The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 445
General Remarks CHAPTER 84 AL-INSHIQAQ (Revealed before Hijrah) Like the preceding three chapters, the present Surah was revealed early at Mecca. The four Surahs very much resemble in style, composition and subject matter. Nöldeke and Muir agree with Muslim scholars about the early date of the revelation of this Surah- -near about the time of revelation of the Surahs that immediately precede it. In fact, the present Surah completes the chain of which the preceding three Surahs also form the component part. Towards the end of the last Surah, disbelievers were warned in emphatic terms that their power would break and their glory depart. In the present Surah it is stated that belief will take the place of disbelief and from the ruins of the old decadent and decrepit order a new, vigorous and vibrant order would emerge. The Surah continues the theme of Surah Infiṭār (Chap. 82), the intervening Surah Taṭfif (Chap. 83) being merely its extension. Sūrah Infiṭār had opened with the subject of the cleaving asunder of the heaven; and the present Surah begins with an analogous expression, with this difference that whereas in Surah Infiṭār "cleaving asunder of the heaven" was connected with the false doctrines of Christianity which would excite God's wrath, in the present Surah by "the bursting asunder of the heaven" is meant the descent of Divine revelation and the emergence and spread of spiritual sciences. Thus the present Surah, with its three predecessors, forms a chain of chapters which deal with the subject of the regeneration and renaissance of Islam in the latter days, and with the sins and iniquities of the previous period. The present Surah specifically deals with the renaissance of Islam while the preceding Surahs deal with corruption and immorality. 3341