Introduction

It is called Surah Ha-Mim 'Ayn-Sin-Qaf and 'Ayn-Sin-Qaf. According to what is narrated from Ibn Abbas and Ibn al-Zubayr, it was revealed in Makkah. More than one scholar has stated it is Meccan without exception. In al-Bahr, it is stated that it is Meccan, except for four verses beginning with His saying, the Exalted: "Say: I do not ask of you for this any reward, except (for) the affection in the kinship," to the end of the four verses. Muqatil said: "It contains Medinan (verses), namely His saying, the Exalted: 'That is the good news which Allah gives to His servants...' up to the words 'to the chests.'" Some have excepted His saying, the Exalted: "Or do they say, 'He has invented a lie...'" etc. Jalal al-Suyuti said: "What al-Tabarani and al-Hakim recorded regarding the cause of its revelation supports them (the view that there are exceptions), for it was revealed concerning the Ansar, and His saying, the Glorified: 'And if Allah were to extend provision...' etc., was revealed concerning the People of the Bench (Ashab al-Suffah), may Allah be pleased with them." Also excepted are the verses: "Those who, when tyranny strikes them..." up to His saying, the Exalted: "no way (of blame)," as reported by Ibn al-Faras. There will come, God willing, that which indicates the exception of others according to some narrations. It is permitted that the general classification (of it being Meccan) is based on the majority. The number of its verses is fifty-three in the Kufan count, and fifty in others; the disagreement concerns (Ha-Mim 'Ayn-Sin-Qaf) and His saying, the Exalted: "like landmarks," as detailed by al-Dani and others. The connection of its beginning to the end of the preceding Surah is that both contain a mention of the Qur'an, the refutation of the disbelievers' attacks against it, and the consolation of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

Ash-Shura: (1–2) Ha-Mim, ‘Ayn-Sin-Qaf

(1) Ha-Mim (2) ‘Ayn-Sin-Qaf.

Perhaps they are two names for the Surah, supported by the fact that they are followed by two verses and are separated in the script, and by the arrival of the naming of the Surah as "‘Ayn-Sin-Qaf" without the mention of "Ha-Mim." It has been said that they are one name and one verse, and it is appropriate that they be written joined together, as in "Kaf-Ha-Ya-‘Ayn-Sad," but it was separated so that the opening of the Surah would be in the style of its counterparts in terms of being written as the first.

It is said that they are the predicate of an omitted subject. It is also said that "Ha-Mim" is the subject and "‘Ayn-Sin-Qaf" is its predicate; according to the second view, the whole is one predicate. It has been said that "Ha-Mim ‘Ayn-Sin-Qaf" is an allusion to the destruction of two cities built upon a river of the rivers of the East, with the river flowing between them, and every gathering of people meets in them. Allah the Almighty will send fire upon one of them by night, and it will become black and dark, as if it had never existed in its place, and the other will be swallowed by the earth on the following night. This was narrated from Hudhayfah.

It is said that "Ha-Mim" is one of the names of Allah the Almighty, and "‘Ayn" is an allusion to the torment of the Day of Badr, and "Sin" is an allusion to His saying—the Almighty—"And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned," and "Qaf" refers to a disaster from the sky that will strike the people. This was narrated with a weak chain of narration from Abu Dharr. What is most likely is that neither of the two narrations is authentic.

In Al-Bahr, the exegetes mentioned discordant statements regarding "Ha-Mim ‘Ayn-Sin-Qaf," none of which are valid; we have turned away from mentioning them. What we mentioned first has been chosen by more than one scholar; among them are those who chose that they are disconnected letters brought for the purpose of alerting. Ibn Abbas and Ibn Mas‘ud recited it as "Ha-Mim-Sin-Qaf" without the "‘Ayn."