grow from strength to strength. 2711