Surah
Juz
Surah al-Qiyamah contains internal evidence suggesting that it was revealed during the early period of Muhammad's ﷺ prophethood in Mecca. The interruption in the discourse between verses 15 and 19, where the Prophet ﷺis instructed not to hasten in reciting the revelation, indicates that he was still adjusting to receiving revelations and was eager to memorise them immediately. This instruction reflects a time when the Prophet ﷺ was not yet fully accustomed to receiving revelations calmly. Similar instructions are found in other early Meccan surahs, such as Surah Ta Ha (20:114) and Surah al-A'la (87:6), suggesting a consistent pattern of guidance given to the Prophet ﷺ during this period. This interruption likely occurred because the Angel Gabriel was reciting the revelation to the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet ﷺ, fearing he might forget the words, was repeating them simultaneously. Such occurrences were more frequent in the early stages of revelation when the Prophet ﷺ was still acclimating to his role as a messenger of God. As the Prophet ﷺ became more accustomed to receiving revelations, such interruptions were no longer necessary, leading to their absence in later revelations.
Surah al-Qiyamah, along with the subsequent surahs, appears to have been revealed during a period when revelations were coming down rapidly, following the initial verses of Surah al-Muddathir. During this time, Islam's teachings were presented powerfully, addressing fundamental concepts and moral teachings concisely, which deeply affected the people of Mecca. As a result, the Quraysh leaders felt threatened and sought to devise schemes to counter the Prophet's ﷺ message, as mentioned in the introduction to Surah al-Muddathir. In Surah al-Qiyamah, specific responses are provided to the doubts and objections raised by those who deny the Hereafter. Strong arguments are presented to establish the possibility, occurrence, and necessity of the Resurrection and Hereafter. Additionally, it is emphasised that people's denial of the Hereafter is not due to rational impossibility but stems from their selfish motives. The surah warns that despite their denial, the inevitable event of the Hereafter will come to pass, and every individual will be confronted with their deeds. Even before seeing their records, people will be fully aware of their actions, as no one is unaware of their own deeds, regardless of the excuses they may use to deceive themselves and others.
