This Surah was sent down in the period closely following the Battle of Uhud.
- Believers are commanded not to say something that they won't do.
- The Prophet Isa (Jesus) gave good news of a Rasool coming after him whose name would be Ahmed (Muhammad-pbuh).
- A bargain to save oneself from the hellfire is to believe in Allah, His Rasool and strive your utmost (Jihad) in the cause of Allah with one's wealth and person.
- Believers are commanded to be the helpers of Allah like the disciples of Isa (Jesus -pbuh).
This Surah exhorts the Muslims to adopt sincerity in Faith and to struggle with their lives in the cause of Allah. It is addressed to Muslims of weak faith as well as to those who entered Islam as a cover-up. The believers are warned; "Allah hates those people who say one thing and do another, and He loves those who fight in the cause of Truth like a solid wall against the enemies of Allah."
Their attitude towards their Rasool and their Religion should not be like the attitude that the Israelites had adopted towards their Rasools: Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them). The proclamation is made with the challenge that the Jews, the Christians and the hypocrites who are conspiring with them, may try however hard they may to extinguish this Light of Allah, but it will shine forth and spread in the world.
The believers are told that the way to success both in this world and in the Hereafter is only to believe in Allah and His Rasool sincerely and should exert their utmost in Allah's Way with their persons and their wealth.
Finally the believers are exhorted to be like the disciples of the Prophet Jesus who helped him in the cause of Allah.