Katika maudhui, picha na maana yake, sura hii inafanana sana na sura zilizoteremshwa Makka, hasa sehemu yake ya mwanzo. Kwa hakika, mazingira ya jumla yanayoitambulisha sura zilizoteremshwa Madina yanaanza kujitokeza tu katika sehemu yake ya mwisho.

In subject matter, images and import, this surah is very similar to those revealed in Makkah, particularly in its opening section. Indeed, the overall atmosphere that characterizes the surahs revealed in Madinah begins to appear only in its concluding section.

Aya kuanzia mwanzo hadi mwito wa moja kwa moja kwa waumini katika aya ya 14 zinalenga kuweka misingi ya imani na kupandikiza dhana ya Kiislamu. Kwa kutumia mtindo wa sura za Makka, zinawaelekea moja kwa moja wasioamini, zikiwawasilishia mada yake. Zinatumia athari zile zile za ulimwengu wote na za kisaikolojia, na zinaonyesha picha za maangamizi ya jamii za kale zilizokanusha ujumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu. Pia zinawasilisha picha za Siku ya Hukumu, zikithibitisha kwa msisitizo ufufuo.

The verses from the beginning up to the direct address to the believers in verse 14 aim to establish the foundations of faith and to instil the Islamic concept. Employing the style of Makkan surahs, it addresses the unbelievers directly, presenting its theme to them. It uses the same universal and psychological effects and portrays images of the destruction of earlier communities that denied Gods messages. It also presents images of the Day of Judgement, emphatically confirming resurrection.

Hii inaonyesha kwamba wale waliohutubiwa waliikataa kabisa.

This indicates that the addressees denied it altogether.

Aya za mwisho, kuanzia aya ya 14 hadi ya 18, zinawaelekea waumini kwa namna inayofanana na ile iliyotumika katika surah zilizoteremshwa Madina, zikiwahimiza watumie mali zao katika kutumikia njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu, na zikiwaonya dhidi ya kushindwa katika mtihani ambao mali zao na watoto wao wanauwakilisha. Anwani kama hizi zinapatikana katika surah nyingi za kipindi cha Madina, na hii ni kutokana na matatizo yaliyokabili jamii changa ya Waislamu huko. Anwani hii pia inajumuisha kipengele cha faraja, cha kuwasaidia Waislamu kuvumilia kwa subira mabadiliko yoyote, misiba au mizigo; yote haya yanahusishwa na mapenzi ya Mwenyezi Mungu. Hii ndiyo dhana ambayo surah hizi zinalenga kuithibitisha, hasa baada ya amri aliyopewa jamii ya Waislamu ya kupigania njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu na yale ambayo hilo linahusisha ya kujitolea mhanga.

The last verses, from 14 to 18, address the believers in a manner similar to that used in surahs revealed in Madlnah, urging them to spend their money in the service of Gods cause, and warning them against failure in the test that their riches and children represent. Similar addresses can be found in many surahs of the Madinah period, and this because of the problems faced by the fledgling Muslim community there. This address also includes a comforting aspect to help the Muslims bear with patience any reversals, calamities or burdens; all these are attributed to God’s will. This is the concept these surahs seek to confirm, particularly after the command given to the Muslim community to fight for Gods cause and what this involves of sacrifice.

Kuna riwaya kadhaa zinazoonyesha kwamba sura hii iliteremshwa Makka, lakini riwaya nyingine, zenye uzito zaidi, zinasema kwamba kwa hakika iliteremshwa Madina. Nilikaribia kuegemea kwenye mtazamo kwamba ni ya Makka, kwa sababu ya mtindo wa sehemu zake za mwanzo na hali yake kwa ujumla. Hatimaye, hata hivyo, niliamua kushikamana na mtazamo wenye nguvu zaidi kwamba iliteremshwa Madina. Hakuna kinachozuia sehemu hizo za mwanzo kuwaelekea makafiri baada ya Mtume ﷺ kuhama kwenda Madina, iwe makafiri hao walikuwa watu wa Makka au wengine waliokaa karibu zaidi na Madina. Vilevile, hakuna kinachotoa uwezekano kwamba sura za Madina wakati mwingine zifafanue misingi ya imani na mtazamo wa Kiislamu wa maisha, kwa kutumia mtindo ule ule tunaouona katika yale yaliyoteremshwa Makka.

Several reports suggest that this surah was revealed in Makkah, but other reports, given more weight, state that it was in fact a Madinan revelation. I almost leaned to the view that it was Makkan, because of the style of its earlier sections and its general ambience. Eventually, however, I decided to stick to the more preponderant view that its revelation was Madinan. There is nothing to preclude those earlier sections from addressing the unbelievers after the Prophets migration to Madinah, whether those unbelievers were the people of Makkah or others living closer to Madinah. Likewise, there is nothing to exclude the possibility that Madinan surahs should at times clarify the fundamentals of faith and the Islamic concept of life, using the same style that we find in what was revealed in Makkah.