Sūrah Sabā to Sūrah al-Ḥujurāt

Introduction

This is the fifth chapter of the Qur’ān. It has sixteen sūrahs beginning from Sūrah Sabā (34) and ending on Sūrah al-Ḥujurāt (49). It is evident from the topics of these sūrahs that the first thirteen of these were revealed in Makkah and the last three in Madīnah after migration.

Like all other chapters of the Qur’ān, this chapter also adheres to the principle that it begins with Makkan sūrahs and ends on Madīnan ones.

Its addressees are the Quraysh of Makkah, but in the last sūrahs in which the subject of tazkiyah and taṭhīr is discussed, the addressees are Muslims.

Its theme is the validation of tawḥīd, warning the Quraysh with its reference and glad tidings of the dominance of truth to Muḥammad (sws) and his followers and their tazkiyah and taṭhīr.

Like the last chapter of the Qur’ān, the sūrahs of this chapter are also arranged in such a manner that the various phases of the preaching mission of Muḥammad (sws) become very evident from this arrangement. Thus the phase of open warning (indhār ‘ām) extends until Sūrah al-Fāṭir (35). Sūrah Yāsīn (36) is a unique sūrah that does not have a counterpart. From it begins the phase of conclusive communication of the truth (itmām al-ḥujjah). This phase ends on Sūrah Ṣu‘ād (38). After this, is the phase of migration and acquittal (hijrah wa barā’ah) until Sūrah al-Aḥqāf (46) and then in the end are sūrahs which depict the phases of preparation of the final onslaught, glad tidings of conquest and divine help and tazkiyah and taṭhīr of the believers. They begin from Sūrah Muḥammad (47) and end on Sūrah al-Ḥujurāt (49) and the latter is another unique sūrah at the end, which does not have a counterpart. The Phase of Indhār-i ‘Ām

Sections within this chapter: 36–38 · 39–46 · 47–49