Chapter 91 - 18
The Sun (Surah As-Shams)
(15 verses in total; revealed in Makkah)
A relatively short chapter that draws attention to natural splendors of the sun, the moon, the day, the night, the heaven and the earth and then connects to the human soul that is inspired by God.
Key themes in this chapter are as follows:
- Sun is the primary source of light in our solar system while the moon reflects that light and the earth’s rotation causes day and night with their respective light and darkness
- The construct of the heavens (sky) and the earth’s expansiveness are couple with the presence of human soul in our cosmos that God inspires all
- Purity of the soul is the only way for it to grow and corrupting the soul is the sure way to destroy its potential
- The people of Thamud are given as an example of a community in denial and corrupting its soul through wickedness and mischiefs
In the Name of God, the God of Mercy, the Endower of Mercy!
(Reflect!) The sun and its emergent brightness!
The moon as it follows and reflects!
The day as it shines and exposes!
The night as it darkens and hides!
(Behold!) The sky and its construct!
The earth and its expanse!
The soul and its perfection!
And God informing it ways of denial or alignment (v. 1-8)
They succeed
Who strive to grow (the soul) in purity!
They fail
Who strive to corrupt (the soul)! (v. 9-10)
(Look!) How (the tribe of) Thamud rejected the truth
And behaved arrogantly
The most wicked of them fanned out with mischief!
The messenger of God informed them:
“Leave this she-camel alone.
Let her have her drink (share of water)!” (v. 11 – 13)
But they call him a liar
And hamstrung her!
God then destroyed them for their rebellion
Reduced to rubble!
God is not fearful of the consequences (of His dealings)! (v. 14 -15)
1This verses and the next two verses can also be rendered as He (God) constructs or expands or perfects, but some commentators feels that God does not swear by himself. Therefore, I have rendered them as written above, conveying the same meaning focusing on the natural state rather than the Actor (God in this case)
2See 27:48
