| |
NAME
:
This Surah takes its name from vv. 46-47 in which mention
of A'araf occurs.
Period of Revelation
A study of its contents clearly shows that the period of
its revelation is about the same as that of AL-AN'AM, i.
e., the last year of the Holy Prophet's life at Makkah, but
it cannot be asserted with certainty which of these two was
sent down earlier. Anyhow the manner of its admonition clearly
indicates that it belongs to the same period. As both have
the same historical background the reader should keep in
view the preface to AL-AN'AM.
Topics of Discussion
The principal subject of this surah is "invitation to the
Divine Message sent down to Muhammad" (Allah's peace be upon
him), which is couched in a warning. This is because the
Messenger had spent a long time in admonishing the people
of Makkah without any tangible effect on them. Nay, they
had turned a deaf ear to his message and become so obdurate
and antagonistic that, in accordance with the Divine Design,
the Messenger was going to be commanded to leave them and
turn to other people,.
That is why they are being admonished to accept the Message
but, at the same time, they are being warned in strong terms
of the consequences that followed the wrong attitude of the
former people towards their Messengers. (Now that the Holy
Prophet was going to" migrate from Makkah the concluding
portion of the address has been directed towards the people
of the Book with whom he was going to come into contact.
This meant that the time of migration was coming near and
the "invitation" was going to be extended to mankind in general,
and was not to be confined to his own people in particular
as before.
During the course of the address to the Jews, the consequences
of their hypocritical conduct towards Prophethood have also
been pointed out clearly, for they professed to believe in
Prophet Moses but in practice opposed his teachings, disobeyed
him and worshiped falsehood and consequently were afflicted
with ignominy and disgrace.
At the end of the Surah, some instructions have been given
to the Holy Prophet and his followers for carrying out the
work of the propagation of Islam with wisdom. The most important
of these is that they should show patience and exercise restraint
in answer to the provocations of their opponents. Above all,
they have been advised that under stress of the excitement
of feeling, they should not take any wrung step that might
harm their cause.
Invitation to the Divine Message
Topics and their Interconnection
In this passage, the people have been invited to follow the
Message sent down to them through Muhammad (Allah's peace
be upon him) and warned of the consequences of its rejection.
1 - 10
The story of Adam has been related with a view to warning
his descendants against the evil devices of Satan who is
ever ready to mislead them as he did in the case of Adam
and Eve. 11 - 25
This passage contains some Divine instructions, and contrasts
these with Satan's instructions, and depicts a graphic picture
of the results and the consequences of the two. 26 - 53
As the Message has been sent down by Allah (Who is the Creator
of the heavens and the earth and everything in them), it
should be followed, for it is like the rain He sends down
to give life to the dead earth. 54 - 58
Events from the lives of some well-known Prophets -- Noah,
Hud, Salih, Lot, Shu`aib, Moses (Allah's peace be upon them
all) -- have been related to show the consequences of the
rejection of the Message, and the addressees of Prophet Muhammad
(Allah's peace be upon him) have been admonished to accept
and follow the Message in order to escape perdition. 59 -
171
As the Covenant with the Israelites was mentioned at the
end of the preceding passage, the whole mankind has been
reminded very appropriately of the Covenant that was made
at the time of the appointment of Adam as the Vicegerent
of Allah so that all of his descendants should remember it
and accept and follow the Message that was delivered by the
Holy Prophet. 172 - 174
The example of the one who had the knowledge of the Message
but discarded it, has been cited as a warning to those who
were treating the Message as false; they have been exhorted
to use their faculties to recognize the Message; otherwise
Hell would be there abode. 175 - 179
In this concluding portion of the Surah, some deviations
of those who do not use their faculties properly to understand
the Message have been dealt with and they have been admonished,
reproved and warned of the serious consequences of their
antagonistic attitude towards the Message of the Holy Prophet.
180 - 198
In conclusion, instructions have been given to the Holy Prophet,
and through him to his followers, about the attitude they
should adopt towards those who reject the Message and deviate
from it. 199 - 206 |
|
