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Ayat 1-2

According to the opinion of the majority of Qur`ân commentators this chapter was revealed in its entirety in Mecca. The theme of the chapter highlights the greatness of the Qur`ân and refutes the accusations that the disbelievers made against the Prophethood.

1. Blessed be He Who sent down the Criterion to His Servant so that he may be a Warner to the worlds.

2. He to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He has no son and neither has He a partner who shares in the dominion; He has created all things and ordered them with precise determination.

Allâh, the Exalted praises His Noble Self for revealing this Great Qur`ân to the Noble Messenger (SAW) as He does in other places in the Qur`ân such as His saying,

"All praise is due to Allâh Who has revealed the Book to His Servant and has not made therein any crookedness. [He has made it] straight in order that He may warn of a terrible punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a goodly reward." [al-Kahf (18): 1-2]

In the first verse He has used the word tabâraka (blessed), which indicates the emanation of perpetual blessings that never cease. This fact alone necessarily points to His Greatness, His Holiness and His being free of any aspect of imperfection. This is because the One from whom emanates all blessings, goodness and sustenance for mankind is the One Who is uniquely singled out with Greatness and the One Who Alone deserves sincere worship. As for the one from whom emanates no blessings, goodness or sustenance, such as the idols and anything that is worshipped besides Allâh, then such things do not deserve to be worshipped. Indeed to worship them is explicit disbelief and the one who does this [and dies upon this] shall abide forever in Hellfire. Allâh says,

"Indeed those who you worship besides Allâh have no power to give you any provision or sustenance. So seek sustenance from Allâh, worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned." [Al-`Ankabut (29): 17]

"They worship besides Allâh that which does not possess any power of providing sustenance for them from the heavens and the earth, indeed they cannot possibly have such power." [An-Nahl (16): 73]

"He is the One Who feeds yet is not fed." [Al-An`âm (6): 14]

"He is the One Who shows you His signs and sends down to you provision from the sky. But none receives admonition except for him who turns back [in repentance]. So invoke Allâh, being sincere to Him in religion even though the disbelievers dislike it." [Al-Ghâfir (40): 13-14]

Know that the word Tabâraka is a word that can only be related to Allâh and is specific to Him. It has no present tense, verbal noun or active participle. In mentioning this word alongside His words, "Who sent down the Criterion" lies an indication that the revelation of The Criterion is from the greatest blessings and favours that Allâh has bestowed upon His creation. This is why He praises Himself for it as mentioned in the previously quoted verse of al-Kahf thereby teaching us that He is to be praised for this great blessing. Allâh says,

"O Mankind! There has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord and We have sent down to you a clear light. Therefore those who believe in Allâh and hold fast to Him - He will admit them to mercy from Himself and bounty and guide them to Himself on a Straight Path." [An-Nisâ` (4): 174-175]

"Is it not sufficient for them that We have revealed to you the Book which is recited to them? Indeed in that is a mercy and admonition for a people who believe." [Al-`Ankabut (29): 51]

"We have sent down of the Qur`ân that which is a healing and a mercy." [Al-Isrâ` (17): 82]

"Say: 'It is cure and guidance for those who believe.'" [Fussilât (41): 44]

"Who has sent down the Criterion" using the verb nazzala which implies a repetitive and frequent action. In a similar vein is His saying,

"O you who have believed! Believe in Allâh and His Messenger and the Book that He sent down to His Messenger and the Scripture which He revealed before." [an-Nisâ` (4): 136]

This is because the Scripture that was revealed aforetime was sent down as one entity whereas the Qur`ân was revealed piecemeal at different times, verses after verses, ruling after ruling and chapter after chapter. Revealing it in this manner was more effective and the impact greater, just as it was easier upon the one to whom it was revealed.

"Those who disbelieve say: 'Why was the Qur`ân not revealed to him all at once?' Thus [it is] that We may strengthen your heart, and We have rehearsed it to you in well-arranged stages. And they do not come to you with a question [or argument] except that We bring you the truth and best explanation." [Al-Furqân (25): 32-33]

It is for this reason that the Qur`ân is called the Criterion - because it differentiates between truth and falsehood, between guidance and misguidance and between the lawful and prohibited.

"To His Servant." This description is mentioned by way of praising and extolling because Allâh has mentioned him (SAW) alongside His servitude hence showing that the servitude expressed by Muhammad (SAW) was complete. He (SAW) was referred to in the same way when he was in the best of situations and that was the occasion of the Nights Journey,

"Exalted is He, above any imperfection, Who took His Servant by night from Masjid al-Haram to Masjid al-Aqsâ." [Al-Isrâ` (17): 1]

He was also described with this title when he supplicated to Allâh,

"When the Servant of Allâh stood up, supplicating to Him, they [surrounded him such that they] almost became about him a compacted mass." [Al-Jinn (72): 19]

And He has also been described with this title in the context of revelation and the descent of the Angel to him.

"So that he may be a Warner to the Worlds." Meaning that he has been singled out to receive this Great Book that explains everything in detail, this book about which He said,

"Falsehood cannot approach it from ahead or behind. It is a revelation from [He Who is] Wise and Praiseworthy." [Fussilât (41): 42]

So that he may be a Messenger to all the nations till the Day of Judgement. This verse embodies a clear statement that the message of Muhammad (SAW) is universal and this is further confirmed with the sayings of Allâh,

"Say [O Muhammad]: 'O Mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allâh to you all.'" [Al-A`râf (7): 158]

"And We have not sent you except [as a Messenger] to the whole of mankind." [Saba` (34): 28]

"Say: 'What thing is the greatest in testimony?' Say: 'Allâh is witness between you and me. This Qur`ân was revealed to me so that I may warn you and whosoever it reaches.'" [Al-An`âm (6): 19]

"O Company of Jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then do so. You will not pass except with authority [from Allâh]. So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?" [Ar-Rahmân (55): 33-34]

The Messenger of Allâh (SAW) said, "I have been sent to the red and black [people]."

He (SAW) also said, "I have been given five things that were not given to any Prophet before me... The [previous] Prophet used to be sent to his specific nation whereas I have been sent to all people."

"He to Whom belongs the Dominion of the heavens and earth": In this noble verse Allâh has praised Himself due to five matters each one of which prove His greatness and His right to be worshipped Alone.

1. He is the One to whom belongs the Dominion of the heavens and the earth. Allâh says,

"Do you not know that to Allâh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He punishes whom He Wills and forgives whom He Wills." [Al-Mâ`idah (5): 40]

"That is Allâh, your Lord. To Him belongs all sovereignty and those whom you invoke besides Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed." [Fâtir (35): 13]

"To whom belongs the sovereignty this day? To Allâh, the One, the Irresistible." [Ghaafir (40): 16]

2. That he has not taken a son, far Exalted above that is He! How can He have a son when He is Self-Sufficient and Omnipotent while the whole creation is in dire need of Him in all of their affairs! Allâh says,

"They say: 'The Most Merciful has taken a son.' You have put forth an atrocious thing! At it the heavens are about to rupture and the earth spill open and the mountains collapse! That they attribute to the Most Merciful a son - it is not befitting for the Most Merciful that He take a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth but that he comes to the Most Merciful as a servant." [Maryam (19): 88-93]

"And to warn those who say: 'Allâh has taken a son.' They have no knowledge of this and neither had their forefathers. Grievous is the word that comes out of their mouths; they speak only a lie." [Al-Kahf (18):5]

"He does not beget and neither is He begotten. There is nothing like Him." [Al-Ikhlâs (112): 3-4]

3. That He has no partner that shares in His dominion. Allâh says,

"Say: 'Praise be to Allâh who has not taken a son and has no partner in His dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness. So magnify Him with [great] magnification." [Al-Isrâ` (17): 111]

"Say: 'Supplicate to those who you claim [to be gods] besides Allâh.' They do not possess an atoms weight [of power] in the heavens or on the earth; they do not have therein any share [with Him]; and neither is there for Him from amongst them any assistant." [Saba` (34): 22]

4. That He is the Creator of everything. Allâh says,

"[He is] the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How could He have a son when He has no consort and He created all things? He is Knowing of all things. That is Allâh, your Lord; there is no deity save Him, so worship Him. He is the Disposer of all things." [Al-An`âm (6): 101-102]

"That is Allâh, your Lord, Creator of all things; there is no deity save Him, so how are you deluded?" [Ghâfir (40): 62]

5. That He ordered everything with precise determination. Allâh says,

"The One Who created and proportioned. Who destined and then guided." [Al-A`lâ (87): 2-3]

"Everything with Him is by due measure." [Ar-Ra`d (13): 8]

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