This Surah was revealed one year before Hijrah (migration to Madinah) on the occasion of the M'iraj (Ascension) during the last period of the Prophet's residence at Makkah.
- Isra' &
- Divine Commandments:
- Worship none but Allah
- Be kind and obedient to parents
- Give to relatives and the needy
- Do not be a miser or a spendthrift
- Do not kill your children for fear of poverty
- Do not commit adultery
- Do not slay without just cause
- Do not say anything without knowledge
- Do not walk arrogantly on earth
- Safeguard the property of orphans
- Allah does not beget children and those who say this, utter a monstrous lie.
- There is a life after death.
- The obligation of Five Daily Prayers and the prayer of Tahajjud (special late night prayer).
- Human Rasools are sent to human beings.
- Perform Salah in a voice which is neither too loud nor too soft.
This Surah is a wonderful combination of warning, admonition, and instruction, which have been blended together in balanced proportion. The disbelievers of Makkah are admonished to take a lesson from the miserable end of the Israelites and other communities and mend their ways. The Israelites, with whom Islam was going to come in direct contact in the near future at Al-Madinah, have also been warned that they should learn a lesson from the chastisements which were inflicted upon them. They are warned to take advantage of the Prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh) since it is the last opportunity being given to them.
It is made clear that human success or failure, gain or loss, depends upon the true understanding of Tawhid (Oneness of God), Risalat (Prophethood) and Life after death. Convincing arguments are provided to prove that The Qur'an is the Book of Allah and its teachings are true and genuine.