Sūrah 91
Sūrah al-Shams
Introduction to this pair
Both these sūrahs form a pair with regard to their topics. The first sūrah mentions rather concisely the pathways that lead to doom and success in the Hereafter, while the second one actually explains these pathways.
Both sūrahs address the leaders of the Quraysh but indifference and evasion 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 Sūrah al-Shams is to warn, on the basis of the law of retribution, the leaders of the Quraysh of their rebellious and arrogant attitude towards the Prophetic mission.
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever-Merciful.
The sun bears witness and its ascent, and the moon when it follows it, and the day when it illuminates it, and the night when it enshrouds it, and the sky and the way it is made, and the earth and the way it is spread out, and the soul and the way it is perfected then inspired it with its evil and its good that the Day of Judgement is certain to come; [hence,] he succeeded who purified his soul and he failed who corrupted it.
The Thamūd denied it because of their rebelliousness when their most wretched person stood up [in defiance]; so the Messenger of God warned them: “Beware of the she-camel of God and her turn to drink.” But they denied him and hamstrung her. So, because of this crime that they did, their Lord let loose such a calamity upon them that flattened everything. And He had no fear of its consequences.1