Surah 36

Ya' Sin

(Makkan Period)

Title

The two opening letters constitute the surah's title.

Period of Revelation

The tenor of the surah indicates that it must have been revealed towards the end of the Makkan period's middle phase. Alternatively, it would have been revealed during the last phase of the Makkan period of the Prophet's mission.

Subject Matter and Themes

The purport of the surah is to warn the unbelieving Quraysh of the grave consequences for their refusal to believe in the Prophet (peace be on him) and their recourse to oppressive measures, mockery and lampooning in opposing the Prophet's mission. The dominant mood that characterises the surah is that of warning. However, alongside these warnings the Message is also explicated with the help of argumentation. (i) Arguments in support of monotheism are drawn from natural phenomena and common sense. (ii) Arguments in support of the Hereafter are also drawn from natural phenomena, common sense and man's very own being. (iii) Arguments are also proffered for the veracity of Muḥammad's Messengership. They consist of highlighting (a) the selflessness with which the Prophet (peace be on him) endured hardships in the cause of his Message; (b) the perfectly sound and reasonable character of his teachings, and (c) the fact that acceptance of these teachings was conducive to mankind's good.

Alongside this argumentation, the discourse is punctuated by forceful notes of reproach and warning with a view to jolting the unbelievers from their stupor. This also serves to influence the hearts and minds of those who have even an iota of ability to accept the Truth. Aḥmad ibn Hanbal, Abū Dā'ūd, Nasa'i, Ibn Mājah and Ṭabarānī cite the Prophet's statement on the authority of Ma'qal ibn Yasār that Surah Ya' Sin represents the heart of the Qur'an. (Aḥmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, narrated by Ma'qal ibn Yassär; Tirmidhi, Bab Fada'il al-Qur'ān, Bāb ma ja'a fi Faḍā'il Ya' Sin... (Ed.) Surah al-Fatihah is called Umm al-Qur'an because it encapsulates all the essential teachings of the Qur'an. Surah Ya' Sin has been likened to the Qur'an's throbbing heart because it forcefully expounds its message. A study of this surah shatters spiritual stolidity, arousing and activating man's soul. It is again on the authority of the same Ma'qal ibn Yasar (as cited by Aḥmad ibn Hanbal, Musnad, narrated by Ma'qal ibn Yassār; Abū Dā'ūd, Kitāb al-Janā'iz, Bāb Qira'ah 'ind al-Mayyit; Ibn Majah, Kitāb al-Janā'iz, Bāb Mā jā'a fi mã Yuqäl 'ind al-Marīḍ idhā Ḥuḍira) that the Prophet (peace be on him) said: "Recite Surah Ya' Sin when one of you dies". This because the surah refreshes all the articles of Islamic belief and prompts one to think of what will happen in the Hereafter. This will enable the dying person to realise what stages he will pass through when his term of worldly life ends. In order to achieve this purpose it seems appropriate that this surah should be recited on this occasion along with its translation for the benefit of those who are not conversant with Arabic.