Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah is entirely dedicated to consoling and assuring the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah’s unwavering care during the pause in revelation. It refutes the polytheists’ claims that Allah had abandoned him. The surah promises a greater reward in the Hereafter and commands the Prophet (ﷺ) to show gratitude by treating the orphan and the beggar with compassion.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by unanimous agreement.

Context: The surah was revealed following a period when the revelation paused. The Prophet's finger was injured, causing him to miss his night prayer, which prompted his enemies (specifically Umm Jamīl, Abū Lahab’s wife) to mock him, claiming “his devil” had left him.

Chronology: It is counted as the eleventh surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Fajr and before al-Inshirāḥ.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known as "Sūrat al-Ḍuḥā" (The Morning Brightness) or "Sūrat wa-l-Ḍuḥā" for the dramatic oath that signals the end of the darkness of night and the end of the period of the pause in revelation.

Ayah Count: 11 ayahs.

Surah Overview:

• Consolation and Assurance: Swearing that Allah has neither abandoned the Prophet (ﷺ) nor despised him. [3]
• The Promise: Assuring the Prophet (ﷺ) that the Hereafter will be better for him than the worldly life. [4]
• Recalling Blessings: Reminding the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah's continuous care during his lifetime, specifically His protection as an orphan, being guided to know his Lord, and his enrichment from poverty. [6-8]
• Command to Gratitude: Ordering the Prophet (ﷺ) to show gratitude for these blessings by treating the orphan with honor, not repelling the beggar, and proclaiming the bounty of his Lord. [9-11]