An Introduction to the Seventh Group
 Javed Ahmad Ghamidi
 

    The seventh group of the Qur’an begins with Surah al-Mulk (67) and ends with Surah al-Nas (114), the last surah of the Qur’an . It is evident from the subject matter of these surah and from their arrangement in the group that the first forty-six surahs were revealed in Makkah, while the last two – al-Falaq and al-Nas – were revealed in Madinah immediately after migration. 
    Like other groups of the Qur’an , this group also begins with Makkan Surahs and ends with Madinan ones. 
    Though the Prophet (sws) is also addressed in this group, yet the real addressees of this group are the leadership of the Quraysh organized under Abu Lahab. Consequently, with the gradual development of the theme in the group, this fact becomes so evident in the last surahs that there remains no room for any other opinion in this regard. 
    The theme of this group is to warn the leadership of the Quraysh of the consequences of the Hereafter, to unveil the truth in its ultimate form, and, as a result, to warn them of a severe punishment, and to give glad tidings to the Prophet (sws) of dominance of his religion in the Arabian peninsula. 
    This theme gradually reaches its culmination through the arrangement of various surahs in this group with such precision and beauty that all the stages – from propagation (da`wah) and warning (indhar) to migration (hijrah) and acquittal (bara`at) – in the da`wah missions of the Prophets of Allah are brought to light. 
    To understand this arrangement, a short summary of the contents of this group is presented below: 
  

Phase I: Indhar 
Surah al-Mulk (67) to Surah al-Jinn (72)
  
    The Day of Judgment is substantiated and the Quraysh are warned with reference to it -- the consequences of denying the Prophet in his capacity of a warner are stated. 67-68 
    Reward and punishment is substantiated, it is portrayed, and the evidence of the seen (ma tubsirun) and the unseen (ma la tubsirun) for the authenticity of the Qur’an as a warner is referred to -- those who make fun of this indhar are warned and the Prophet (sws) is urged to be patient. 69-70  
    The evidence of the seen (ma tubsirun) and the unseen (ma la tubsirun) referred to earlier is elaborated upon, and with its reference, the Quraysh are reprimanded for their behaviour. 71-72 
  
Phase II: indhar-i-`Am 
(Surah al-Muzzammil (73) to Surah Alam Nashrah (94)
  
    The Prophet (sws) is directed to prepare for indhar-i-`am -- he is directed to commence this indhar and informed of its limits and requirements and the beginning of this indhar is depicted. 73-74 
    The Day of Judgement is substantiated and the Quraysh are warned with its reference. 75-76 
    The Day of Judgement is substantiated and the Quraysh are warned with its reference. 77-78 
    The Day of Judgement is substantiated, the Quraysh are warned with its reference and are reprimanded for their attitude towards it. 79-80 
    The cataclysm which will take place on the Day of Judgement is portrayed, and the Quraysh are reprimanded with reference to the reward and punishment which will take place on that day. 81-82 
        The Quraysh are reprimanded with reference to the reward and punishment which will take place on the Day of Judgement. 83-84 
    The various doubts raised by he Quraysh about the Day of Judgement are refuted, and they are warned of the torment they will suffer if they continue to persecute the Muslims and scheme against the Prophet’s da`wah. 85-86  
    The Quraysh are warned of the Day of Judgement, and the Prophet (sws) is given assurance in his capacity as a warner. 87-88 
    The leadership of the Quraysh is warned of the Day of Judgement, and reprimanded for on their hostile and rebellious attitude. 89-90 
    The Quraysh are warned of the Day of Judgement, reprimanded for their hostile and rebellious attitude, and the paths to salvation and doom are explained to them in a categorical tone. 91-92 
    The Prophet (sws) in his capacity as a warner is given glad tidings of a great success in the near future. 93-94 
  
Phase III: Itmam -i- Hujjah
Surah al-Tin (95) to Surah Quraysh (106)
  
    The Day of Judgement is substantiated in the tone that the truth has now been disclosed to the Quraysh in its ultimate form and they are reprimanded for their attitude towards it, and one of their eminent leaders is threatened of dire consequences on his arrogance in spite of being taught through the Qur’an. 95-96 
    The exalted status of the Qur’an as a warner is depicted -- The Quraysh and a section among the People of the Book are reprimanded for their nonsensical demand that a book be given to them from the Almighty through some messenger who descend on them from the heavens reading it out to them. 97-98 
    The Quraysh in this very tone are exhorted and urged about the Day of Judgement: they must not remain in any sort of misconception about it; nothing, on that Day, shall remain hidden from Allah. All of man’s deeds, whether good or bad, small or big shall come before him --- They are reprimanded that in spite of receiving the blessings of Allah and reaping the benefits of peace and tranquility by living as the custodians of the Baytullah in the plunder laden and war stricken atmosphere of Arabia, they have adopted an attitude of ingratitude towards their Creator by not spending in the way of Allah; they should contemplate what their fate will be as a result of this attitude.  99-100  
    The events of the Day of Judgement are portrayed and the Quraysh are reprimanded in a very effective manner for being indifferent to it. 101-102 
    The law of retribution in substantiated, and, with its reference, the leadership of the Quraysh are threatened of dire consequences on their attitude that now their abode will be a fire which will reach their hearts. 103-104 
    The Quraysh are reprimanded and threatened with reference to the incident of the elephant and urged in a categorical tone that they should fulfil the rights of the favours they enjoy on account of being the custodians of the Baytullah. 105-106 
  
Phase IV: Hijrat and Bara`at
Surah al-Ma`un (107) to Surah al-Ikhlas (112)
  
    The leadership of the Quraysh are presented with a charge sheet of their crimes and threatened of the punishment they would encounter, and the Prophet (sws) is given glad tidings that the custodianship of the Baytullah would now be transferred to him, and that it is his enemies who would be totally humbled. 107-108 
    The Prophet (sws) declares his acquittal from the arrogant disbelievers of Makkah, and is given glad tidings of the supremacy of the truth in the land of Arabia. 109-110 
    The destruction of the leaders of the Quraysh, in particular Abu Lahab is predicted by name, and a decisive proclamation is made of the belief of monotheism at the end of this phase. 111-112 
  
Phase V: The End
Surah al-Falaq (113) to Surah al-Nas (114)
  
        At the end of this group, the Prophet (sws) is advised and counselled that after unveiling the truth to his addressees in its ultimate form, the devils among the Jews and the Quraysh and the progeny of Satan in the next phases are going to launch an onslaught on him; so he should keep seeking protection and refuge of the Almighty for himself and for his mission from all the calamities and afflictions of the world. 
 
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