Chapter Shams (The Sun)
Chronologically, the 26th chapter of the Quran, revealed during the third year of the prophetic mission.
Before we delve into the chapter, let us first paint the picture of what the atmosphere was like in Mecca when this chapter was revealed. Let us keep in mind that since this is the third year of the prophetic mission, it is still in the early stages of the prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) mission. The historical background is as follows: Mecca back in the 14th century Arabia was not as densely populated as it is now (historically estimated around 1200 people). The Meccans did not have any concept about prophethood or Messengership. The notion of Abraham (phub) was not as a prophet but as that of a patriarch. There was no such idea that God appoints a messenger to deliver His message. They did have the notion of God where the “Ka’ba” was the “house of God” to them. They didn’t deny God as existing outside the universe. However, as desired by human nature to have some connection in this world to communicate with God, they set up a tribal representative of God in the form of physical idols.
The Arabs were experts in their conditions of living by following creation and making predictions based on the observable acts in creation. For example, the direction of birds helped them settle in Mecca as the movement of birds indicates the presence of water and other livable conditions. Observing other acts in creation including birds may tell us about the weather… Basically, the Arab nation was going about their living without the notion that whoever has established this universe must speak. They did not have the concept of Prophethood, their understanding of Abraham (pbuh) was that of a patriarch i.e. the father of the Arab race.
In another close-by town Medina, things were somewhat different. Medinan people at that time had heard about Messengership from the neighboring Jewish tribes, the fact that God appoints individuals as prophets to convey His message. Similarly, on the outskirts of Mecca around present-day Iran, the Zoroastrians were talking about having a sacred book that they follow. Some traders from Mecca used to go to other towns for trade. There were some folks, including a prominent person named Abu Bakr, who had exposure to those places. Abu Bakr was an exception based on his curiosity about other cultures and trying to understand and gain knowledge that opened him up to the idea of sacred books and messengers being appointed by God. Historically we hear that as soon as the prophet declared that he brings messages from the Lord of the universe, Abu Bakr immediately accepted it as this notion was not new to him.
The word “nabi” comes from the Hebrew language. “Rasool” is a general word used for anyone who transmits news from one place to another. When the Meccans heard that there is someone who has received the message from God, they found it something unfamiliar. Only a few of them were very keen to know more about it and the one delivering it.
Generally, as has been the case with most prophets, the message that the prophet Muhammad (phub) brought was easily accepted by the weak, poor in status, and slaves because they wanted to be free from oppression. The good and equal treatment for every being, the rights of existing regardless of any social structure was appealing to them. They were more inclined to accept the message that the prophet (phuh) propagated. The early messages dealt with the destruction of the universe, this world is not stable, is continuously changing showing the Absoluteness of God.
Someone like Abu Bakr who would try to understand the culture of other people when he went to trade out of Mecca. He was well respected among his community. People used to consult him regarding the genealogy of their families. As being a curious and knowledgeable man, he had heard of other cultures regarding the existence of God and how to establish a relationship with God. That’s why when he heard about the Prophet Muhammad, knowing the honesty of Muhammad as the man he was, he understood the honesty within Muhammad’s (pbuh) declaration of the message. If someone does not have the concept of the Speech of God transferred through revelations to a conscious human being (which is needed to understanding existence and social life under the guidance of the Creator of the universe), then this person cannot proceed with the belief training.
- Prophecy means giving news about the future, emphasizing on the necessity of the existence of the hereafter. Belief in the hereafter is mostly clear cut in Islamic theology as opposed to Judaism and Christianity, roughly speaking. Whoever follows the message of Jesus or Muhammad, they will be saved in the hereafter.
The concept of Prophethood is accepted in full sense i.e. receiving the message of the Creator and delivering to people. Are we really aware of this reality that God speaks? We must be really convinced that without God speaking and guidance coming to me via His verbal speech, my understanding of existence has no base. That is, this world would be meaningless without any manual/speech to explain the purpose of its existence. When we see the world, we must see the action-wise speech giving news about its Creator. This speech of the universe must be accompanied by the verbal speech of the Creator first revealed to a chosen human being (prophets) by God and now relayed to me and coming down to my level of comprehension and experience in this world. Then we will understand that there is a Messenger to convey the speech of God to me in verbal form.
Currently, a similar scenario seems prevalent where the realization of the presence of God’s Speech is missing. Yes, it may be acceptable that there is a God but the concept that God must speak and communicate with me is missing. The whole notion of prophethood is also missing in a way that God communicates with human beings via appointed messengers. I may have set my understanding of the universe such as things happen by themselves or are naturally there. During the life of the Prophet when he declared his prophethood, the fact that God must speak was a novel idea. Going back to Abu Bakr, who was a prominent and wealthy man along with Umar bin Khattab, they were both involved in the organizations of the society at that time. Muhammad, on the other hand, did not have any status in society, he was an orphan and worked as a shepherd for some time. Upon hearing the words of God from Muhammad (phub), Abu Bakr started reciting the Quran publicly in Mecca. At that time, people were fond of poetry where the poems focused on their conditions there with topics such as sand, stars, camels, mountains, and women. We can see the poetic side of the first few chapters of the Quran where the Arabs were well impressed with its quality of poetry. At the same time, people were surprised to learn that the universe is not static as emphasized by the early verses. Also, the verses advised to take care of the needy, poor people, and other social issues.
Some people around Abu Bakr started getting annoyed with Abu Bakr’s reciting the Quran but they could not say anything to him because of his status as an honorable person like them. They respected each other in order to preserve each other’s status. The joining of Umar in the community gave further credence to the message that Muhammad (pbuh) brought and this caused animosity by the elite seeing the followers growing stronger. After a while, those people did request Abu Bakr not to recite Muhammad’s poem, as they believed, loudly. And Abu Bakr told them that he does not interfere in their business and they should not either. As a result, they almost threatened Abu Bakr physically if he does not stop. Also, they were trying to understand Muhammad’s coming to Kaba to pray to God without having any idol representative next to him. This was the situation around the 3rd year of the Prophetic mission.
Comment: Aren’t all the Prophets bringing the same message?
Jesus’s mission was to revive the religion of the earlier prophet Moses, not to bring a new religion (or deen). Without belief in Messengership, one’s belief in God is only an intellectual activity. When the Quran was speaking to Pagans, it was emphasizing on the Belief in God and His Messenger. But when the Quran talks to believers, it uses the concept of “hereafter”, i.e. you already have the concept of Messengership and now you need to realize the hereafter clearly.
- The Quran is full of news of the hereafter.
However, we still bow down in front of material means. For example, if I don’t drink water, then I die. Who causes death? The water or the Creator of the universe? How about water? Water is part of the order in the universe, i.e. how the order of the universe is established by the will of God. The order does not work on its own.
The evidence for the belief in the hereafter is brought by the Quran. We say that I believe in God and we have lots of worldly idols such as nature, laws and order of natural causes, family, profession, societal values…. How about your explanation of the existence of the universe?
Comment: Is belief in God a pre-requisite for belief in the hereafter?
What belief in God is good for you if there is no hereafter? Belief in God and the hereafter are pre-requisite of each other at the same time. No one can believe in the hereafter if there is no Absolute Creator. Neither can belief in God without the hereafter make any sense for human rationality. Anyways, if I am going to disappear from existence at the end, what is the point of “a belief in God” then?
How can I make sure that the Creator not only speaks to me via the universe but also must speak to me at my level of understanding?
Without revelation, the universe does not fulfill the requirements of my human side. What does belief in God bring in your life? If you do not believe in God, then what will you be missing? What virtue does belief in God add in my life? I would live as I feel like. I do not have any unit of measurement within my feelings. How can I make sure that my choice is secure and on the right side? Yes, human feelings are innocent but we are given free will to change their directions, and, therefore, need to be guided for the right purpose which is to direct them to their purpose of existence.
What is the criterium in your transactions?
One meaning of religion could be understood as that of being a “criterium” for right and wrong. Mostly, the concept of religion as presented and practiced is corrupt where religion means submitting to the authority of some clergy rather than a “criterium for life”. This criterium must be presented to you by the One who created your pure soul. This pure soul shall not be corrupt. This criterium must help you to preserve the spirit (which is pure) from the influence of human choices that makes it filthy and the external values imposed on us (family, media, society, environment, state policy).
Who can clear himself/herself from state policy? Everything in the media is arranged around it. The media is created to impose state policy on people in diverse ways. State power is imposed on people. Everything is beyond our control. We have free will, how can I protect my pure spirit, potential human side?
- How can I make sure that I am following my human feelings?
- Am I able to preserve my human feelings?
We all need to free ourselves and think freely!! Let’s find out how by studying these verses.
91:1 “Consider the sun and its radiant brightness”
Drawing attention to the celestial bodies. How come the relationship between the sun and the moon is established in harmony? Who is arranging this?
Spirit calls us to one direction and the ego calls us to another direction. Who is arranging this relationship? Preparing the mind of people to think about creation and themselves.
91:2 “and the moon as it follows it (by reflecting its light)”
There are other systems out there besides the solar system that we are familiar with. There are interesting events going on in this universe. Think about how they come into existence? Who is establishing this order?
91:3 “and consider the day as it displays the sun’s glory.”
The night is prepared for me for my resting. Sleep comes and people stop their movements. The day makes everything bright with the radiance of the sun, everyone is energetic and not tired. This is just a presentation, a starting point to think about this interesting creation. See the consciously designed purpose in the order and created with utmost wisdom that is displayed all around us and we are invited to wonder about it.