Name Surah “AL-Hijr - Al-Hijr Valley”

 

Name:

This Sûrah takes its name from verse 80, “The people of Al-Hijr (the rocky territory) have also denied the Rasools”.

 

Period of Revelation:

It is very clear from its topics and style of the speech that the period of its revelation is adjacent to the period of Surah Ibrâhim.  Two things are very significant in its background.  First, it appears that it has been long since Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam has been inviting towards Islam and the continuous stubbornness, hostility, resistance, and cruelty of the addressed nation has reached to the limit, after it there is more warning and admonition than reconciliation.  Secondly, Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam has been getting into the situation of a fatigue and distress by the increasing resistance, hostility, and cruelty of his own nation – therefore, Allâh subhaana wa ta’aala has been encouraging and uplifting him.

 

Topics and Main Theme:

These are the main topics that have been discussed in this Sûrah.  

 

1)      Warning to those people who were rejecting the invitation of Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and hindered his work in different ways and ridiculed him.

2)      Encouragement and uplifting of Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.  However, it does not mean that this Sûrah does not have admonition and instructions.  Anywhere in Al-Qur’ân Allâh subhaana wa ta’aala, have not limited only to warning; scold, and criticism -- even during the severe warnings Allâh subhaana wa ta’aala does not leave out the point of understanding and taking an advice.  Therefore, in this Sûrah, on one side a point has been made towards the arguments of Tauhid, and on the other side advice has been given by narrating the story of Adam and Satan.

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