Surah
Juz
The first part of this revelation, from verses 1 to 8, likely happened around the year 7 A.H., perhaps after the conquest of Khaiber or shortly afterward. According to accounts from Abu Hurairah and other companions, these verses were revealed during a gathering with the Prophet ﷺ. Abu Hurairah himself converted to Islam after the Hudaibiyah truce but before the conquest of Khaiber. Khaiber was conquered around the month of Muharram in the 7th year of Hijrah. These verses may have been revealed when the Jews lost their last stronghold to the Muslims or when other Jewish settlements surrendered after seeing the fate of Khaiber. The second part, from verses 9 to 11, likely occurred shortly after the Prophet's ﷺ migration to Medina. The Prophet ﷺ established the Friday congregational prayer just five days after arriving in Medina. The incident mentioned in the last verse of this section happened before people were fully trained in the customs of religious congregations.
The Surah consists of two parts revealed during different times, each with distinct themes and audiences. Despite their differences, they are harmonised in one Surah. The first part addresses the Jews after their defeat in Khaiber, reminding them of three key points. First, that their rejection of the Prophet ﷺ because he came from a different community was based on false assumptions. Second, they neglected their responsibility as custodians of the Torah and denied God's revelations. Third, their fear of death revealed their awareness of their misdeeds. This section marked the end of God's address to the Jews. The second part, revealed later, reminds Muslims not to repeat the Jews' mistakes regarding the Sabbath. During a Friday congregational prayer, many Muslims left to attend a trade caravan, neglecting the Prophet's ﷺ sermon. God commands that during Friday prayers, all business and activities should cease, focusing on remembrance of God. After the prayer, they may resume their activities. This section could be its own Surah but is included here to emphasise the consequences of the Jews' actions.
