Surahs Fajr-Balad (89-90)
Quranic Exegesis
INTRODUCTION
These two surahs form a pair since they discuss the same subject. The leaders of the Quraish have been addressed in them. The address is almost indirect because their arrogant attitude has made them unworthy of being addressed directly. A study of the contents of this surah-pair shows that the surahs were revealed in Mecca in the phase of `Inzaar-i-Aam', when the Prophet (sws), during the course of his mission, was discharging his duty of warning the Quraish in general of the dire consequences of their defiant attitude.
CENTRAL THEME
The central theme of both the surahs is to reprimand the leaders of the Quraish for the rebellious attitude and arrogant behaviour they have adopted with regard to Allah and their fellow human beings after being bestowed with favours and riches.
SUBJECT ANALYSIS
Surah Fajr
The rising of the dawn and the departure of the night together with the waxing and waning of the moon point to the fact that the night of this world shall, gradually, make way to the dawn of the next world.
Historical evidence is presented for this premise.
The leaders of the Quraish are rebuked for overlooking this reality and maintaining the view that the rich are rich because the Almighty intends to honour them and the poor are poor because He intends to disgrace them. They are told that a man's state of affluence or indigence is a trial and test for him. The Almighty has endowed them with riches to see how they treat the deprived. But alas! the love of wealth has blinded them and they will only understand --- to no avail --- on the Day of Judgement. They should remember that success on that Day will not go to the ungrateful but to those who, in both good and bad circumstances, had resigned themselves to the will of the Almighty and had returned to Him in this state of contentment.
Surah Balad
The leadership of the Quraish is reminded of the history of Mecca. It is pointed out to them that they never always possessed the favours and riches they now have. When Abraham had settled their forefathers in this land centuries ago, their life was full of toil and struggle. After the Almighty had endowed them with favours, they became arrogant and rebellious instead of showing gratitude and spending in the way of Allah.
Sorrow is expressed at the fact that their eyes never did learn any lesson from their surroundings nor did their tongue speak in favour of the deprived nor did their minds understand the good and the evil. The result is that they are now denying the truth and becoming worthy of being thrown into Hell. Had they done good deeds, accepted faith and counselled one another to remain steadfast on this faith and to be sympathetic with others, success would certainly have been their fate on the Day of Judgement and they would have become entitled to the life of Paradise.
EXPLANATION
Surah Fajr
The dawn bears witness1, and [every] ten nights [of the moon]2, and the even and odd [month in which it completes its course], and the night [also] when it departs [that the dawn of the Day of Judgement is certain to come and this world of yours is, gradually, reaching its end]3. Is there in this an evidence for the sensible4?
Did you not see how your Lord dealt with [the people of] Aad? These Iram5 of the pillars who had no parallel in the world. And with the Thamud who carved huge rocks in the valley6? And with the Pharaoh, he of the tent-pegs7. All of these people were rebellious to Allah in their lands and spread evil therein. So your Lord let loose on them the scourge of His punishment8. [For these rebellious people], verily, your Lord is waiting in ambush9.
But as for man, when his Lord tests him by honouring him and bestowing favours on him, he says puffed up `My Lord has exalted me'. But when He tests him restricting his subsistence for him, he says `My Lord has humiliated me'. [No this is not so] certainly not! in fact, [this is to test you and] you do not honour the orphans and do not urge each other to feed the poor 10 and greedily lay hands on the inheritance [of the weak] and become mad with the love of wealth11.
[Man thinks that he will not be held accountable for this attitude]. Certainly not! He should remember when the earth shall be pounded even, and your Lord shall manifest Himself such that the angels will stand in rows [before Him] and Hell shall be brought near12. On that Day, man shall come to understand. But then what will this understanding avail him? He will say `Ah! Would that I had done something for this life! On that Day, none shall punish as He [ --- thy Lord --- ] punishes and none shall bind as He binds.
[To the others He shall say]: O you whose heart remained content [with his Lord in times of comfort and distress]13 return unto your Lord, such that He is pleased with you and you are pleased with Him. [Return] and enter among My servants and enter My Paradise.
Surah Balad
No14! [they were never always in this state of affluence] I call to witness just this city15 --- [and this city is not unknown to you], you are its inhabitant16 --- and [I call to witness] the father and his progeny17 [who settled in this city] that We created man [in this valley] into a [life of] toil and struggle18.
[Now when he is leading a life of affluence] does he think that no one has power over him? [When he is asked to spend] he says I have thrown away a lot of money19. Does he think that no one has seen him20?
Have We not given him two eyes [that he could see the deprived] and a tongue and two lips [that he could urge others to do good]? and not shown him the two ways [that he could understand the good and the evil? But he did not benefit from these] nor did he attempt the steep path21. And what do you understand what this steep path is? [It is] the freeing of a slave or feeding, in days of famine, of an orphan near of kin or an indigent [down] in the dust. Then he be of those who accept faith and who counsel one another to remain steadfast [on it] and who counsel one another to be sympathetic [to others]. These are the fortunate. And those who deny our revelations, it is they who are the unfortunate. The Fire shall close in on them.