Name
The name, An-Nahl, of this Surah has been taken from v. 68. This is
merely to distinguish it from other Surahs.
Period of Revelation
The following internal evidence shows that this Surah was revealed
during the last Makkan stage of Prophethood:
- V. 41 clearly shows
that persecution had forced some Muslims to emigrate to Habash before
the revelation of this Surah.
It is evident from v. 106 that at that
time the persecution of the Muslims was at its height. Therefore a
problem had arisen in regard to the utterance of a blasphemous word,
without actual disbelief, under unbearable conditions. The problem was
that if one did so how he should be treated.
VV. 112-114 clearly
refer to the end of seven year famine that had struck Makkah some
years after the appointment of the Holy Prophet as Allah's Messenger.
There is a reference to V 116 of this Surah in VI: 145, and v. 118 of
this Surah contains a reference to VI: 146. This is a proof that both
these Surahs (VI and XVI) were sent down in the same period.
The
general style of the Surah also supports the view that this was
revealed during the last stage at Makkah.
Central Theme
All the topics
of the Surah revolve round different aspects of the Message, ie.,
refutation of shirk, proof of Tauhid, and warning of the consequences
of the rejection of and opposition and antagonism to the Message.
Topics of Discussion
The very first verse gives direct and strict warning to those who were
rejecting the Message outright, as if to say, "Allah's decision has
already been made concerning your rejection of the Message. Why are
you then clamoring for hastening it? Why don't you make use of the
respite that is being given to you!" And this was exactly what the
disbelievers of Makkah needed at the time of the revelation of this
Surah. For they challenged the Holy Prophet over and over again: "Why
don't you bring that scourge with which you have been threatening us!
For we have not only rejected your Message but have been openly
opposing it for a long time." Such a challenge had become a by-word
with them, which they frequently repeated as a clear proof that
Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) was not a true Prophet.
Immediately after this warning they have been admonished to give up
shirk, for this false creed was the main obstacle in the way of the
Message. Then the following topics come over and over again, one after
the other:
- Very convincing proofs of Tauhid and refutation of
shirk have been based on the plain signs in the universe and in man's
own self.
- The objections of the disbelievers have been answered,
their arguments refuted, their doubts removed and their false pretexts
exposed.
- Warnings have given of the consequences of persistence in
false ways and antagonism to the Message.
- The moral changes which
the Message of the Holy Prophet aims to bring practically in human
life have been presented briefly in an appealing manner. The
mushriks have been told that belief in Allah, which they also professed,
demanded that it should not be confined merely to lip service, but
this creed should take a definite shape in moral and practical life.
- The Holy Prophet and his companions have been comforted and told about
the attitude they should adopt in the face of antagonism and
persecution by the disbelievers.
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