Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah is primarily dedicated to establishing the absolute certainty and terrifying reality of the Resurrection and Judgment. It achieves this by citing the historical destruction of past nations (Thāmūd, ʿĀd, people of Pharaoh) as undeniable proof of Allah’s power, while defending the Prophet’s (ﷺ) integrity against accusations of poetry or sorcery.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by consensus.

Context: It was revealed in the 5th year of the Prophethood, placing it shortly before the Hijrah to Abyssinia. The surah was revealed in response to the polytheists' mockery of the Quran. It is narrated that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb heard the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting the surah in Makkah, and the verses refuting poetry [41–42] caused Islam to enter his heart.

Chronology: It is counted as the 77th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Mulk and before al-Maʿārij.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known primarily as "Sūrat al-Ḥāqqah" (The Inevitable Reality), the opening word. It is also called "Sūrat al-Silsilah" (The Chain), referencing the chain of fire used to bind the sinners [32].

Ayah Count: 51 ayahs by consensus.

Surah Overview:

• The Judgment: The primary purpose is the terrifying depiction of the Day of Judgment and the events preceding it. [1-12]
• Historical Warning: Warning the deniers by citing the punishment that destroyed past nations like Thāmūd, ʿĀd, and the people of Pharaoh. [4-10]
• The Blessing of Survival: Reminding humanity of the blessing of being saved from the Flood during the time of Nūḥ. [11]
• Prophetic Defense: Vigorously defending the Prophet (ﷺ) against the accusations of being a poet or a soothsayer. [41-43]
• The Final Reckoning: Describing the scene of Judgment, where the righteous receive their records with joy and the sinners are seized and chained. [19-37]
• Consolation and Command: Commanding the Prophet (ﷺ) to be firm and warning the polytheists that the divine punishment is inevitable. [48-52]
• Divine Purity: Affirming Allah's honor and capacity to execute judgment, and refuting the possibility of any forgery in the Quran. [44-47]