(Revealed before Hijrah)*

Date of Revelation and Context
Scholars differ about the time of the revelation of this Surah. Ibn Mardawaih reports 'A'ishah as saying that it was revealed at Mecca, while according to Ibn'Abbas, it was revealed in the early Medinite period. After taking all relevant facts into consideration, the majority of scholars have adhered to the view attributed to 'A'ishah. The preceding several Chapters had dealt with the important subject of revelation of the Qur'an and its incomparable beauty and excellence. The present Surah deals with the change that the Qur’an was intended to bring about. At the very outset it states that the people of the Book and the idolaters would have continued to grope in the dark and to lead a life of sin and iniquity if the Qur'an had not been revealed. It is the Holy Prophet who brought them out of the darkness of doubt and disbelief and led them to the path of right beliefs and righteous conduct.

* As mentioned in the above introduction to this Surah scholars differ about the time of the revelation of the Surah. The editor gives preference to the views of those who believe that the Surah was revealed before Hijrah. However, according to the latest scholarship, based on very conclusive evidence, the Surah was revealed after Hijrah. This has been amply substantiated by the late Hadrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, Second Successor of the Promised Messiah (May Allah be pleased with him) in his Urdu Commentary of the Qur'an. (Publisher)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
1. In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ
2. Those, who disbelieve from among the People of the Book and the idolaters[3399], would not desist from disbelief until there shouldcome to them the clear evidence-

رَسُولٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ يَتْلُوا صُحُفًا مُطَهَّرَةً
3. A Messenger from Allah, reciting unto them the pure Scriptures,

فِيهَا كُتُبٌ قَيِّمَةٌ
4. Wherein are lasting commandments.[3400]

وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلاَّ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ
5. And those to whom the Book was given did not become divided until after clear evidence had come to them.

وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلاَّ لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ ا
6. And they were not commanded but to serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience, and being upright, and to observe Prayer and pay the Zakat. And that is the right religion.[3400A]

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ الْبَرِيَّةِ
7. Verily, those, who disbelieve from among the People of the Book and the idolaters, will be in
the fire of Hell, abiding therein. They are the worst of creatures.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ
8. Verily, those who believe and do righteous did – they are the best creatures.

جَزَاؤُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِيَ رَبَّهُ ا
9. Their reward is with their Lord -Gardens of Eternity, through which streams flow; they will abide therein for ever. Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him.[3401]
That is for him who fears his Lord.

3399.  The Qur'an has divided all disbelievers into two categories-the People of the Book and the idolaters (those who do not believe in any revealed Scripture).

3400.  The Qur'an is a compendium of all that is good; lasting and imperishable in the teachings of former revealed Scriptures, with a good deal more which those Scriptures lacked, but which man sorely needed for his moral and spiritual development. All those right ideals and principles and ordinances and commandments which were of permanent utility to man have been incorporated in it. The Qur'an stands, as it were, as a guardian over those Books and has steered clear of all those defects and impurities which were found in them.

3400A.  DIn means; obedience; mastery; command; plan; righteousness; habit or custom; behaviour or conduct (Lane).

3401.  The highest stage of spiritual development is reached when man's will becomes completely identified with the Divine Will.