Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah establishes the Quran as al-Furqān (The Criterion). Its purpose is built on three pillars: proving the prophethood of Muḥammad (ﷺ) as a universal warner and that the Quran is revealed from Allah; proving the Resurrection and recompense; and affirming Allah’s absolute Oneness (refuting the idea of offspring or partners to Allah). It also strengthens the Prophet (ﷺ) to persevere against the disbelievers by recalling the denial of earlier messengers and hinting at a near punishment for the mockers, before closing with a comprehensive description of the spiritual and moral characteristics of the perfect believer.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan according to the vast majority.

Chronology: It has been counted as the 42nd surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat Yā-Sīn and before Fāṭir.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah's name "Sūrat al-Furqān" (The Criterion) has been established from the time of the Prophet (ﷺ). It is named for the word al-Furqān (The Criterion, referring to the Quran) which is mentioned three times (at the beginning, middle, and end).

Ayah Count: 77 āyāt by unanimous agreement of the scholars of counting.

Surah Overview:

• Establishing the Prophet's mission as universal, a "warner to all the nations/worlds". [1]
• The Revelation: Praising Allah, proving the Quran is revealed from Allah, and confirming the Prophet's (ﷺ) truthfulness despite his people's rejection. [1-7]
• Tawḥīd: Proving Allah's Oneness, refuting shirk, and explicitly invalidating the claims that angels are His daughters or that He has a son. [2-3]
• Answering their allegation that the Quran is fabricated or “legends of the ancients”. [4-6]
• Answering their objection to the Prophet’s (ﷺ) humanity and their demands for worldly “proofs”. [7-8]
• The Hereafter: Proving the Resurrection and Judgment, warning of regret for disbelievers, and describing the reward for the righteous. [15, 27-29]
• Answering their demand to see angels directly. [21-22]
• Answering their objection as to why the Quran was not revealed all at once. [32-33]
• Consoling the Prophet (ﷺ) with the example of past nations (Moses, Noah, ʿĀd, Thamūd, etc.) who faced rejection. [35-40]
• Warning of Punishment: Hinting at a swift and impending punishment for the mockers. [37-39]
• Steadfastness and reliance: Directing the Prophet (ﷺ) to persevere, strive against the rejecters with the Quran, place his trust in Allah, and clarifying that he seeks no worldly reward. [52, 57-58]
• Praising the Believers: Concluding with a beautiful and detailed description of the virtues and character of the "Servants of the Most Merciful". [63-76]