Surah Duha رکوعہا 1 س ااتہا 11 ر 93 و ۃ الض ح مک ۃ 11 الل ا الل In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful الض ح ۱ day!.by the light of By the night when it settles! ۲ ال ل س ا ا ما ۳ Your Rabb has neither forsaken you nor does He ما ر ع dislike you. ۃ م اا ل ۴ The Hereafter is certainly much better for you ل ل than this world. ل ط و ف ع ر فت ض ۵ be pleased. فا ۶ ا.1 Your Rabb shall soon give you and you shall ت دک ال ج Did He not find you orphaned and grant you shelter? ض اا فہ د ۷ دک Did He not find you uninformed and show you the ج way? ج د ک ع ا ا فا ۸ Did He not find you destitute and make you wealthy? فام ا ال ت ل ۹ ۱۰ ہ ف ت ہ ل So do not be harsh with the orphan. ا ا ل ف ت 2. ام ا ال Do not reproach the beggar. ۺ ۱۱ ۃ 3. ام ا ع ر ف د Speak about the favours of your Rabb. This Surah was revealed in Makkah. "Ma'aalimut Tanzeel" reports that once, when Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) was unable to perform Tahajjud salaah for a few days because of illness, a woman 1 said, It seems as if the Shaytaan that used to come to him has forsaken him. Here she was referring to Hadhrat Jibra'eel (A.S) as a Shaytaan (Allaah forbid!). It was then that Surah Duha was revealed. Another narration states that when the Jews asked Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) about the soul, about the people of the cave and about Dhul Qarnayn, he told them that he would give them a reply the next day. However, he forgot to say Insha Allaah ( If Allaah wills ) 2. As a result, revelation ceased for a few days and the Mushrikeen 1 The woman was Umm Jameel, the wife of Abu Lahab. 2 The details of this incident are mentioned in the commentary of verses 23 and 24 of Surah Kahaf (Surah 18).
began to taunt Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) by saying that Allaah had forsaken him and disliked him. It was then that the Surah was revealed. After taking two oaths, Allaah Ta ala tells Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhiwa-sallam), Your Rabb has neither forsaken you nor does He dislike you. Explaining the relevance of taking oaths by the day and the night, the author of Bayaanul Qur'aan states that the descent of revelation and the cessation of revelation are just like day and night. Just as the alternation of the night and the day does not indicate that one has forsaken the other nor that the one dislikes the other, the descent of revelation followed by a cessation also does not mean that Allaah has forsaken Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) or that Allaah dislikes him. Just as there are reasons for the alternation of night and day, there are reasons for the pause in revelation. Reassuring Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) further, Allaah says, The Hereafter is certainly much better for you than this world. With these words, Allaah Ta ala tells Rasulullaah (sallallaahualayhi-wa-sallam) not to be disturbed by the taunts and accusations of the Kuffaar because these are short-lived. However, what Allaah has in store for him in the Aakhirah is extremely great and eternal. Your Rabb shall soon give you and you shall be pleased. Here Allaah Ta ala tells Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) that he should not worry if he does not possess the wealth of this world because Allaah will grant him so much in the Hereafter that he will be pleased. Nothing will be lacking in the Hereafter. Because the verse seems to indicate that Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhiwa-sallam) would receive wealth in this world as well, the enemies of Islaam have objected by saying that Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) did not have any wealth until his demise. This objection is futile and does not deserve attention. The fact is that the favours Allaah Ta ala shall grant to Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhiwa-sallam) will be made manifest only in the Hereafter. There, he will be conferred the position of Maqaam Mahmud, the most exalted position that any of Allaah s creation can attain 3. Allaah Ta ala then recounts the favours He blessed Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) with in this world. Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) s father passed away before he was born. He was therefore born an orphan. According to some, he passed away after Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhiwa-sallam) was born. Nevertheless, he grew up as an orphan. When he was only five years old, his mother passed away in a place called Abwa and her slave girl Umm Ayman (R.A) brought the young Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) back to Makkah. Thereafter, his grandfather Abdul Muttalib took care of him for a few years. When he passed away, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) stayed with his uncle Abu Talib, who raised him with great love and affection. 3 Refer to the commentary of verse 79 of Surah Bani Israa eel (Surah 17) for details concerning the Maqaam Mahmud.
Referring to this, Allaah Ta ala says, Did He not find you orphaned and grant you shelter? Although Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) was an orphan, Allaah Ta ala ensured that there was always someone to care for him with affection. ض اا فہ د ۷ دک Recounting another favour, Allaah says, Did He ج not find you uninformed and show you the way? Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) was unlettered. None of his guardians tended to his education and he had no access to outside sources of learning. There was no apparent means by which he could have attained knowledge, especially the knowledge of Shari'ah. Allaah tells Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) in Surah Shura, اا ا اا ا ا ک ا م ال د ر ت ت ہ م ما ج ع ل ک و ر ا ہ د ا ع ب م ا ۵۲ ت اا م ل ا ا لتہ د You did not know what was the Book or what was Imaan, but We made it a light with which We guide those bondsmen of Ours whom We will. Without doubt, you guide towards the straight path. [Surah 42, verse 52] Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) was made a prophet purely through Allaah s grace. Allaah Ta ala gave him a complete Shari'ah, informed him about the narratives of previous nations and taught him about matters of the unseen such as the angels, Jannah, Jahannam, etc. Allaah tells Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) in Surah Nisaa [Surah 4, verse 113], ع ک ت ت ما ل ۃ ع ک ا ع ع ظ اا فضل ال ک ت ال ز ل ا ع ا ا ۱۱۳ Allaah has revealed to you the Book and wisdom and taught you what you knew not. The grace of Allaah upon you has been tremendous indeed. ع ب ا ۸۷ اا states, A verse of Surah Bani Israa eel ا ا فض ل Indeed His grace upon you [O Muhammad (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam)] has been tremendous. [Surah 17, verse 87] Addressing Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) further, Allaah says, Did He not find you destitute and make you wealthy? Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) lived with Abu Talib for the greater portion of his youth. Abu Talib was not a rich man so the condition of Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) was the same. When Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) was twenty-five years old, a rich widow by the name of Hadhrat Khadijah (R.A) heard about his excellent character and employed him to lead her trade caravan to Shaam.
She sent her slave along with Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam). When they returned with a substantial profit and the slave praised the noble character of Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam), Hadhrat Khadijah (R.A) proposed to him. He accepted the proposal and his uncle Abu Talib and other members of his family graced the wedding. Hadhrat Khadijah (R.A) was extremely wealthy and she permitted Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) to spend the wealth as he pleased. Therefore, commentators interpret the above verse as Did He not find you destitute and make you wealthy with the wealth of Khadijah (R.A)? Because Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) grew up as an orphan and understood the hardship of being without parents, Allaah Ta ala addressed him saying, So do not be harsh with the orphan. Although the verse addresses Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam), it applies to the entire Ummah. Many Ahadeeth emphasise the importance of treating orphans kindly. Hadhrat Abu Umamah (R.A) narrates that Rasulullaah (sallallaahualayhi-wa-sallam) said, Whoever strokes the head of an orphan solely for Allaah s pleasure will receive a reward for every hair that comes under his hand. I and the person who treats an orphan well shall be like this in Jannah. Saying this, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) joined his index and middle fingers. ["Mishkaat" Pg. 723] Allaah commands further, Do not reproach the beggar. Just as orphans are often without benefactors and sympathisers, there are many people also without sympathisers and in need even though they are not orphans. Among these are people who are forced to beg. When one is unable to give a beggar anything, one should at least speak kindly to him so as not to give him further grief. It is against the nature of a Mu'min to reproach a beggar because reproaching a beggar is tantamount to oppression. Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) mentioned, Send the beggar away with something even though it is with a burnt hoof. Unfortunately, there are many professional beggars to be found who are wealthy. Such people should not be begging. The Shari'ah prohibits begging if a person has means to provide for himself. At the same time, the Shari'ah also encourages Muslims to give something to beggars without reproaching them because one cannot be certain that the beggar is not genuine. In fact, Muslims are encouraged to search for needy persons who do not beg and give their charities to them. Allaah concludes the Surah by saying, Speak about the favours of your Rabb. Allaah has showered His bounties on Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). These bounties are not restricted to this world but extend into the Aakhirah as well. Allaah gave Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) honour and respect in addition to the greatest bounty of prophethood. Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) had millions of followers in the past, has millions today and will have many millions until the Day of Qiyamah. There are millions of Duroods dedicated to him at all times. In appreciation of all these bounties, Allaah Ta ala instructs Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) to speak about His bounties. This verse also instructs the Ummah to do the same. One should bear in mind that one should not be boasting when speaking about Allaah s bounties.
Hadhrat Maalik bin Nadhr (R.A) narrates that he once appeared before Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) while wearing clothes of an extremely poor quality. Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) asked him whether he had any wealth. When he replied in the affirmative, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) asked him what wealth he possessed. He replied by saying that he had every type of wealth: camels, cows, goats, horses and slaves. Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhiwa-sallam) then told him, If Allaah has given you wealth, the sign of this wealth ought to be visible on you. ["Mishkaat" Pg. 375] It is therefore necessary that Allaah s bounties be made known in one s wealth, on one s person and on one s tongue. It will not be redundant to reiterate that when one is recounting Allaah s bounties on one, one s intention should not be to boast and show off. Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas (R.A) has mentioned, Eat what you please and wear what you please as long as you avoid two things; extravagance and pride. NOTE: According to the Imams of Qiraa ah, it is Sunnah to recite "Allaahu Akbar" after every Surah from Surah Duha up to the end of the Qur'aan (Surah Naas). They have recorded this in their books with a chain of narrators. Allaama Jazari (A.R) 4 has written about this in detail. He has mentioned that it was the practice of the leading Qurra (plural of Qaari) and has commented on the chains of narrators. He has also quoted a hadith of Haakim in substantiation. In this regard, the Muhadditheen also quote a hadith that is narrated by a continuous chain of Qurra, which one of the Imams of Qiraa ah Abul Hasan Muhammad bin Ahmad Al Bazzi (A.R) 5 has narrated. This chain of narrators reaches Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). Therefore, according to Imaam Bazzi (A.R), it is Sunnah to recite "Allaahu Akbar" after these Surahs. Besides him, other Imams of Qiraa ah have also encouraged this addition. While some Qurra recite only " Allaahu Akbar", others recite "Laa Ilaaha Illallaahu Allaahu Akbar". When reciting in this manner, the relevant rules of joining Surahs have to be taken into account. The details of this can be learnt from the Qurra. 4 Refer to Kitaabun Nashr fil Qiraa atil Ashar Pgs. 405 to 438. 5 He is one of the narrators of Allaama Ibn Katheer (A.R), the famous Imaam of Sab ah Qiraa ah and Muhaddith.