The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 481
General Remarks CHAPTER 90 AL-BALAD (Revealed before Hijrah) This Surah is one of the earliest revealed at Mecca. According to some Christian writers, Mr. Wherry among them, it was revealed in the first year of the Call. If not as early as that it was certainly revealed towards the end of the third or the beginning of the fourth year, inasmuch as it has a close connection with a number of some preceding Surahs. It takes its title from the opening verse. In Surah Al-Fajr, it was stated that jibes, mockery and taunts to which the Holy Prophet had been subjected in the first three years of his mission, were about to give place to determined, persistent and organized opposition and persecution and that this persecution would continue for ten long years which allegorically were mentioned as "Ten Nights. " In the Surah under comment the Holy Prophet is told that it is in Mecca, his beloved native town, and by his own kith and kin, that he and his followers will be persecuted. It is further mentioned that centuries ago, in pursuance of Divine command, the Patriarch Abraham and his righteous son, Ishmael, had laid the foundations of this sacred town and had prayed to God that it should become the centre from where should emanate the light which should illumine the world for all time to come. Both the father and the son made great sacrifices in carrying out the commands of God. Abraham's prayer was heard and the Holy Prophet appeared in the fullness of time, and gave to the world the perfect teaching which enabled man to achieve the noble object of his creation and to lead a happy and prosperous life. But man chose the easy path and refused to attempt "the ascent" that led to the achievement of his great goal. The Surah ends on the note that only those who place before them high ideals and then live up to them achieve their goal, while those who have no noble ideals and make no sacrifice are condemned to a life of failure and frustration. 3377