The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

This Meccan sura connects grammatically with the previous one’s account of
how God defeated the threat to Mecca posed by Abraha, so making it safe for
the tribe of Quraysh to continue their trading journeys.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1[He did this] to make the Quraysh feel secure,
a
2secure in their
winter and summer journeys.
b
3So let them worship the Lord of this
House:
c
4who provides them with food to ward off hunger, safety to
ward o
ff fear.
a
Or ‘so that their covenants of security [from their neighbours should continue]’ or
‘so that they should remain accustomed to their trade journeys, and not stop them’.
b
Their two annual trade caravans –– to Yemen in winter and to Syria in summer –– on
which the prosperity of the Quraysh depended.
c
The Ka
 ba.
(
438)

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107. COMMON KINDNESSES
A Meccan sura describing some characteristics of a person who denies the
Judgement.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1[Prophet], have you considered the person who denies the Judge-
ment?
2It is he who pushes aside the orphan 3and does not urge
others to feed the needy. 
4So woe to those who pray 5but are heedless
of their prayer; 
6those who are all show 7and forbid common
kindnesses.
(
439)

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108. ABUNDANCE
When the Prophet lost his last son, an opponent who hated him taunted him
with being ‘cut o
ff’ without posterity. This Meccan sura comes to reassure the
Prophet and as a retort to his enemy.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1We have truly given abundance
a
to you [Prophet] ––
2so pray to your
Lord and make your sacri
fice to Him alone––3it is the one who hates
you who has been cut o
ff.
a
The word kawthar, ‘abundance’, is also interpreted here as referring to a speci
fic
river in Paradise.
(
440)

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109. THE DISBELIEVERS
Some of the Meccan idolaters suggested to the Prophet as a compromise that he
should worship their gods for a year and they should worship his for a year. This
was the reply.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1Say [Prophet], ‘Disbelievers: 2I do not worship what you worship,
3you do not worship what I worship, 4I will never worship what you
worship, 
5you will never worship what I worship:
a
6you have your
religion and I have mine.’
a
If you keep to your present gods (see Zamakhshari, al-Kashshaf, vol. iv).
(
441)

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110. HELP
A Medinan sura said to be one of the last revelations the Prophet received
before his death.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1When God’s help comes and He opens up
a
your way [Prophet],
2when you see people embracing God’s faith in crowds, 3celebrate
the praise of your Lord and ask His forgiveness: He is always ready
to accept repentance.
a
This sura is mainly understood by interpreters to refer to the surrender of Mecca to
the Prophet. Accordingly many translate the word fath as ‘victory’, although there was
no
fighting. See also Sura 48, Surat al-Fath. Fath in classical Arabic means ‘opening’ or
‘decision’. In a prayer, the Prophet says, ‘Lord, open the gates of your Mercy for me.’
Sura 
1 is called al-Fatiha, as it opens the Quran. In 7: 89, iftah means ‘decide between us
and our enemy’.
(
442)

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111. PALM FIBRE