(Revealed at Mecca)

99 Verses in 6 Sections

Sections of Al-Hijr – The Rock

1. Qur’an ever protected by God.

2. Everything in the Universe takes place by God’s Command.

3. Man’s creation - Satan’s arrogance.

4. Reward for the Righteous - Angels give Abraham the tidings of a son.

5. Lot and Shu’aib’s people.

6. The People of the Rock.

Important Topics

1. The punishment to every town (and people) is at its fixed term. (Verse 4).

2. The Holy Prophet claiming to have received revelation from God - is called ‘Majnoon’ (Insane). (Verse 5).

3. God Himself undertakes to be the Guardian of the Qur’an. (Verse 15).

4. Heaven a stronghold, shut against every accursed devil. (Verses 16-17).

5. Every thing is sent down from heaven according to known measure. (Verse 21).

6. Man created of black mud and Jinn of intensely hot fire. (Verse 27).

7. Satan’s arrogance against God’s command to make obeisance to Adam. (Verses 26-33).

8. Satan - a driven away outcast. (Verse 34).

9. Satan given the respite. (Verses 36-37).

10. Satan’s challenge to beguile mankind save God’s freed servants. (Verses 39-40).

11. Satan shall not have any hold on the devout servants of God. (Verse 42).

12. Forgiveness and the Mercy of God announced to the Servants of God. (Verse 49).

13. Abraham given the glad tidings of a miraculous gift of a son to him. (Verses 53-55).

14. Messengers sent to punish the people of Lot. (Verses 55-75).

15. Dealings with the dwellers of the Thicket. (Verses 76-79).

16. Dealings with the dwellers of the Rock. (Verses 80-84).

17. The Seven Oft-Repeated Verses of the Qur’an. (Verse 87).

18. Those who split Qur’an into parts shall be questioned. (Verses 91-92).

19. Worship of God to be continuous until certainty is reached. (Verse 99).

Introduction

The chapter is named after the dwellers of the Rock who have been mentioned with reference to what befell them owing to their disbelief and disobedience as a warning to any similar character and conduct.

The terms of every people is predetermined – ‘Dhikr’, i.e., the Reminder, i.e., the Holy Qur’an a revealed Book from God - The Holy Prophet being called mad by the disbelievers. Angels are sent not as and when the fancy of the people demands but to execute the final decision of the Lord when there is no respite to be given. God Himself undertakes to guard the Holy Qur’an. The previous prophets also ridiculed. The movement of every heavenly body is strictly regulated and controlled. Heavenly regions closed to Satanic forces - The origin of man and the origin of Devil Iblis - Respite granted to Satan and Satan’s challenge to revengefully beguile the seed of Adam save the purified ones.

Satan having no authority or hold upon the purified ones, the Ahl al-Bayt. The seven stages of Hell. Forgiveness and Mercy of God ready for men seeking it. Abraham being fore told of having a male issue in his advanced age. The punishment inflicted upon the peoples of Lot, of the Forest and of the Rock. The certainty of the coming of the Day of Judgment. The Sura of Seven Verses - its position as the essence of the great Qur’an. Kindness to the faithful - Man to be prayerful until death, i.e., throughout his life.