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Thursday 2 August 2018

The Holy Qur'an (Summary): Chapter 98 Sūrat al-Bayyinah ( The Clear Evidence )

Sūrat al-Bayyinah, the 98th Chapter, flanked by the Surahs Al-Alaq (97th Chapter) and Al-Qadr (the 99th Chapter) in the Holy Qur'an is for a reason:  Surah Al-Alaq contains the very first revelation of the Holy Qur'an, while Surah Al-Qadr shows as to when the Holy Qur'an was revealed, and Sūrat al-Bayyinah, the middle chapter, explains why it was necessary to send a Messenger gifted with the last of holy scripture, the Holy Qur'an.

Its having been placed after Surahs Al-Alaq and Al-Qadr in the arrangement of the Quran is very meaningful. Surah Al-Alaq contains the very first revelation, while Surah Al-Qadr shows as to when it was revealed, and in this Surah it has been explained why it was necessary to send a Messenger along with this Holy Book.

First of all the need of sending a Messenger has been explained, saying: The people of the world, be they from among the followers of the earlier scriptures or from among the idolaters, could not possibly be freed from their state of unbelief, until a Messenger was sent whose appearance by itself should be a clear proof of his apostleship, and he should present the Book of God before the people in its original, pristine form, which should be free from every mixture of falsehood corrupting the earlier Divine Books; and which should comprise sound teachings.

Then, about the errors of the followers of the earlier Books it has been said that the cause of their straying into different creeds was not that Allah had not provided any guidance to them, but they strayed only after a clear statement of the Right Creed had come to them. From this it automatically follows that they themselves were responsible for their error and deviation. Now, if even after the coming of the clear statement through this Messenger, they continued to stray, their responsibility would further increase.

In this very connection, it has been stated that the Prophets who came from Allah and the, Books sent down by Him, did not enjoin anything but that the way of sincere and true service to Allah be adopted, apart from all other ways, no one else's worship, service or obedience be mixed with His, the salat be established and the zakat be paid. This same has been the true religion since ever. From this also it automatically follows that the followers of the earlier scriptures, straying from this true religion, have added extraneous things to it, which are false, and Allah's this Messenger has come to invite them back to, the same original faith.

In conclusion, it has been pointed out clearly that the followers of the earlier Books and the idolaters who would refuse to acknowledge this Messenger are the worst of creatures: their punishment is an everlasting Hell; and the people who would believe and act righteously, and would spend life in the world in awe of God, are the best of creatures: their reward is eternal Paradise wherein they will live for ever. Allah became well pleased with them and they became well pleased with Allah.

Before commenting on the text of Sūrat al-Bayyinah, please read the English translation of the Sūrat al-Bayyinah to understand its plain meaning / translation :
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ 
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful"
  • Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists were not to be parted [from mis-belief] until there came to them clear evidence 
  • A Messenger from Allah, reciting purified scriptures
  • Within which are correct writings.
  • Nor did those who were given the Scripture become divided until after there had come to them clear evidence.
  • And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion.
  • Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures.
  • Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures.
  • Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord.
Sūrat al-Bayyinah by its meaning seems to have three parts: the opener which explains who are addressed in the chapter and why, the central idea or the chiasm and the reward for the believers and punishment of those who do not heed to the commandments of Allah. 

As is very self explanatory, the people to who this chapter is addressed to are the polytheists (of Makkah) and the People of the early Scriptures who have equated the One True God with many man made idols or sharing the other gods with One God, like the concept of Trinity. In fact the People of the Books have turned away from their earlier belief to mis-belief and made changes as per their own wishes. 

And such are the people both non believers and mis-believers who even when find a messenger among them who has brought the clear evidence of the final word of Allah contained in the last of the holy scriptures, the Holy Qur'an, do not accept the truth and continue to cling to their mis-belief and turn away from the clear proof when presented to them.

The comes the central chiasm of the chapter: And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion. In fact all earlier religions have always taught man to worship one true God and give alms, charity or Zakat as in Arabic. This chapter thus tells the polytheists and the people of earlier scriptures that they have in fact either never understood the divine message or have been derailed from the message of truth they earlier had faith in.

And then comes the good news and the bad news in the last three verses: 
  • Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures, for these people rejected the truth in spite of having reason and authority to believe.
  • Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures. And why they are superior to all creatures of Allah, even to the angels? For the angels do not have the power to disobey, and these people adopt Allah’s obedience in spite of having the power to disobey Him.
  • Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord. Meaning by the people who did not live in the world fearlessly and independent of God, but feared Him at every step lest they should do something which might entail Allah's wrath and punishment, will have this reward reserved for them with Allah.
This chapter is not the only chapter of the Holy Qur'an which warns the polytheists and the mis believers to come back to the right path, the path that has been shown with clear proof, lest the time runs out when there shall be no repentance but burning fire of hell.

You may now like to listen to Arabic recitation of Sūrat al-Bayyinah with English subtitles:


You may refer to our post "114 Chapters (Sūrahs) of the Holy Qur'an" for translation, meaning and summary of other chapters (Though not complete but building up from 30th Part backwards for chapters in 30th Part are shorter and easier to understand)

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
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