A group of three short ayahs arranged together in flow of sound to produce perfect rhythm and modulation; pleasing to the ears and invigorating to the mind; conveying profound message and meaning. Most scholars have labelled this surah as Madni. It is also called as Surah At-Tawdi because this surah alludes to the demise of the Holy Prophet. The word Tawdi means “to bid farewell”. Herein is a glorious prediction which soon became a fact in recorded history. When these words were being spelled out “nothing was more improbable and incredible than them at that time”. In a few days it became a fact un-paralleled in history.

This short surah bestows glad tidings on the Holy Prophet of imminent Divine help and the general acceptance of his message by the multitudes. Simultaneously it instructs him to turn to his Creator with HIS glorification and urging of HIS forgiveness.

It is recorded in Sahih of Muslim on the authority of Sayyidna Ibn Abbas that Surah An-Nasr was the last Surah to be revealed; Qurṭubī. (Imam Abū ʿAbdullāh Al-Qurṭubī, an Andalusian jurist, Islamic scholar and muhaddith, well known for his commentary of the Quran named Tafsir al-Qurtubi.); specifically, last complete surah. Some individual verses have been revealed after this surah. This is a similar situation to that of Surah Al-Fatiha. This is regarded as the first complete surah to have been revealed. However several individual verses have been revealed before this.

Sayyidna Ibn Umar  has reported that this Surah was revealed during the Farewell Pilgrimage. Shortly after wards the following (part of a long ayah) was revealed: ………………[5/3]………………

“……………This day I have perfected for you your religion, and have bestowed upon you My bounty in full measure, and have been pleased to assign for you Islam as your religion…………..”

The Holy Prophet passed away after eighty days of revelation of these two ayahs.

The expression “victory” here is in reference to “the promised Victory or Conquest of Makkah” declares Mufti Mohammed Shafi in his historical tafseer Ma’aariful Quran. This historical fact is generally accepted. However the time of revelation of this ayah remains controversial; before or after the conquest is the issue. Ruh-ul-Ma’ani (Rūh al-Ma’ānī fī Tafsīri-l-Qur’ān is a 30-volume tafsir of the Qur’an, authored by the 19th-century Iraqi Islamic scholar Mahmud al-Alusi) cites a narration from Al-Bahr-ul-Muhit (written by Athir Uddin Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Yusuf Ibn Haiyan Andalusi…) endorsing that this surah was revealed during the return journey from the battle at Khayber which was fought before the conquest of Makkah. Mufti Mohammed Shafi in his tafseer offers a reconciliation for the different views “Narratives that report that it was revealed on the occasion of the Conquest of Makkah or on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage may be explained by saying that the Holy Prophet might have recited this Surah and proclaimed it on one of those occasions; as a result people must have thought that it was revealed on that occasion.”

A group of scholars hold the view that this ayah is referring to the Treaty of Hudaibiyah in 6 AH. Read in the future tense, many commentators see an implication in this surah to the conquests after the death of the Prophet pushing Islam beyond the borders of Arabia. Finally, Nasr et al report in their modern tafseer The Study Quran “The Victory (fatḥ) is the opening (infitāḥ) of the doors of arrival and the unveiling of the lights of Beauty and Majesty.”

Umar ibn Kathīr (ابن كثير) a highly influential Arab historian, exegete and scholar during the Mamluk era in Syria and student of Ibn Taymiyyah declares in his commentary on the Quran ““The victory mentioned in this sūrah refers, as unanimously agreed, to the conquest of Makkah. The Arab tribes were awaiting the settlement of the conflict between the Quraish and the Muslims, before making a decision about their acceptance of Islam, saying that if Muĥammad were to prevail over his people, he would indeed be a prophet. Consequently, when that was accomplished they accepted Islam in large numbers. Within two years of the conquest of Makkah, the whole Arabian Peninsula was dominated by Islam, and thanks to God, every Arab tribe declared its belief in Islam.”

The help and victory referred to in this surah was already promised in the Quran to the Muslims: …………….[61/13]………….

“And [you will obtain] another [favor] that you love – victory from Allah and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers.”

The Muslim were anxiously waiting for the completion of this pledge which obviously referred to the control over Makkah; no other interpretation was possible. So much so, that the message was conveyed to the Muslims without even naming it. “For this reason, the Qur’an has mentioned this event with remarkable brevity with just one letter” interjects the research scholar and mentor Javed Ahmed Ghamdi in his educational tafseer Al Bayan.

In other places of the Holy Qur’an also, it has been mentioned with the same brevity as here as this thing was already in the minds. Therefore, despite this brevity, people did not hesitate to understand it. For example:…………[57/10]………….

“Those who spent their wealth and took part in fighting before the Victory cannot be equated (with those who spent their wealth and took part in fighting afterwards”

Here also, it is not clearly stated which victory is meant but everyone understands that it means the conquest of Makkah because “it was this victory which could serve as a balance in terms of devaluing and increasing the value of the deeds of the strivers” says Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi in his valuable tafseer “Tadubbur-e-Quran.

According to numerous commentators, conquest of Makkah is the target of these ayahs which took place in 8 AH. On the other hand, according to traditions based on the authority of Abdullah bin Umar and Sarra bint Nabhan, this Surah was revealed towards the end of 10 AH. This is contradicted by the report of Abdullah bin Abbas who said that this is the last surah of the Quran to be reported. This in turn is contravened by the fact that entire Surah al-Tauba was revealed after the conquest of Makkah. So this surah could not be the last to be revealed.

Maulana Maudoodi maintains that this surah is not referring to any single campaign. He maintains, in general and open terms it refers to “the decisive victory after which there remained no power in the land to resist and oppose Islam, and it became evident that Islam alone would hold sway in Arabia.” He further notes that “ There is no doubt that the conquest of Makkah was decisive in that it broke the power of the Arabian pagans, yet even after this, they showed clear signs of resistance. The battles of Taaif and Hunain were fought after it, and it took Islam about two years to attain complete control over Arabia.” The process of collective entry in crowds of non-believers — whole tribes and people belonging to large tracts —into Islam of their own free will and without any opposition or hostility happened at the start 9 AH. Hence this year has been termed as “the year of deputations”. Delegations from all over Arabia appeared before the the Holy Prophet  to adopt Islam by announcing their allegiance to him. Consequently, the whole of Arabia was Muslim at the time of farewell pilgrimage in 10 AH; not a single polytheist remained anywhere in the country.

The surah enjoins the Holy Prophet to do hamd and tasbih of Allah when he witnessed this manifestation of HIS power. Hamd generally implies praising Allah Almighty as well as thanking Him; tasbih means to regard Allah as pure and free from every blemish and weakness. According to Maulana Maudoodi, hamd here is a reminder that this success is entirely the blessing from Allah and should never be attributed to the efforts of Muslims and their Holy Prophet. It should be recognised internally and externally “that praise and gratitude for the victory and success belonged to Him alone.”  It is a personal experience with most of us that there is an element of wonder in pronouncing the tasbih Subhan Allah. A wonderful experience invariably and suddenly draws the expression Subhan Allah on our lips. Obviously acknowledging that only the power of God Almighty has the capacity and ability for such  remarkable activities.

Even before the fall of Makkah, a significant number of people were convinced of the reality of the message of the Holy Prophet. However of various reasons they were shy of announcing it. Once Makkah was seized the flood gates were thrown open, as if. People rushed and hurried to embrace the new religion. It is reported that “Seven hundred people from Yemen embraced the religion, and joined the Holy Prophet. On the way, they recited the call to prayer and recited the Qur’an. In this way, the populace of Arabia embraced the religion of Islam and entered into its fold  in droves.”

This surah had palpable effects on the daily activities of the Holy Prophet and the Muslims. According to Sayyidah Ayshah Siddiqah, after the revelation of this surah, the Holy Prophet would recite the following supplication after each prayer:

“I pronounce Your purity, 0 Allah, our Lord, and praise be to You, 0 Allah, forgive me. (Bukhari). Sayyidah’Umm Salamah says that after the revelation of this Surah, the Messenger of Allah used to often recite the following  supplication:

“I pronounce the purity of Allah, and praise be to Him. I seek Allah’s forgiveness and I repent to Him.” He used to say, “I have been commanded to do so.” In evidence, he used to recite this Surah.

After the revelation of this Surah, as per Sayyidna Abu Hurairah, the Messenger of Allah used to stand in the worship of Allah so long that his feet would swell.

This surah conveys a special message for the believers at the victory over Makkah. Celebrations, probably yes. But more importantly they should praise and glorify their Lord and ask for HIS forgiveness with full confidence that Allah the Most Merciful and Compassionate will respond to  them with grace and forgiveness. This was indeed the pattern the Holy Prophet followed through out his life. On the occasion of his greatest success in life, he triumphantly entered Makkah with his head bowed low, seeking his Lord’s pardon and mercy.

A more subtle and momentous impression and conclusion is drawn from this surah. The the Holy Prophet  reached his goal at this point after a painful, intense and coordinated struggle. His strain and struggle are acknowledged by Allah Ta’aala Subhaanahoo in this ayah. Very significantly though, it is alluded here in this surah that he will be relieved of this struggle and labor and ascend to join his Creator.

After the control over Makkah, the mission of the Holy Prophet seems to have been accomplished. This is borne out in the sermon that he gave at the door of Kaaba after this victory. He announced “There is no god but Allah alone, He fulfills His promise and helps His servant and He single-handedly defeats all parties of enemies.” He then addressed the leaders of Quraish who were waiting to hear about their fate and destiny.“Do you know what I am going to do with you” he queried. “You are Sharif Bhai and Sharif Bhai’s son” was the common reply. The Holy Prophet was generous and forgiving in his reply “Go, I spare the lives of all of you!” The demeanor of the Holy Prophet highlights that victory in fact depends on and is caused by “the charisma of the wisdom and planning of Allah”. The emphasis in this surah to acclaim and supplicate also is a pointer that all thanks are due to Allah Ta’aala Subhaanahoo who should be praised as much as possible.

It is interesting to note that the Arabic word “tawbah” can be rendered both to human repentance and Devine relenting. “It thus represents a subtle reciprocity between Divine action and human action” report Nasr et al in their tafseer“The Study Quran”. The Holy Text says”…………..[5/39]…………..

“But whoso repenteth after his wrongdoing and amendeth, lo! Allah will relent toward him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

The same authors go on to add an apparently controversial comment “Though human beings can play some role in seeking their own forgiveness, ultimately it is God Who must first turn to human beings” based on the ayah:…………..[9/118]………….

“……….Then He relented unto them, that they might repent………..;

I guess most of you are confused about the period of revelation of this surah. So am I. There are about five distinct suggestions. I deliberately passed on this confusion to my readers for a purpose. All of us are very proud and rightly so that Islam was born in the age of known history. It is a historical religion and most of its narrative is clear and can be substantiated. But there are here and there substantial lacunae in our knowledge about our deen. The period of revelation of the index surah is an example.

……..and Allah knows best.

May Allah Ta’aala bless us with true understanding–“fahm”–of our Deen, Aameen.

Dr. Khalid Mitha