Adapted from Tafsir Ibn Ashur

Themes and purpose:

This Madinan surah primarily seeks to rebuke the People of the Book and the polytheists for rejecting the Prophet (ﷺ) despite the clear evidence of his genuineness. Its purpose is to affirm that the core of all divine messages is sincere Monotheism and to establish the eternal division between the rejecters (the worst of creation) and the Believers (the best of creation).

Context of Revelation:

Era: The more accurate view is that it is Madinan. Its revelation is placed in the late 3rd or early 4th year AH.

Context: The surah was revealed to address the situation in Madinah where the Jews and Christians, despite having prophecies of the Prophet's coming, refused to accept him once he arrived, revealing their true intentions.

Chronology: It has been counted as the 101st surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Ṭalāq and before al-Ḥashr.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known by various names, some based on the opening ayah: "Sūrat al-Bayyinah" (The Clear Proof), "Sūrat Lam yakun (alladhīna kafarū)" (They Were Not), "Sūrat Ahl al-Kitāb" (The People of the Book), and "Sūrat al-Infikāk" (The Splitting). It has also been called "Sūrat al-Qayyimah" (The Upright Religion) [5] and "Sūrat al-Bariyyah" (The Creation) [6].

Virtue: The Prophet (ﷺ) was instructed to recite it to Ubayy ibn Kaʿb, which caused the latter to weep with joy [Bukhārī and Muslim].

Ayah Count: 8 ayahs (Majority) or 9 (Baṣrah).

Surah Overview:

• Rebuking the People of the Book and the Polytheists for their contradiction: rejecting the Quran and the Messenger after demanding the clear proof of his arrival. [1]
• Praising the Quran for containing the essence of all previous divine books, confirming their truth and adding to their virtue. [2-3]
• Affirming that the Prophet’s (ﷺ) message is the core, uncorrupted message of Monotheism and sincere worship commanded in all previous scriptures. [5]
• Establishing that the rejecters (Jews, Christians, and polytheists) have chosen to be the worst of creation. [6]
• Praising those who believe and do righteous deeds as the best of creation. [7]
• Promising the believers eternal bliss in the Gardens of Eden and Allah’s pleasure. [8]