Name
The Surah takes its title from the sentence, Wa anzalna' l-hadida,
of verse 25.
Period of Revelation
This is unanimously a Madani Surah, and a study of its subject matter shows
that it was probably sent down some time during the interval between the Battle
of Uhud and the Truce of Hudaibiyah. This was the time when the tiny Islamic
State of Madinah had been hemmed in by the disbelievers and the handful of the
ill equipped Muslims were entrenched against the combined power of entire
Arabia. In this state Islam not only stood in need of the sacrifice of Life from
its followers, but it also needed monetary help and assistance. In this Surah a
forceful appeal has been made for the same. This view is further strengthened by
verse 10 in which Allah has addressed the believers to the effect "Those of you
who would spend and fight after the victory can never be equal to those who have
spent and fought before the victory." And the same is supported by the
traditions that Ibn Marduyah has related on the authority of Hadrat Anas. In
respect of the verse: Alam ya'n-i lilladhina aamanu an takhsha'a qulubu- hum
li-dhikrillah-i, he says that 17 years after the commencement of the
revelation of the Qur'an this verse was sent down to arouse the believers to
action. Reckoned thus the period of the revelation of this Surah falls between
the 4th and the 5th year after the hijrah.
Theme and Subject Matter
The theme of this Surah is to exhort the Muslims to spend in the cause of
Allah. At the most critical juncture of the history of Islam when it was engaged
in a life and death struggle against Arab paganism, this Surah was revealed to
persuade the Muslim's to make monetary sacrifices in particular, and to make
them realize that Islam did not merely consist in verbal affirmation and some
outward practices but its essence and spirit is sincerity towards Allah and His
Religion. The faith of the one who was devoid of this spirit and who regarded
his own self and wealth as dearer to himself than Allah and His Religion, was
hollow and therefore of little worth in the sight of Allah.
For this object, first the attributes of Allah Almighty have been mentioned
so that the listeners may fully realize as to Who is addressing them. Then, the
following themes have been expressed in sequence:
- The inevitable demand of the Faith is that one should not shirk spending
one's wealth for the sake of Allah. This would not only be contrary to the
Faith but also wrong realistically. For the wealth indeed belongs to Allah, on
which man has been given proprietary rights only as His vicegerent. Yesterday
this wealth was in other people's possession today it is with one particular
man, and tomorrow it will pass into some one else's hand. Ultimately, it will
go back to Allah, Who is the inheritor of everything in the universe. Only
that much of this wealth will be of any use to a man, which he spends in the
cause of Allah during the period it is in his possession.
- Although making sacrifices for the sake of Allah is commendable in any
case, the true worth of these sacrifices is determined by the nature of the
occasion. There is an occasion when the power of paganism is overwhelming and
there is a danger that it might subdue and overcome Islam completely; there is
another occasion when Islam is in a stronger position in its struggle against
un-Islam and the believers are attaining victories. Both these states are not
equal as regards their respective importance. Therefore, the sacrifices that
are made in these different states would also not be equal. Those who
sacrifice their lives and expend their wealth to further promote the cause of
Islam when it is already strong cannot attain to the rank of those who
struggled with their lives and their wealth to promote and uphold the cause of
Islam when it was weak.
- Whatever is spent for the cause of the Truth is a loan on Allah, and Allah
will not only return it increasing it manifold but will also give from Himself
the best reward for it.
- In the Hereafter the Light shall be bestowed only on those believers who
would have spent their wealth in the cause of Allah. As for the hypocrites who
watched and served only their own interests in the world, and who least
bothered whether the Truth or falsehood prevailed will be segregated from the
believers in the Hereafter although they might have lived in close association
with them in the world. They will be deprived of the Light, and they will be
counted among the disbelievers.
- The Muslims should not behave like those followers of the earlier Books,
whose lives have been. spent in the worship of the world and whose hearts have
become hardened due to negligence with the passage of time. He cannot be a
believer whose heart does not melt at the remembrance of Allah and does not
bow to the Truth sent down by Him.
- The sincere upholders of the Truth and the true witnesses of the Faith in
the sight of Allah are only those believers who spend their wealth in His way
sincerely, without any desire of show.
- The life of this world is only a short lived spring and a means of pride
and show. Its sports and pastimes, its adornments and decorations, its pride
of place, its wealth and possessions, for which the people try to vie with one
another, are transient. Its likeness is of the crop which flourishes and
blooms, then turns pale and then finally is reduced to chaff. The everlasting
life is the life hereafter when results of great consequence will be
announced. Therefore, if one has to vie with another for something, one should
strive for Paradise.
- Whatever good man meets with and whatever hardship he suffers in the
world, are pre-ordained by Allah. A true believer is he who does not lose
heart in affliction and is not puffed up with pride in good times. It is the
character of a hypocrite and disbeliever that he is puffed up with pride when
Allah favors him with His blessings, behaved boastfully and shows stinginess
when called upon to spend in the cause of the same God Who blessed him, and
also counsels others to be stingy like himself.
- Allah sent His Messengers with clear signs and the Book and the Law of
Justice so that the people may adhere to justice; besides, He sent down iron
also so that power may be used to establish the Truth and vanquish falsehood.
Thus, Allah likes to see as to who from among the people would rise to support
and succour His true Religion even at the risk of their lives. These
opportunities Allah has created for man's own advantage and development;
otherwise Allah does not stand in need of others for His works.
- Prophets came from Allah in the past, and by their preaching some people
adopted the Right Path, but most of them persisted in wickedness. Then the
Prophet Jesus came, whose teachings brought about many moral improvements in
the lives of the people, but his community invented monasticism. Now Allah has
sent the Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be His peace and blessings). Those who
affirm faith in him and pass their life fearing Allah's accountability, will
be given by Allah a double share of His mercy and He will bless them with the
Light by which they will see and walk the straight path among the crooked
paths met with at every step in the life of this world. Although the followers
of the earlier revelation regard themselves as the monopolists of Allah's
bounties, the fact remains that Allah Himself controls His bounties He may
bless with these whomever He pleases.