SURAH 81: SURAH TAKWEER
THE FOLDING
Surah Abas speaks about the terror of the Day of Qiyaamah when people will flee from their close relatives and will be engrossed in their own affairs. Moving a step further into the Aakhirah, Surah Takweer makes mention of how people will be dispatched to their respective abodes in Jannah or Jahannam after reckoning.
SURAH 82: SURAH INFITAAR
THE SPLITTING
Although Surah Infitaar mentions only four of the many occurrences of Qiyaamah contained in Surah Takweer, it includes more details. It therefore sounds a louder warning to people. Whilst Surah Takweer mentioned that people will be dispatched to their respective abodes, Surah Infitaar goes further to state that they will never emerge from there.
Surah Infitaar also negates the notion that any being besides Allaah can be of assistance on the Day of Qiyaamah.
SURAH 83: SURAH MUTAFFIFEEN
THOSE WHO CHEAT
Whilst Surah lnfitaar mentions that people will not be able to escape from Jahannam, Surah Mutaffifeen goes further to state that each person’s name will be recorded in a special register.
SURAH 84: SURAH INSHIQAAQ
THE TEARING
Whereas Surah Mutaffifeen states that each person’s name will be recorded in a special register, Surah Inshiqaaq goes further to mention that the people in Jahannam will be subjected to various levels of punishment, each one being worse than the next.
While Surah Mutaffifeen cites the case of a group people who commited a grave sin (i.e. cheating) and condemns them, Surah Inshiqaaq encourages people rather to do good.
SURAH 85: SURAH BUROOJ
THE STARS
Surah Burooj includes more oaths to prove the advent of Qiyaamah. It also contains mention of Towheed, which was not explicitly mentioned in Surah Inshiqaaq.
SURAH 86: SURAH TAARIQ
THAT WHICH COMES AT NIGHT
Surah Burooj attests to the certainty of Qiyaamah and also mentions the punishment of this world as well as that of the Aakhirah. Surah Taariq states that if the Kuffaar refuse to believe after these matters have been clarified, they should still be granted another opportunity to accept Imaan. However, if they choose to remain obstinate, they will be drawing Allaah’s wrath upon themselves.
SURAH 87: SURAH A’LA
THE MOST HIGH
Two of the most fundamental contentions that the Mushrikeen had with Rasulullaah concerned:
The belief of Towheed.
Resurrection and retribution.
The belief in resurrection and Qiyaamah has been elucidated in the Surahs up to Surah Taariq. The belief in Towheed is then discussed in the Surahs commencing from Surah A’la.
While some Surahs mention both these aspects, others mention only one, while there are also those that contain only warnings against rejecting them. In between these Surahs, Surah Duha and Inshiraa, unlike the others, contain consolation for Rasulullaah (SAW) and the Sahabah p.
SURAH 88: SURAH GHAASHIYA
THE OVERWHELMING THING
Surah Ghaashiya serves as a conclusion for Surah A’la and concentrates on warnings and glad tidings of the Aakhirah. Many Surahs after this will also appear to be conclusions to the Surahs preceding them.
SURAH 89: SURAH FAJR
THE DAWN
Surah Fajr discusses one of the two themes propounded in Surah A’la, viz.
abstinence from the world. It elucidates the corrupted and transitory nature of this world. While Surah Ghaashiya serves as a conclusion to Surah A’la.
Surah Fajr is an extension to one of its themes.
SURAH 90: SURAH BALAD
THE CITY
Surah Balad serves as an epilogue to Surah Fajr. While Surah Fajr condemned excessive love of this world, Surah Balad counsels man with regard to where this wealth should be spent. The Surah conveys the message that wealth should not merely be accumulated, but it should be spent in the way that Allaah has ordained. There will be no virtue in spending one’s wealth in the wrong ways. Then too, spending for correct causes will also be worthless when the person spending is not a Mu’min.
SURAH 91: SURAH SHAMS
THE SUN
Both Surah Shams and Surah Layl repeat both themes of Surah A’la, viz.
Towheed and abstinence from the world. Surah Shams clearly differentiates between correct and erroneous beliefs, making it clear that these can never be the same.
Surah Layl clarifies that fact that good and evil deeds can never be the same: a generous person cannot be equated to a miser, nor can a Mu’min be equated to a Kaafir.
SURAH 92: SURAH LAYL
THE NIGHT
Like Surah Shams, Surah Layl differentiates between correct and erroneous beliefs.
SURAH 93: SURAH DUHA
THE LIGHT OF DAY
While Surah Layl terminates the discussion that began with Surah A’ia, Surahs Duha and Inshiraah proceed to console Rasulullaah (SAW) so that he may never grow despondent when propagating the message of the beliefs of Islaam.
SURAH 94: SURAH INSHIRAAH
THE EXPANDING
Whereas Surah Duha consoled Rasulullaah (SAW) when the Mushrikeen raised an objection, Surah Inshiraah consoles the Mu’mineen because the Mushrikeen taunted them for being impoverished.
SURAH 95: SURAH TEEN
THE FIG
Surah Duha consoles Rasulullaah (SAW), while Surah Inshiraah consoles the Mu’mineen. Now Surah Teen cites five proofs by which it is established that man has attained a high status solely because of his belief in Towheed. Allaah has granted man beauty as well as intellect so that he may understand the truth. However, due to his inability to use this intellect, he has rejected the truth and lowered himself by earning the lowest levels of Jahannam.
SURAH 96: SURAH ALAQ
THE CLOT
After the consolation, warnings and tidings mentioned in the previous Surahs, Surah Alaq urges Muslims to constantly recite the Qur’aan, thereby deriving encouragement to remain steadfast in their belief in Towheed.
SURAH 97: SURAH QADR
THE (NIGHT OF) POWER
While Surah Alaq urges recitation of the Qur’aan, Surah Qadr highlights the grandeur of the Qur’aan.
SURAH 98: SURAH BAYYINAH
THE PROOF
Whereas Surah Qadr highlights the grandeur of the Qur’aan, Surah Bayyinah emphasises the obstinacy of the Mushrikeen, who raise objections against a Book as superb as the Qur’aan.
SURAH 99: SURAH ZILZAAL
THE EARTHQUAKE
Surah Bayyinah talks about the obstinacy and rebelliousness of the Kuffaar. Now, Surah Zilzaal warns the same Kuffaar about the punishment they stand to suffer.
SURAH 100: SURAH AADIYAAT
THE PANTING HORSES
Surah Zilzaal warns the Kuffaar about the punishment of the Aakhirah. Surah Aadiyaat focuses on the injustice of these very Kuffaar.