Sūrah 89
Sūrah al-Fajr
Introduction to this pair
Both these two sūrahs form a pair with regard to their topics. Both address the leaders of the Quraysh, yet aversion and indifference exudes from their style of address.
It is evident from their topics that, like the previous sūrahs, they were also revealed in Makkah in the phase of open warning (indhār-i‘ām) of Prophet Muḥammad’s (sws) preaching mission.
The theme of both sūrahs is to reprimand the leaders of the Quraysh on the rebellious attitude and arrogant behaviour they had adopted with regard to God and their fellow human beings after being bestowed with favours and riches.
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful.
The dawn bears witness, and every ten nights of the moon, and the even and odd month, and the night also when it departs that the Day of Judgement is certain to dawn. Is there some great evidence in this for any sensible person?
Did you not see what your Lord did to the ‘Ād? Those Iram of the pillars equal to whom no nation had been created among the countries of the world? And with the Thamūd who carved rocks in the valley of Qurā? And with the Pharaoh of the tent-pegs? These were the people who were rebellious in the countries of the world and spread great disorder therein. So, your Lord let loose on them the lash of His punishment. In reality, for such rebellious people, your Lord has been waiting in ambush.
But as for a human being, when his Lord tests him and for this honours him and bestows favours on him, he says: “My Lord has exalted me.” And when He tests him and for this restricts his subsistence, he says: “My Lord has humiliated me.” No this is not for this reason; certainly not! In fact, this is to test you, and your
attitude is that you do not honour the orphans and do not urge each other to feed the poor and greedily devour inheritance and remain infatuated with the love of wealth.
[Does a person think that he will not be held accountable?] Certainly not! When the earth is pounded even, and your Lord manifests Himself such that the angels will stand in continuous rows and on that day Hell is brought near; on that day a person will come to understand. But then what will this understanding avail him? He will say: “Ah! Would that I had done something for this life of mine!” Then none shall punish as the Lord punishes on that day, and none shall bind as He binds.
[To the others,] He will say: “O you with a contented heart, return to your Lord, such that He is pleased with you and you are pleased with Him. So, enter among My servants, and enter My Paradise.”