Surah Bayyinah in Detail The Clear Proof |
Written by Nuraz |
Salaam (WRWB), Surah Bayyinah is one of the many short surahs that we like to think about in the Quran. You might remember it as one of the most antagonizing surahs back in the day because of how it is. If so, you are not alone. But this isn’t about foolery, rather about the opposite. The divine, “clear proof.” To sum it up into one singular word, the best word I can describe this surah is “Taqwa”, remembering Allah (SWT) throughout this surah. It mostly covers of the message and the truth, being revealed to these polytheists (people of believe in multiple gods)
Surah Bayyinah is the 98th chapter in the Quran. It is a relatively short surah, with 8 ayats revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) in Medina. Now that we have gone over the basics of the Surah, let’s dive deeper and go over its meaning and message.
لَمْ يَكُنِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ مُنفَكِّينَ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَةُ
Meaning - The disbelievers from the People of the Book and the polytheists were not going to desist ˹from disbelief˺ until the clear proof came to them. (98:1)
The message from here is simple. It exposes the state of these people before the message. Allah (SWT) declared that they wouldn’t bother switching faith, unless a sign had come to them. It’s sort of like when you are fishing. You know the sign of the fish is big and nice, it reflects on the fishing rod. As the fish pressures on the hook. And if this message were a fish, it would be the biggest one.
رَسُولٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتۡلُواْ صُحُفٗا مُّطَهَّرَةٗ
Meaning - A Messenger from Allah, reciting purified scriptures. (98:2)
فِيهَا كُتُبٞ قَيِّمَةٞ
Meaning - Within which are correct writings. (98:3)
وَمَا تَفَرَّقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا جَآءَتۡهُمُ ٱلۡبَيِّنَةُ
Meaning - Nor did those who were given the Scripture become divided until after there had come to them clear evidence. (98:4)
These ayats refer to us the tribal people living by Mecca or residing in the Arabian Peninsula. You can even say that these ayats can talk about the Quraysh tribe themselves.
The “purified scriptures” mentioned in Ayat 2 indicate the message and the Holy Quran being preached at its earliest days. As we know that Islam was never just announced to the public. There were steps into doing so. As it first was preached and spread to the close relatives and companions of the Prophet (PBUH), then after a year of secrecy, came the announcement of the religion.
Ayat 3 gives it an adjective, calling it complete and the ultimate bundle for those who will believe. Ayat 4 would then talk about how these tribal people didn’t insist on these messages, but when there were signs, (miracles) shown to these people, people had divided from their original scriptures; idols, animism, and local tribal belief. And it was then established that this was proof. The messenger, expressing and proposing the message was the evidence, the testimony for the questions that would be around these people's fate.
The clear message and religion then is derived with more characteristics. Some of the aspects of Islam that we do and are the first things we recognize in our belief.
وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ حُنَفَآءَ وَيُقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤۡتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ ٱلۡقَيِّمَةِ
Meaning - And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion. (98:5)
This “correct religion” is no mystery for us. As in islam we establish prayer and give zakat annually to prove our sincerity and faith to this religion. Hence the category and more notorious name that these deeds are referred to are in the 5 pillars of Islam. Just right after Shadaah comes Salah and Zakat. (prayer and almsgiving)
You may also notice these two deeds being paired up in other Surahs. Like in Surah Mujadilah, Surah Baqarah, or Surah Ahzab.
The second portion (ayats 6-8), discusses the status of people who had believed vs disbelief. Furthermore, putting a scale. Best vs worst. Polytheists vs the Monotheists
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَٰبِ وَٱلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآۚ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمۡ شَرُّ ٱلۡبَرِيَّةِ
Meaning - Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures. (98:6)
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَٰتِ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمۡ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡبَرِيَّةِ
Meaning - Indeed, they who have believed and done righteous deeds – those are the best of creatures. (98:7)
He compares the polytheists, most likely referring to the idol worshippers, worshipping 365 idols in a year in the Ka'bah. He also titles them, the “worst of creatures”, they will be eternally. Not even for a limited time, like eternally (forever) burning in the Hellfire. Disbelievers of the Scripture representing those denied the message of the Quran, just like the disbelievers mentioned in Surah Qamar, where the disbelievers date back all the way to Nuh (AS)’s time period. Whereas the believers have the complete opposite side of the spectrum, who had sincerity whilst following the Scripture, the “best of creatures.”
Using “Shar” vs “Khayr” in the two ayats.
Furthermore, their bounties and blessings are described in the last ayat. Allah (SWT) states,
جَزَآؤُهُمۡ عِندَ رَبِّهِمۡ جَنَّـٰتُ عَدۡنٖ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدٗاۖ رَّضِيَ ٱللَّهُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَرَضُواْ عَنۡهُۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنۡ خَشِيَ رَبَّهُۥ
Meaning - Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord. (98:8)
May Allah (SWT) make us those who will believe the purified scripture and forgive us for the times in which we had disbelieved.
Overall this surah conveys a simpler message with a smaller amount of ayats. It shows us the significance of the message. Those who choose to believe it are the best whilst those who do not believe are pinned as the worst. With our limited chances, Inshallah we can take advantage and put our full belief in doing so. Salaam (WRWB).