Surah
Juz
In verse 10, which mentions "...and the earth of God is spacious...," there is ample evidence indicating that this Surah was revealed before the migration to Abyssinia. According to certain hadiths, this verse specifically pertains to Ja’far bin Abi Talib and his companions when they decided to immigrate to Abyssinia.
The entire Surah is a powerful and eloquent sermon delivered in the challenging environment of Makkah, filled with oppression, hostility, and persecution. It was given some time before the emigration to Abyssinia, addressing mainly the unbelieving Quraysh, with occasional mentions of the Believers. The primary message is a call for humanity to sincerely embrace God's servitude and refrain from tainting worship with the service of any other entity. The Surah emphasises the essence of Monotheism (Tawhid), elaborating on its truth and the positive outcomes of accepting it, while highlighting the falsehood of polytheism (shirk) and its detrimental consequences. Repeatedly urging people to abandon their misguided ways and return to the mercy of their Lord, the Surah provides forceful explanations. It also instructs the Believers, conveying that if a place becomes narrow for the worship of God, His earth is vast, allowing for migration to preserve faith, with the assurance of divine reward for patience. The Prophet ﷺ is encouraged to convey to the disbelievers that their persecution will not deter him from the path of Islam, regardless of their efforts to obstruct it.
