Sura Fussilat: Difference between revisions

== Introduction ==

''' Naming '''

This sura was named "Fussilat" meaning "elaborated" is mentioned about the Qur'an in verse 3.{{enote|[this is] a Book whose signs have been elaborated for a people who have knowledge, an Arabic Quran}} Sura Fussilat has also been called the sura of [[Sajda]] (prostration) and Masābih (stars) as well; because, it is among the four [['Aza'im suras]] (suras which have obligatory prostration) and that the word "masābih" is mentioned in verse 12 of this sura. {{enote|We have adorned the lowest heaven with stars, and guarded them.}}

''' Place and Order of Revelation '''

Sura Fussilat is a [[Makki sura]]; and in the order of [[revelation]], it was 61st sura revealed to the Prophet (s). This sura is now 41st sura of the Qur'an and is located in juz's 24 and 25.

 

This sura has 54 verses, 796 words and 3364 letters; and regarding volume, it is among [[Mathani suras]] and is little more than one [[hizb]] (one fourth of a juz'). Sura Fussilat is also among [[Hawamim]], which are the suras beginning with [[disjoined letters]] (Muqatta'a letters) of Ham-Mim. Verse 37 of this sura has an obligatory prostration, {{enote|prostrate to Allah who created them, if it is Him that you worship.}} meaning that its recitation or hearing requires the person to perform a prostration. Recitation of the suras which have obligatory prostration is not permissible in [[obligatory prayers]].

Sura Fussilat mostly speaks about disbelievers turning away from the Qur'an and it repeats it in three places of this sura. Toward the end of this sura, it speaks about the divine origin of the Qur'an. Other topics mentioned in this sura are: [[Unity of God]], [[prophethood]] of the [[Finality of Prophethood|Last of Prophets (s)]], revelation, attributes and characteristics of the Qur'an, the [[hereafter]] and the description of the Judgment Day, testimonies of the eyes, ears, skin and all the limbs of the dwellers of the [[hell]] against them and the destinies of the [[people of 'Ad]] and [[Thamud]].

:"Good and evil [conduct] are not equal. Repel [evil] with what is best. [If you do so,] he between whom and you was enmity, will then be as though he were a sympathetic friend."

In this verse, a moral and social advice is mentioned. Therefore, this verse has been discussed in the discussions of ethics by exegetes and teachers of [[ethics]]. Although, the two words of "hasana" (goodness) and "sayyi'a" (offence) have broad meanings and include every goodness and badness, in this verse, they refer to goodness and badness in preaching [[religion]]. This verse advises the Prophet (s) to answer badness with goodness and does not take revenge, so that he (a) becomes successful.

:"Those who reject the Reminder when it comes to them... Indeed, it is an august Book: falsehood cannot approach it, at present or in future, a [revelation gradually] sent down from One all-wise, all-laudable."

Immutability of the Qur'an is among the beliefs of most Muslims, according to which they believe that the Qur'an available now to Muslims is exactly the Qur'an revealed to the Prophet (s) and nothing has been added to it or omitted from it. [[Exegete]]s and [[theology|theologians]] refer to some verses and [[hadith]]s to reject any alteration in the Qur'an. Verse 41 and 42 of Sura Fussilat are among these verses.

:"Whoever acts righteously, it is for [the benefit of] his own soul, and whoever does evil, it is to its detriment, and your Lord is not tyrannical to His servants."

This verse discusses a general rule about humans' actions which the Qur'an has emphasized on, several times. It suggests that if disbelievers do not believe in the Qur'an and in the words of the Prophet (s), no harms would reach God or His Prophet (s), but disbelievers themselves will lose out.

About the merits of [[recitation]] of this sura, it is transmitted from the Prophet (s) that whoever recites Sura Fussilat, he will be given [[reward]]s ten times more than the number of the letters in this sura. Also, it is transmitted from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] that recitation of Sura Fussilat brings about brightness of face and happiness to the reciter on the Judgement Day; and he will live in this world in a manner that he will be praised by everyone and envied for his good state. In [[Tafsir Burhan]], different benefits are mentioned for recitation of this sura such as healing the illnesses of the heart, eyes and stomachache.

*The material for this article is mainly taken from {{ia|[[:fa:سوره فصلت|سوره فصلت]]}} in Farsi WikiShia.

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