The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 299
General Remarks CHAPTER 68 AL-QALAM (Revealed before Hijrah) This Surah is one of the first four or five Surahs revealed at Mecca in the very beginning of the Call. According to some authorities it was revealed just after Surah Al-'Alaq which was the first Quranic Surah to be revealed, but some other authorities place it after Surahs Muzzammil and Muddaththir. There is, however, no doubt that all these Surahs were revealed more or less in consecutive order because there exists a strong likeness in their subject matter. The Surah takes its title from the opening verse, and deals principally with the Holy Prophet's claim as a Messenger of God. Subject Matter Like the Meccan chapters which mainly deal with matters of doctrine and belief, the present Surah deals with the truth of the Holy Prophet's claim, and gives sound and solid arguments in proof of it. After this a large part of the Surah is devoted to a discussion of the fight of disbelievers against truth, and to the evil end to which they ultimately come, giving reasons why they reject truth and why they strive and struggle against it, and how, when their efforts appear to be on the point of bearing fruit they come to nought, and truth, instead of going under, begins to prosper, prevail and predominate. The Surah further declares complete frustration and disappointment to be the lot of the disbelievers; they burn in the fire of disgrace and humiliation. Towards the close, the Holy Prophet is enjoined to bear with patience and fortitude all the mockery, opposition, and persecution to which he was subjected, because his cause was bound to succeed. 3195