In the Shade of the Qur'an by Sayyid Qutb

This surah was revealed after Surah 61, The Ranks, and whilst both deal with the same theme, the current chapter nonetheless takes a dif ferent approach, using a different style and different effects. It aims to drive home to the Muslim community in Madlnah that it has been chosen to undertake responsibility for the divine faith. It wants the Muslim community to understand that to be in such a position of trust is a great favour God has bestowed on it. It also wants them to understand that by God choosing His last Messenger from among the Arabs is yet another great favour, one that merits a proper expression of gratitude to God. In this context, the surah provides certain duties that must be fulfilled by the people who responded to Gods Messenger and who accepted the trust. Both the community and the trust are to continue across generations, without fail, because God has determined that the seed planted by the Prophet will continue to grow. The Muslim community has taken over the trust abandoned and neglected by the Children of Israel. They severed their relation with heaven so as to carry the Torah in the same way as an ass would carry books.

The surah drives this fundamental truth home to Muslims in general, starting in particular with the first Muslim community in Madinah, which was responsible for implementing a practical model of the Islamic system. It also applies to all future Muslim generations, as the surah clearly indicates.

At the same time, the surah addresses certain situations relevant to that first Muslim community, during its long and elaborate transformation process in accordance with Islamic requirements. This process involved the elimination of a host of hindrances, such as a keenness to make quick material gains and other temptations relating to money. These were to be replaced by proper awareness of the great trust assigned to the Muslim community. The surah also refers to a particular incident when the Prophet was once delivering his Friday sermon. A trade cara van had arrived at the same time, and the moment people learned of this, they left the mosque to take part in the music and entertainment that traditionally accompanied a caravans arrival. According to some reports, only 12 of the Prophets Companions, including Abu Bakr and ‘Umar, remained listening to his sermon. Whilst these reports may not be very accurate as regards the numbers they mention, nonetheless the departure of some people from the mosque was certain. Hence, it merited this mention in the Qur’an.

This incident demonstrates the great effort exerted in the cultivation of that first Muslim community’s fine manners and behaviour, this until it achieved a lofty standard, making it a unique example in the history of Islam and mankind generally. In this way, the surah teaches us to always remain patient when we try to build the Islamic character in any community.

The surah also includes an invitation to the Jews to a mutual prayer wishing death for those who advocate falsehood. This comes in reply to their claims that they were God’s only friends and His chosen people and that God’s Messenger must be one of them. The surah confirms their unwillingness to accept such an invitation because they felt that the Muslims’ claims were unfounded. The surah comments that death, from which such people try to escape, will inevitably catch up with them.

They will be returned to God who knows all, and He will tell them the truth of their doings. This statement does not, however, only apply to the Jews. Rather, the surah facilitates its appreciation by believers as well. They too must realize this fact in order to be able to discharge the duties assigned to them as advocates of God’s message.