Submission by: Tavis Adibudeen (adib@oneummah.net)
Topic:  Lessons from the Qur'an: Sura An-Nasr

Text:

 

With the name of Allah, the Merciful Benefactor, the Merciful Redeemer
When comes the Help of Allah, and the Victory,
And you see the people enter Allah's Religion in crowds,
Celebrate the praises of your Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy).

 

(Surah An-Nasr - Chapter 110)

 

Period of Revelation

 

"Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas states that this is the last Surah of the Quran to be revealed, i. e. no complete Surah was sent down to the Holy Prophet after it. (Muslim Nasai, Tabarani, Ibn Abi Shaibah, Ibn Marduyah). According to Hadrat Abdullah bin Umar, this Surah was sent down on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage in the middle of the Tashriq Days at Mina, and after it the Holy Prophet rode his she camel and gave his well known Sermon. (Tirmidhi, Bazzar, Baihaqi, Ibn Abi Shaibah, Abd bin Humaid, Abn Yala, Ibn Marduyah). Baihaqi in Kitab al- Hajj has related from the tradition of Hadrat Sarra bint-Nabhan the Sermon which the Holy Prophet gave on this occasion. She says:

 

"At the Farewell Pilgrimage I heard the Holy Prophet say: O people, do you know what day it is? They said: Allah and His Messenger have the best knowledge. He said: This is the middle day of the Tashriq Days. Then he said: Do you know what place it is? They said: Allah and His Messenger have the best knowledge. He said: This is Masharil-Haram. Then he said: I do not know, I might not meet you here again. Beware, your bloods and your honours are forbidden, until you appear before your Lord, and He questions you about your deeds. Listen: let the one who is near convey it to him who is far away. Listen: have I conveyed the message to you? Then, when we returned to Madinah, the Holy Prophet passed away not many days after that."

 

If both these traditions are read together, it appears that there was an interval of three months and some days between the revelation of Surah An-Nasr and the Holy Prophet's death, for historically the same was the interval between the Farewell Pilgrimage and the passing away of the Holy Prophet.

 

Ibn Abbas says that when this Surah was revealed, the Holy Prophet said that he had been informed of his death and his time had approached. (Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Jarir, Ibn al-Mundhir, Ibn Marduyah). In the other traditions related from Hadrat Abdullah bin Abbas, it has been stated that at the revelation of this Surah the Holy Prophet understood that he had been informed of his departure from the world.(Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Jarir, Tabarani, Nasai, Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Marduyah).

 

Mother of the Believers, Hadrat Umm Habibah, says that when this Surah was revealed the Holy Prophet said that he would leave the world that year. Hearing this Hadrat Fatimah wept. Thereat he said: "From among my family you will be the first to join me."Hearing this she laughed.(Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Marduyah). A tradition containing almost the same theme has been related by Baihaqi from Ibn Abbas. (1)

 

A tradition indicates that when this Sura was revealed and the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) recited it to the followers, they all became happy, but Abbas, the uncle of the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.), began shedding tears. The holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) asked him why he was crying. He answered that he supposed the Sura contained the implication of the Prophet's death. And he (p.b.u.h.) said: "It is so, my uncle". (Majma'-al-Bayan, vol. 10, p. 554.)

 

The commentators are divided on how this meaning is understood, from the Sura, when there is nothing apparent in it to imply the idea. The Sura is wholly about the victory, and it seems that the Prophetic mission of the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) is completely fulfilled and his religion is fixed. It is clear that in such a case the departure of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) from this fleeting world to the next, eternal world, is completely predictable. (2)

 

Meanings of the Surah

As is shown by the above traditions, Allah in this Surah had informed His Messenger (upon whom be peace) that when Islam attained complete victory in Arabia and the people started entering Allah's religion in great numbers, it would mean that the mission for which he had been sent to the world, had been fulfilled. Then, he was enjoined to busy himself in praising and glorifying Allah by Whose bounty he had been able to accomplish such a great task, and should implore Him to forgive whatever failings and frailties he might have shown in the performance of the service. Here, by a little consideration one can easily see the great difference that there is between a Prophet and a common worldly leader. If a worldly leader in his own lifetime is able to bring about a revolution, which has the aim and objective of his struggle, this would be an occasion for exultation for him. But here we witness quite another phenomenon. The Messenger of Allah in a brief space of 23 years revolutionized an entire nation as regards its beliefs, thoughts, customs, morals, civilization, ways of living, economy, politics and fighting ability, and raising it from ignorance and barbarism enabled it to conquer the world and become leader of nations; yet when he had accomplished this unique task, he was not enjoined to celebrate it but to glorify and praise Allah and to pray for His forgiveness, and he busied himself humbly the implementation of that command. (1)

Hadrat Umm Salamah says that the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) during his last days very often recited the following words sitting and standing, going out of the house and coming back to it: Subhan Allahi wa-bi hamdi-hi. I one day asked: "Why do you recite these words so often? O Messenger of Allah". He replied: I have been enjoined to do so. Then he recited this Surah." (Ibn Jarir). (1)

According to Hadrat Abdullah bin Masud, when this Surah was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (upon whom be peace) frequently began to recite the words Subhanak-Allahumma wa bi-hamdika, Allahumm-aghfirli, subhanaka Rabbana wa bi-hamdika, Allahumm-aghfirli, innaka anta at- Tawwab al-Ghafur.(Ibn Jarir, Musnad Ahmad, Ibn Abi Hatim). (1)

Ibn Abbas has stated that after the revelation of this Surah the Holy Messenger (upon whom be peace) began to labour so intensively and devotedly hard for the Hereafter as he had never done before. (1)

The pagans of Makka opposed and persecuted the Holy Prophet from the day he openly preached the religion of Allah to them. Then he migrated to Madina. All the conspiracies, intrigues and plots of the Makkans and their allies to destroy the Holy Prophet and his mission recoiled on their own heads. Gradually all the people of Arabia rallied round him and the bloodless conquest of Makka was the conclusion of his patient and constant striving in the cause of Allah-a promise made by Allah ultimately fulfilled. Those who had hitherto held aloof, then hastened to offer their allegiance to the religion of Allah. Delegations flocked from near and far to offer obedience to the Holy Prophet. Gibbon refers to it as "one of the most memorable revolutions which have impressed a new and lasting character on the nations of the globe". The expansion of Islam is the most miraculous of all miracles. Polytheism yielded to monotheism. (3)

After the bloodless conquest of Makka, the Holy Prophet stood at the entrance of Ka-bah and said:

"There is no god save Allah. He has fulfilled His promised and helped His servant."

Inside the Ka-bah he pointed to each of the 360 idols with his staff reciting: "Truth has come and falsehood has vanished"-Bani Israil: 82-and the idol fell down on its face. The great idol named Hubal was fixed on a high position beyond reach. To destroy it, the Holy Prophet asked Ali to mount on his shoulders. Ali mounted as was desired and standing over the shoulders of the Holy Prophet wrenched the idol and threw it, to the ground. It crashed to pieces. Refer to Madarij al Nabuwa, Habib al Siyar; Sharh Mawahib, Rawdat al Ahbab.

As stated by the Holy Prophet to Ibn Abbas this verse gave a hint to his departure from this world.  (3)

The Virtue of this Surah

A tradition from the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) says: "He who recites it (Sura Nasr), it is the same as if he had been with the Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h.) at the conquest of Mecca". (2)

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Sources:
1: The Meaning of the Qur'an by Syed Abu-ala' Maududi
2: Noor al-Qur'an
3. Qur'an Commentary by M.A. Ali