Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

Themes and purpose:

This surah serves as the divine commentary and analysis of the Treaty of al-Ḥudaybiyyah, proclaiming it a clear victory and an indication of future conquests. Its purpose is to console the believers, guarantee the Prophet’s (ﷺ) forgiveness and victory, condemn the hypocrisy of those Bedouins who abandoned the mission, and assure the believers of their spiritual reward and ultimate political empowerment.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Madinan by consensus, revealed in the 6th year after Emigration, shortly after the Treaty of al-Ḥudaybiyyah and before the Battle of Khaybar.

Context: The surah descended at night while the Prophet (ﷺ) was traveling back from al-Ḥudaybīyah. The Companions, frustrated by the treaty's harsh terms, felt they had failed to perform the minor pilgrimage (ʿumrah). The surah was revealed specifically to dispel their sorrow and redefine the treaty as a divine triumph.

Order: According to the famous count, it is the 113th surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Ṣaff and before al-Tawbah.

Name: The surah's established name is "Sūrat al-Fatḥ" (The Victory), named from its opening ayah which refers to the political and spiritual triumph of the Treaty of al-Ḥudaybiyyah, which paved the way for the greater Conquest of Makkah.

Virtue: The Prophet (ﷺ) stated that this surah was "dearer to him than everything the sun shines upon," due to the promise of forgiveness of sins it contained for him [2].

Ayah Count: 29 ayahs by consensus.

Surah Overview:

• The Victory of al-Ḥudaybiyyah: Announcing that the treaty, though initially perceived as a failure, was a clear victory (fatḥ) and a source of tranquility for the believers. [1-4]
• Prophetic Honor and Forgiveness: Promising the Prophet (ﷺ) subsequent victory and guaranteeing the forgiveness of his past and future sins. [2, 5]
• Condemnation of Hypocrisy: Exposing the cowardice, ill-will, and deceit of the Bedouin Arabs who deliberately stayed behind, questioning the Prophet's truthfulness. [11-12]
• Punishment and Exclusion: Prohibiting the hypocrites from joining the subsequent campaign (Khaybar) and warning them of divine wrath. [15-16]
• The Covenant: Highlighting the spiritual importance of the Pledge of Allegiance (bayʿat al-riḍwān) made by the believers under the tree at al-Ḥudaybiyyah. [10, 18]
• Prophetic Vision and Fulfillment: Confirming the Prophet’s truthful vision of entering Makkah peacefully (which was fulfilled later). [27]
• The Ultimate Triumph: Concluding by affirming that Muḥammad (ﷺ) is the Messenger of Allah and describing the believers as having perfect attributes, likening them to a seed that grows strong: a description found in the Torah and Gospel. [29]