INTRODUCTION TO SŪRAT YŪNUS (QUR-ĀN CHAPTER 10)

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*INTRODUCTION TO SŪRAT YŪNUS (QUR-ĀN CHAPTER 10)*

Chronologically this Sūra and the five that follow (chapter xi, xii, xiii, xiv, and xv) are closely connected, and were revealed in the late Makkan period, as the great event of the Hijrat was gradually approaching down the stream of Time. But their chronology has no particular significance.

On the other hand their arrangement in the gradation of Qur-ānic teaching fits in with the subject-matter. Qur-ān Chapter viii, and Qur-ān Chapter ix, were mainly concerned with the first questions that arose on the formation of the new and organised Community of Islam in its conflict with those who wished to suppress or destroy it or use force to prevent its growth and the consolidation of its ideals. See Introduction to those Sūras. The present group leads us to the questions that face us when external hostility has been met, and our relations to Almighty ALLĀH have to be considered from a higher stand-point than that of self-preservation. How does revelation work? What is the meaning of divine grace and its withdrawal? How do the Messengers of Almighty ALLĀH deliver their messenger? How should we receive it?

All these questions revolve round the revelation of the Qur-ān and each Sūra of this group except the 13th has the Abbreviation Letters A.L.R. attached to it. Qur-ān Chapter viii, has the letters A.L.M.R., and we shall discuss this variation when we come to Qur-ān chapter xiii.

Let us now consider Qur-ān chapter x, alone. The central theme is that ALLĀH's wonderful Creation must not be viewed by us as a creation of material things only, once made and finished with. Most wonderful of all is how He reveals Himself to men through Prophets and Scriptures; how Prophets are rejected by men, and the Message disbelieved until it is too late for repentance; and how, as in the case of Yūnus (Jonah) and his people, even the rejection (when repentance supervenes) does not prevent ALLĀH's grace and mercy from working, and how far that working is beyond man's comprehension.

*SUMMARY OF SŪRAT YŪNUS (QUR-ĀN CHAPTER 10)*

The wonderful working of the Creator through man by revelation seems like magic to men; yet they could find Signs and Messages from Him in the sun and the moon and the constantly varying yet regular phenomenon of nature, from which man should take a lesson of constancy and Faith (Qur-ān Chapter 10, Verses 1-20).

All the goodness or beauty that man meets in the life around him proceeds from Almighty ALLĀH (Sub-haanahu wata'aala). Yet man is blind and will not understand (Qur-ān Chapter 10, Verses 21-40).

As all things and beings proceed from Almighty ALLĀH (Sub-haanahu wata'aala), so will they return to Him, and He is ever true. Why then does ungrateful man make untrue phantoms for himself instead of rejoicing in the good news which He sends? (Qur-ān Chapter 10, Verses 41-70).

Almighty ALLĀH revealed Himself through Noah, but Noah's people rejected him and perished. He spoke through Moses to Pharaoh, but Pharaoh was stiff necked and arrogant, and when he repented at all, it was too late (Qur-ān chapter 10, verses 71-92).

Everywhere want of faith causes people to perish. But the people of Yūnus repented, and Almighty ALLĀH saved them by His wonderful grace. So ALLĀH will deliver the Believers. When the Truth comes from ALLĀH (Sub-haanahu wata'aala), follow it and be patient, for ALLĀH is the most righteous of judges (Qur-ān chapter 10, 93-109).