This Surah is also known as “Dahr” and “Hal-Ata”. It
is the 31st Surah of the Glorious Qur’an. It is probably revealed in
Madinah as it appreciates the self-sacrifice of the Noble Messenger’s Progeny.
The contents may be divided in 5 parts:
1.
Man’s creation by a mingled sperm; his guidance
and his free-will.
2.
The reward offered to the Righteous (Abrar) –
The Household of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.)
3.
The merits which cause one to deserve rewards.
4.
The importance of the Glorious Qur’an, the
manner of conducting its principles and the road to self-perfection.
5.
The dominance of Allah (s.w.t.)’s Will (even though
man has a limited free-will)
From Ayah 5 to Ayah 22 relates to the supreme self-less
sacrifice of the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.), Sayyidah Fatima
Zahra (s.a.), Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) and their maidservant, Fizza.
Ibn Abbas says that Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn were sick.
The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) along with his followers visited them and
suggested to Imam Ali (a.s.) to take a vow for their recovery. Hence, Imam Ali
(a.s.), Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and Fizza, the maid servant, took a vow
that if Imam Hasan (a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) recovered, they would fast for
three days.
After a short time, they recovered. Therefore, the family
fasted. As they were in dire need for food stuff, Imam Ali (a.s.) borrowed some
barley and Sayyidah Fatima Zahra (s.a.) grounded one-third of it into flour and
baked some bread. When they were preparing to break the fast, an indigent
person came to their door and said, “Peace be upon you, O Household of Muhammad
(s.a.w.a.s.). I am a needy Muslim, so please give me some food. May Allah
bestow upon you, in kind, from Divine Sustenance.” All of them gave priority to
him and gave their share of bread and opened the fast with water only.
The following day they fasted again, and an orphan came
to the door and. Once again, they forfeited their share of bread and gave it the
orphan and opened the fast with water only. The next day they fasted third time
and this time a captive came to their house and they repeated their priceless
charity.
On the fourth day Imam Ali (a.s.) took Imam Hasan and
Imam Husayn to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). When he (s.a.w.a.s.) observed
their condition; they were trembling with hunger, he said, “It grieves me to
see you in this condition.” He (s.a.w.a.s.), along with Imam Ali (a.s.), Imam Hasan
(a.s.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.), came to their house and saw Sayyida Fatima Zahra
(s.a.) praying, her stomach was sunk to her backbone, and her eyes were also
sunken in the eye sockets. He (s.a.w.a.s.) was greatly affected. At this moment
Gabriel descended and said, “O, Muhammad! receive this Surah. Allah congratulates
you for having such a family.
The Ayahs 5 to 11 relates to the self-sacrifice and Ayahs
12 to 22 narrates the rewards Allah had promised for them.
Ayahs 5 to 11 are: “Verily, the righteous drink of a cup;
the mixture of which is (like) camphor. A fountain where the servants of Allah
drink, flows in abundance. They fulfill their vows and fear a Day, the
chastisement of which is widespread. And they feed, for the love of Allah, the
indigent, the orphan and captive. (Saying): We feed you for the sake of Allah
alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks. We only fear from our Lord
a Day, frowningly severe. Therefore, Allah will certainly rescue them from the
terror of that Day and will meet them with joy and pleasure.
Source: The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) – Tafsir-e-Namoona
by Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi