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Al-Furqan (The Criterion)
Name
The Surah takes its name "Al-Furqan" from the first verse. Though it is
symbolic like the names of many other Surahs, it has a close relation
to its subject matter.
Period of Revelation
It appears from its style and subject matter that, like Surah
Al- Mu'minun, it was also revealed during the third stage of Prophethood
at Makkah. Ibn Jarir and Imam Razi have cited a tradition of Dahhak bin
Muzahim that this Surah was revealed eight years before Surah An Nisa.
This also confirms our opinion as to its period of revelation. (Ibn Jarir,
Vol. XIX, pp. 28-30, and Tafsir Kabir, Vol. VI,p. 358).
Subject Matter and Topics
The Surah deals with the doubts and objections that were being raised
against the Qur'an, the Prophethood of Muhammad (Allah's peace and blessings
be upon him) and his teachings by the disbelievers of Makkah. Appropriate
answers to each and every objection have been given and the people have
been warned of the consequences of rejecting the Truth. At the end of
the Surah, a clear picture of the moral superiority of the Believers has
been depicted as in the beginning of Surah Al-Mu'minun, as if to say,
'Here is the criterion for distinguishing the genuine from the counterfeit.
This is the noble character of those people who have believed in and followed
the teachings of the Holy Prophet and this is the kind of people that
he is trying to train. You may yourselves compare and contrast this type
of people with those Arabs, who have not as yet accepted the Message,
and who are upholding "ignorance" and exerting their utmost to defeat
the Truth. Now you may judge for yourselves as to which you would like
to choose." Though this question was not posed in so many words, it was
placed before every one in Arabia in a tangible shape. It may be noted
that during the next few years, the practical answer given to this question
by the whole nation, with the exception of a small minority, was that
they chose Islam.
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