Surah Al-Ankabut | Al Quran

Introduction

Period of Revelation

This Surah was revealed shortly before the Muslims' migration to Habash during the middle stage of the Prophet's residence at Makkah during extreme persecution of the Muslims.

Major Issues, Divine Laws, and Guidance

Allah tests the Believers to see who is truthful and who is a liar.Be kind to parents but do not obey them in matters of shirk (associating anyone else with Allah).Those who say: "Follow us, we will bear your burden on the Day of Judgement," are liars.The Prophet Nuh admonished his people for 950 years not to commit shirk.The Prophet Ibrahim admonished his people not to commit shirk, for which they tried to burn him alive, but Allah saved him.The Nations of 'Ad, Thamud, Madyan and Fir'on rejected the Rasools of Allah, as a result Allah destroyed them all.Parable of those who take protectors other than Allah, is that of the dwelling of a spider and the fact that the weakest of all the dwellings is the dwelling of a spider.

Theme

This Surah strengthens the faith of sincere Muslims and admonishes those who were showing weakness in their faith. This Surah also addresses those questions which some young men were facing in those days, whose parents were urging them to abandon Islam and return to their ancestral religion.The Muslims are instructed: "If you feel that the persecution has become unbearable for you, you should give up your homes instead of giving up your faith. Allah's earth is vast: seek a new place where you can worship Allah with full peace of mind."

The disbelievers are urged to understand Islam. The realities of Tawhid (Oneness of God) and the Hereafter are presented with rational arguments, shirk is refuted, and their attention is drawn towards the signs in the universe; they are told that all these signs conform to the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).