The Sixth and Last Period of Revelation in Al-Madina
Overview
The sixth and last period of revelation refers to the time when twenty surahs were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in al-Madina. This period captures multiple aspects of Islamic teachings such as guidance, theological debates, historical accounts, legal injunctions, and social reforms. The following provides a structured overview of these surahs:
Chapter XCVII - Surah Al-Qadr (القدر)
- Theme: The Night of Decree
- Key Message: Revelation of the Qur’an during the Night of Power, the virtues of this night.
Chapter XCVIII - Surah Al-Bayyinah (البينة)
- Theme: The Clear Proof
- Key Message: Addresses Jews and Christians, affirming the legitimacy of Muhammad’s mission.
Chapter II - Surah Al-Baqarah (البقرة)
- Theme: The Cow
- Key Message: Guidance through the Qur’an, critique of unbelievers, historical lessons from the Children of Israel, and various legal and ethical instructions.
Chapter III - Surah Al-Imran (آل عمران)
- Theme: Family of Imran
- Key Message: Unity of God, recounts the story of Mary, Jesus, and John, rebuke of Jews and Christians, and fundamental aspects of Islamic theology and law.
Chapter VIII - Surah Al-Anfal (الأنفال)
- Theme: The Spoils of War
- Key Message: Legal rulings on war spoils, rules of engagement, and differences between believers and hypocrites.
Chapter XLVII - Surah Muhammad (محمد)
- Theme: Prophet Muhammad’s Mission
- Key Message: Promises of rewards, exhortation for believers to fight, and stark differences between believers and hypocrites.
Chapter LXII - Surah Al-Jumu’ah (الجمعة)
- Theme: The Day of Congregation
- Key Message: Importance of Friday prayers, criticisms of Jewish rejection of the Prophet, and social behaviors during the congregation.
Chapter V - Surah Al-Ma’idah (المائدة)
- Theme: The Table
- Key Message: Fulfillment of oaths, dietary laws, ablution rules, and rebuke towards Jews and Christians, including theological clarifications against the Trinity.
Chapter LIX - Surah Al-Hashr (الحشر)
- Theme: The Exile
- Key Message: God’s power and control, pertaining to the believers’ triumph and hypocrites’ disobedience.
Chapter IV - Surah An-Nisa (النساء)
- Theme: The Women
- Key Message: Various aspects relating to women, orphaned properties, inheritance laws, and marital guidance.
Chapter LVII - Surah Al-Hadid (الحديد)
- Theme: The Iron
- Key Message: Encouragement to embrace Islam and reflections upon God’s omnipotence, particularly on the Day of Judgment.
Chapter LXI - Surah As-Saff (الصف)
- Theme: The Ranks
- Key Message: Exhortation towards unity in fighting for the faith and reflection on the obeying messages from Moses and Jesus.
Chapter XLVIII - Surah Al-Fath (الفتح)
- Theme: The Victory
- Key Message: Announcement of victory and moral guidance through Oath of Fealty and Commandments against hypocrites’ cowardice.
Chapter LX - Surah Al-Mumtahanah (الممتحنة)
- Theme: The Woman to be Examined
- Key Message: Instructions on interaction with disbelievers and rules for dealing with women who convert to Islam.
Chapter LXVI - Surah At-Tahrim (التحريم)
- Theme: Prohibition
- Key Message: Personal matters about Muhammad’s private life with wives and general exhortations against hostilities towards believers.
Chapter IX - Surah At-Taubah (التوبة)
- Theme: Repentance or Disavowal
- Key Message: Denial of immunity within sacred months, commands for believers to fight infidels, and detailed criticism on hypocrisy.
Chapter XLIX - Surah Al-Hujurat (الحجرات)
- Theme: The Private Apartments
- Key Message: Social etiquette, emphasis on obedience to the Prophet, and correction of misconceptions among Muslims.
Chapter XXIV - Surah An-Nur (النور)
- Theme: The Light
- Key Message: Addressing allegations against Aisha, overall code of conduct for Muslims in terms of modesty, and direct attack on scandal-mongers.
Chapter XXXIII - Surah Al-Ahzab (الأحزاب)
- Theme: The Confederates
- Key Message: Reflects upon hypocrites’ behaviors and details on intergender relations and the Prophet’s household laws.
Chapter XLVIII - Surah Al-Fath (الفتح)
- Theme: The Victory
- Key Message: Announcing victory, peculiar issues of pilgrimage, with promises for believers and warnings to opponents.
Conclusion
These twenty surahs collectively elaborate on themes vital to Muslims facing the changing dynamic in Madina. They provided crucial theological clarifications, reflections on past prophecies, guidelines for social conduct, and laws crucial to the Islamic community.
Further Reading
- “The Qur’ān” by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
- “In the Shade of the Qur’an” by Sayyid Qutb
- “The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary” by Seyyed Hossein Nasr
Key Takeaways
- Revelation adapted to the changing socio-political context of Madina.
- Addressed legal, ethical, and theological issues.
- Emphasized unity, social conduct, and personal piety.
By examining these surahs, scholars and laypeople alike gain a profound understanding of this key period in Islamic history and the holistic development of Islamic jurisprudence and theology.
