Verses from Surah 27 1: Al-Naml2 [1 – 6 ]

1. A few lines from Yusuf Ali’s introduction to the Surah could be quoted here: “The Fire, the White Hand, and the Rod, in the story of Moses; the speech of birds, the crowds of Jinns and men pitted against a humble ant, and the hoopoe and the Queen of Sheba, in Solomon’s story; the defeat of the plot of the nine wicked men in the story of Salih; and the crime of sin with open eyes in the story of Lot; – lead up to the lessons of true and false worship and the miracles of Allah’s grace and revelation.”

2. Except for a few verses, the rest of the Surah is Makkan. (Alusi)

3. Mubin has the dual meaning of being clear as well as making something clear. Mawdudi comments: “KitabunMubin,” a Clear Book, means the following: (i) That this Book expounds its teachings, instructions and commands in clear terms. (ii) That it clearly indicates the difference between Truth and falsehood. (iii) That it is also clear in that it is evidently the Book of God. Anyone who reads it with an open mind can see that it is not something that Muhammad (peace be on him) could have authored.”

4. So the Qur’an is a composition of clear verses which are a guidance and a glad tiding to those who possess the qualities stated in this verse. (Ibn Jarir)

Yusuf Ali expounds this a little more: “Revelation is here presented in three aspects: (i) it explains things, the attributes of Allah, our own position, and the world around; (ii) it directs us to right conduct and keeps us from evil; (iii) to those who have Faith and accept its guidance, it gives the good news of forgiveness, purification, and the achievement of salvation.”

Sayyidadds: “All that the Qur’an consists of, by way of the systems, laws, and morals, are all based on faith. Therefore, he whose heart does not believe in Allah, who does not receive this Qur’an with the belief that it is from Allah, and that what it presents is the way that Allah wishes for him … he who does not have this kind of faith, will not be guided by the Qur’an, nor will he obtain any benefit from the good tidings mentioned therein.

“The Qur’an consists of treasures of guidance, knowledge, and a way. But faith is the key to these treasures. These treasures will never open up without the key of faith. Those in the past who believed in this Qur’an in the manner that it should be believed in, perceived the supernatural with its help. But when this Qur’an became a book whose verses are to be sung in a lyrical manner, then it reaches the ears but does not reach the hearts. It provides no benefit but remains a treasure without a key.

“This Surah presents the qualities of those believers who find the Qur’an a guidance and a glad tiding: ‘Those who perform the Prayer (assiduously and spiritedly), pay the zakah and in the Hereafter – they firmly believe.’

“These believers then, who remember Allah, are faithful to His commandments, who are fearful of being questioned in the Hereafter, who hope to gain Allah’s approval, these are the ones whose hearts open up for the Qur’an. They find it a guidance, and a glad tiding, a Light in their souls, and something that urges them to action in their lives. It becomes their provision which helps them achieve their goals.

“As for those, ‘who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have decked out fair for them their works, they are therefore wandering blindly.’”

5. “Those who reject Allah and follow Evil have a good conceit of themselves. Their deeds are pleasing to no one else. As they have rejected Allah’s (swt) guidance, they are allowed to hug their own self-conceit and given further respite for repentance. But they follow their own whims and wander about in distraction, as they have no standards such as guide the godly.” (Yusuf Ali)

6. The painful chastisement as alluded to here, unfolded itself at Badr, when the best of their men were slaughtered, leaving the rest of the Makkans in grief. (Zamakhshari, expanded)

(To be continued)