Surah Al-Bayinna

Introduction

Name of Chapter and Reason for its Name

This chapter is called Surah Al-Bayyina and the term bayyina means evidence, and refers to the proofs, which is the Prophet and the Holy Quran, and it has been mentioned in the first and fourth verses of this chapter. The term bariyyah, which means creation, mentioned in the sixth and seventh verses of this chapter, refers to the best and worst of Allah’s creations. The term qayyimah which has been mentioned in the third and fifth verses of this chapter, explain the upright and firm religion. This chapter has also been named bariyyah and qayyimah.

Chapter Number

Surah Al-Bayyinah is the 98th chapter of the Quran and it was revealed after Surah Al-Talaaq.

Number of Verses

There is a difference of opinion in the number of verses for this chapter. The Basris believe it to be 9 verses, while everyone else says that it is 8. The reason for this is that the Basri School considers “مُخْلِصِینَ لَهُ الدِّینَ” to be a separate verse.

Place of Revelation

Exegetes have disagreed on whether this chapter was revealed in Mecca or Medina. Zamakhshari says that “this chapter was revealed in Mecca, but some believe that it was in Medina.” Ibn Kathyr believes that it was revealed in Medina. Tabarsi states that “this chapter was revealed in Medina, but some have said that it was Mecca.” Tabatabai says that “Both Mecca and Medina are possible. However, its style better resembles that of Medinan verses.”

Content

Important Concepts in this Chapter

Verses 1-4

The chapter begins by pointing towards the illuminating and apparent proofs delivered by Allah to the monotheistic-disbelievers (of the book) and the polytheists. These proofs consist of the Divine writings present in the holy books sent down to the disbelievers and polytheists through the Prophets - as it is Allah’s tradition to completely deliver the entire truth, leaving no room for argument, to all of mankind. Despite this, the disbelievers and polytheists remained adamant on their chosen paths, and did not bring faith.

Verse 5

Specifies Allah’s commands for humanity, and the opposing of them by the disbelievers. The instructions in the divine religion consist of: worshiping with a pure intention, abstaining from polytheism, upholding the prayers and giving alms.

Verse 6

Allah remembers the polytheists and monotheistic-disbelievers (of the book) as the worse of His creations, foretelling their banishment to hell in the Hereafter.

Verses 7-8

The final verses of this chapter mention Allah’s best creations - the doers of righteous deeds and the believers - and the reward that awaits them in the Hereafter.

Interesting Verses in this Chapter

Verse 1: “Those who reject (the Truth), among the People of the Book and among the polytheists, were not going to depart (from their ways) until there should come to them the Clear Evidence.”

لَمْ يَكُنِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنْفَكِّينَ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ١

The monotheistic-disbelievers (of the book) and the polytheists said: “We will not abandon our faith until the Prophet who is promised in the Torah and Bible is sent to us.” These disbelievers will not be abandoned (by Allah) until the truth has been made clear to them and the bayyinah - which is the Prophet and the Holy Quran - is sent their way. The verse’s tone aims to uphold an argument for Islam against the disbelievers. Over here, the disbelievers include both those of the book and the polytheists. Therefore, the term min - من in the sentence مِنْ أَهْلِ الْکتابِ is used to denote a portion of the disbelievers (تبعیضیه), not clarification (تبیینیه). Furthermore, the term الْمُشْرِکینَ has been conjoined to it and is referring to all of the polytheists including the idol worshippers. The upholding of proof is a continuous divine tradition which includes all of Allah’s subjects.

Verse 2: “A messenger from Allah, rehearsing scriptures kept pure and holy.”

رَسُولٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ يَتْلُو صُحُفًا مُطَهَّرَةً٢

The term rasool in the second verse, either takes the meaning of bayyinah (evidence), or in Abdullah’s recitation, it describes the state of bayyinah. This verse describes bayyinah to be Prophet Muhammad and that which is recited from the Holy Quran, written in the Holy Scriptures.

Verse 4: “And those who were given the book did not divide, except after the proof (the Clear Evidence) had come to them.”

وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ٤

Earlier on in the first verse, both the monotheistic-disbelievers (believers of the book) and polytheists were grouped together. However, the sentence الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْکتابَ (the People of the Book) in this verse confines the addressed ones to the believers of the book. It states how despite them receiving clear instructions to accept the upright faith in their respective scriptures, they still rejected it. Conversely, the sentence وَ ما تَفَرَّقَ الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْکتابَ (And those who were given the book did not divide) includes the polytheists, alongside the believers of the book since the holy scriptures have been revealed to all of mankind.

Discussions on this Chapter

According to the Sunni Traditions

Verse 4: “And those who were given the Book did not divide, except after the proof had come to them.”

وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُمُ الْبَيِّنَةُ٤ کما جاء فی الحدیث المروی من طرق: إن الیهود اختلفوا علی إحدی و سبعین فرقة، و إن النصاری اختلفوا علی ثنتین و سبعین فرقة، و ستفترق هذه الأمة علی ثلاث و سبعین فرقة کل‌ها فی النار إلا واحدة» قالوا: من هم یا رسول اللّه؟ قال: ما أنا علیه و أصحابی»

Ibn Kathir reports this tradition from the Prophet of Allah that: “Surely the Jews divided into 71 sects, the Christians divided into 72 sects, and this nation (ummah) will divide into 73 sects. All of them will be in the hell-fire except for 1.” The people asked: “Who are the ones [who will not be in hell], O Prophet of Allah??” He replied: “Whatever [sect] my companions and I are in.” This narration is recorded by Abu Dawood in his book Al-Sunnah section 1; Al-Tirmidhi in Al-Imaan section 18; Ibn Majah in Al-Fitan section 17; and Ahmad in Al-Musnad in volume 2, page 332, volume 3, page 120, and page 145.

Verse 7: “Indeed those who have faith and do righteous deeds - it is they who are the best of creatures.”

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ٧ عن رسول اللّه صلی اللّه علیه و سلم: من قرأ لم یکن کان یوم القیامة مع خیر البریة مساء و مقبلا

The Prophet of Allah has been narrated to have said: “Whoever recites Surah al-Bayyinah will be the best of creatures on the Day of Judgement, in the evening and in the future.” Al-Thalabi, al-Wahidi, Ibn Marduwayh all narrate this from Abu ibn Kab.

According to the Shia Traditions

Verse 7: “Indeed those who have faith and do righteous deeds—it is they who are the best of creatures.”

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ٧ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَاکمُ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَافِظُ قِرَاءَةً وَ إِمْلَاءً أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَکرِ بْنُ أَبِی دَارِمٍ الْحَافِظُ بِالْکوفَةِ أَخْبَرَنَا الْمُنْذِرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْذِرِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِی أَبِی، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِی عَمِّی الْحُسَینُ بْنُ سَعِیدٍ، عَنْ أَبِیهِ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِیلَ بْنِ زِیادٍ الْبَزَّازِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِیمَ بْنِ مُهَاجِرٍ مَوْلَی آلِ شَخْبَرَةَ1 قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِی یزِیدُ بْنُ شَرَاحِیلَ الْأَنْصَارِی کاتِبُ عَلِی، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِیاً یقُولُ حَدَّثَنِی رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص وَ أَنَا مُسْنِدُهُ إِلَی صَدْرِی فَقَالَ: یا عَلِی أَ مَا تَسْمَعُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ: إِنَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ- أُولئِک هُمْ خَیرُ الْبَرِیةِ هُمْ أَنْتَ وَ شِیعَتُک، وَ مَوْعِدِی وَ مَوْعِدُکمُ الْحَوْضُ، إِذَا اجْتَمَعَتِ الْأُمَمُ لِلْحِسَابِ تُدْعَوْنَ غُرّاً مُحَجَّلِین. عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآیةُ: إِنَّ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا- وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ أُولئِک هُمْ خَیرُ الْبَرِیةِ قَالَ النَّبِی ص لِعَلِی: هُوَ أَنْتَ وَ شِیعَتُک.

Al-Haakim Abu Abdillah, someone who had memorized both the spoken and the written form of the Quran narrated from Abu Bakr ibn Abu Darim, a person from Kufa who had also memorized the Quran, narrated from al-Mundhir ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mundhir, from his father, from his paternal uncle al-Husain ibn Said, from his father, from Ismail ibn Ziyad al-Bazzar, from Ibrahim ibn Muhajir, the slave of the Shakhbarah family, from Yazid ibn Sharahil al-Ansari, who was Ali’s scribe. He said that he heard Ali saying, “The Prophet of Allah told me, and I am relating this from my heart- ‘O Ali, have you not heard the words of Allah: ‘Indeed those who have faith and do righteous deeds - it is they who are the best of creatures.’ This is referring to you and your Shia. My meeting point and your meeting point [in the next life] will be at the pool [of al-Kawthar]. The people whose faces will be bright white and illuminating will be invited when all of the people will be gathered for accounting.’” Ibn Abbas narrates that when these verses were revealed, the Holy Prophet said to Ali: “This is referring to you and your Shia.”

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: کنَّا عِنْدَ النَّبِی ص إِذْ جَاءَهُ عَلِی فَقَالَ قَدْ جَاءَکمْ أَخِی ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَی الْکعْبَةِ فَضَرَبَ بِیدِهِ وَ قَالَ وَ الَّذِی نَفْسِی بِیدِهِ إِنَّ هَذَا وَ شِیعَتَهُ هُمُ الْفَائِزُونَ یوْمَ الْقِیامَةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّهُ أَوَّلُکمْ إِیمَاناً مَعِی وَ أَوْفَاکمْ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَ أَقْوَمُکمْ بِأَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَ أَعْدَلُکمْ فِی الرَّعِیةِ وَ أَقْسَمُکمْ بِالسَّوِیةِ وَ أَعْظَمُکمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَزِیةً قَالَ وَ نَزَلَتِ الْآیةُ إِنَ الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ أُولئِک هُمْ خَیرُ الْبَرِیةِ قَالَ فَکانَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ ص إِذَا أَقْبَلَ عَلِی ع قَالُوا قَدْ جَاءَ خَیرُ الْبَرِیةِ

Jabir ibn Abdullah narrates that: “We were with the Holy Prophet when Ali came to him. He said: ‘Surely my brother has come.’ Then, he turned towards the Kabah, reached his hand out, and said: “I swear by the one who has my soul in His hands, surely this [Ali] and his Shia will be the successful ones on the Day of Judgement. He is the first among you in regards to believing in me. He is the most loyal among all of you in regards to keeping his promises to Allah. He is the most firm among you in regards to Allah’s commands. He is the most just among you in regards to [dealing with other] citizens. He has the most integrity among all of you in regards to equality. He is greater than all of you in Allah’s eyes with regards to his qualities.’ Then this verse descended, and it refers to the companions of Prophet Muhammad. When they approached Ali, they said, ‘The best of creatures has surely come.’”