Sūrat al-Naḥl

Classification: Meccan, except for three verses at its end.

Naming: It is called the "Sūrah of Blessings" (Sūrat al-Niʿam).

Length: One hundred and twenty-eight verses.

Chronology: Revealed after Sūrat al-Kahf.

{ The command of Allah has come, so do not seek to hasten it. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him. }

"They used to hasten what they were promised"—meaning the establishment of the Hour or the descent of punishment upon them on the day of Badr—"in mockery and denial of the promise."

So, it was said to them: "The command of Allah has come," which is in the status of something that has arrived and occurred, even if it is awaited, due to the proximity of its occurrence.

"So do not hasten it."

It is narrated that when the verse "The Hour has drawn near" (Al-Qamar: 1) was revealed, the disbelievers said among themselves: "This man claims that the Resurrection has drawn near, so refrain from some of what you are doing until we see what happens." When it was delayed, they said: "We do not see anything." Then, "Their account has drawn near for the people" (Al-Anbiya: 1) was revealed, so they became fearful and awaited its approach. When the days stretched on, they said: "O Muhammad, we do not see anything of what you have frightened us with." Then, "The command of Allah has come" was revealed. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) jumped up, and the people raised their heads, then "So do not hasten it" was revealed, so they became calm. It is recited as tasta‘jilūhu (you hasten it) and yasta‘jilūhu (they hasten it).

"Exalted is He and high above what they associate [with Him]."

He, the Almighty and Majestic, declares Himself free from having a partner, or that their gods are partners to Him, or from their act of associating partners. This is based on "ma" (what) being a relative pronoun or a particle for the infinitive.

If you ask: "How does this connect to their hastening?" I say: Because their hastening was out of mockery and denial, and that is from polytheism. It is recited as tushrikūn (you associate) and yushrikūn (they associate).

"He sends down the angels with the Spirit (revelation) by His command upon whom He wills of His servants, [saying], 'Warn that there is no deity except Me, so fear Me.'"