Faith, the main theme discussed in this sūrah, pervades all sūrahs revealed in Makkah during the early period of Islam. The subject is examined in all its major aspects from God’s oneness: “Do not invoke any other deity side by side with God, lest you find yourself among those suffering punishment.” (Verse 213), to fearing the Day of Judgement: “Let me not suffer disgrace on the Day when all shall be raised from the dead; the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit; but only the one who comes to God with a sound heart [will be happy].” (Verses 87-89); belief in the revelation bestowed from on high to Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Most certainly, this [Qur’ān] has been bestowed from on high by the Lord of all the worlds. The trustworthy Spirit has brought it down into your heart — so that you may give warning.” (Verses 192- 194), and explaining the risks to which anyone who denies the faith exposes himself including a destructive punishment that may take place in this world, or punishment in the hereafter that awaits the unbelievers: “They have indeed denied [the truth of revelation]; and they will in time come to understand what it was they were wont to deride.” (Verse 6) “Those who are bent on wrongdoing will in time know what an evil turn their destiny will surely take.” (Verse 227)

The sūrah also consoles the Prophet as he faces the determined denials of his message and divine revelation: “Would you, perhaps, torment yourself to death [with grief] because they would not believe?” (Verse 3) It reassures the believers and strengthens their resolve to endure all the hardships they faced, presenting them with examples of earlier believers who remained steadfast when confronted with similar difficulties.

The main body of the sūrah is devoted to historical accounts that take up 180

verses of the sūrah’s total of 227. Apart from these historical accounts, the sūrah includes a short introduction and final comments, but the three elements form a single coherent unit that presents the main theme in different styles, serving a single objective. Hence, only those episodes that are relevant to each historical situation are presented.

An air of warning, for those who reject God’s messages, and the subsequent punishment He will inflict prevails throughout. This is only logical since the sūrah provides a response to the Quraysh unbelievers who denied the Prophet Muhammad, derided his warnings, turned their backs on God’s revelations, hastened the threatened punishment and described revelation and the Qur’ān as either sorcery or poetry inspired by devils.

Although the entire sūrah forms one unit, we will divide it into short passages according to the order it follows.