Surah 23. Al-Muminun

This Surah was revealed during the middle stage of the Prophet's residence at Makkah. It was the climax of the famine in that region (vv. 75-76). From the contents of this Surah, it appears that a bitter conflict had begun between the Prophet Muhammad and the disbelievers though the persecution had not yet begun.

1. Characteristics of a true believers.
2. Stages of human creation.
3. The story of Prophet Nuh (pbuh) and the great flood.
4. The story of Hud (pbuh) and the blast of destruction.
5. The fact that Allah has not charged any soul with more than it can bear.
6. Guidance to repel evil with good and to seek the protection of Allah against the temptations of Shaitan.
7. The fact that on the Day of Judgement it will appear as if the life of this world was less than one day.
8. The fact that the disbelievers will never get salvation.

This Surah invites the people to accept and follow the Message of the Prophet Muhammad; the whole Surah revolves round this theme. According to an authentic tradition related by Urwah bin Zubair, Sayyiduna Umar, who had embraced Islam by that time, said, "This Surah was revealed in my presence and I observed the state of the Prophet during its revelation. When the revelation ended, the Prophet remarked, 'On this occasion ten such verses have been sent down to me that the one who measures up to them will most surely go to paradise.' Then he recited the first ten verses of this Surah."