Name
The Surah takes its title from the sentence, Wa anzalna' l-hadida,
of verse 25.
Period of Revelation
This is unanimously a Madani Surah, and a study of its subject matter
shows that it was probably sent down some time during the interval between
the Battle of Uhud and the Truce of Hudaibiyah. This was the time when the
tiny Islamic State of Madinah had been hemmed in by the disbelievers and
the handful of the ill equipped Muslims were entrenched against the
combined power of entire Arabia. In this state Islam not only stood in
need of the sacrifice of Life from its followers, but it also needed
monetary help and assistance. In this Surah a forceful appeal has been
made for the same. This view is further strengthened by verse 10 in which
Allah has addressed the believers to the effect "Those of you who would
spend and fight after the victory can never be equal to those who have
spent and fought before the victory." And the same is supported by the
traditions that Ibn Marduyah has related on the authority of Hadrat Anas.
In respect of the verse: Alam ya'n-i lilladhina aamanu an takhsha'a
qulubu- hum li-dhikrillah-i, he says that 17 years after the
commencement of the revelation of the Qur'an this verse was sent down to
arouse the believers to action. Reckoned thus the period of the revelation
of this Surah falls between the 4th and the 5th year after the hijrah.
Theme and Subject Matter
The theme of this Surah is to exhort the Muslims to spend in the cause
of Allah. At the most critical juncture of the history of Islam when it
was engaged in a life and death struggle against Arab paganism, this Surah
was revealed to persuade the Muslim's to make monetary sacrifices in
particular, and to make them realize that Islam did not merely consist in
verbal affirmation and some outward practices but its essence and spirit
is sincerity towards Allah and His Religion. The faith of the one who was
devoid of this spirit and who regarded his own self and wealth as dearer
to himself than Allah and His Religion, was hollow and therefore of little
worth in the sight of Allah.
For this object, first the attributes of Allah Almighty have been
mentioned so that the listeners may fully realize as to Who is addressing
them. Then, the following themes have been expressed in sequence:
- The inevitable demand of the Faith is that one should not shirk
spending one's wealth for the sake of Allah. This would not only be
contrary to the Faith but also wrong realistically. For the wealth
indeed belongs to Allah, on which man has been given proprietary rights
only as His vicegerent. Yesterday this wealth was in other people's
possession today it is with one particular man, and tomorrow it will
pass into some one else's hand. Ultimately, it will go back to Allah,
Who is the inheritor of everything in the universe. Only that much of
this wealth will be of any use to a man, which he spends in the cause of
Allah during the period it is in his possession.
- Although making sacrifices for the sake of Allah is commendable in
any case, the true worth of these sacrifices is determined by the nature
of the occasion. There is an occasion when the power of paganism is
overwhelming and there is a danger that it might subdue and overcome
Islam completely; there is another occasion when Islam is in a stronger
position in its struggle against un-Islam and the believers are
attaining victories. Both these states are not equal as regards their
respective importance. Therefore, the sacrifices that are made in these
different states would also not be equal. Those who sacrifice their
lives and expend their wealth to further promote the cause of Islam when
it is already strong cannot attain to the rank of those who struggled
with their lives and their wealth to promote and uphold the cause of
Islam when it was weak.
- Whatever is spent for the cause of the Truth is a loan on Allah, and
Allah will not only return it increasing it manifold but will also give
from Himself the best reward for it.
- In the Hereafter the Light shall be bestowed only on those believers
who would have spent their wealth in the cause of Allah. As for the
hypocrites who watched and served only their own interests in the world,
and who least bothered whether the Truth or falsehood prevailed will be
segregated from the believers in the Hereafter although they might have
lived in close association with them in the world. They will be deprived
of the Light, and they will be counted among the disbelievers.
- The Muslims should not behave like those followers of the earlier
Books, whose lives have been. spent in the worship of the world and
whose hearts have become hardened due to negligence with the passage of
time. He cannot be a believer whose heart does not melt at the
remembrance of Allah and does not bow to the Truth sent down by Him.
- The sincere upholders of the Truth and the true witnesses of the
Faith in the sight of Allah are only those believers who spend their
wealth in His way sincerely, without any desire of show.
- The life of this world is only a short lived spring and a means of
pride and show. Its sports and pastimes, its adornments and decorations,
its pride of place, its wealth and possessions, for which the people try
to vie with one another, are transient. Its likeness is of the crop
which flourishes and blooms, then turns pale and then finally is reduced
to chaff. The everlasting life is the life hereafter when results of
great consequence will be announced. Therefore, if one has to vie with
another for something, one should strive for Paradise.
- Whatever good man meets with and whatever hardship he suffers in the
world, are pre-ordained by Allah. A true believer is he who does not
lose heart in affliction and is not puffed up with pride in good times.
It is the character of a hypocrite and disbeliever that he is puffed up
with pride when Allah favors him with His blessings, behaved boastfully
and shows stinginess when called upon to spend in the cause of the same
God Who blessed him, and also counsels others to be stingy like himself.
- Allah sent His Messengers with clear signs and the Book and the Law
of Justice so that the people may adhere to justice; besides, He sent
down iron also so that power may be used to establish the Truth and
vanquish falsehood. Thus, Allah likes to see as to who from among the
people would rise to support and succour His true Religion even at the
risk of their lives. These opportunities Allah has created for man's own
advantage and development; otherwise Allah does not stand in need of
others for His works.
- Prophets came from Allah in the past, and by their preaching some
people adopted the Right Path, but most of them persisted in wickedness.
Then the Prophet Jesus came, whose teachings brought about many moral
improvements in the lives of the people, but his community invented
monasticism. Now Allah has sent the Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be His
peace and blessings). Those who affirm faith in him and pass their life
fearing Allah's accountability, will be given by Allah a double share of
His mercy and He will bless them with the Light by which they will see
and walk the straight path among the crooked paths met with at every
step in the life of this world. Although the followers of the earlier
revelation regard themselves as the monopolists of Allah's bounties, the
fact remains that Allah Himself controls His bounties He may bless with
these whomever He pleases.
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