QURAN SUMMARY: ASH SHURA

Surah Shura Background And Summary of Main Topics.

Surah Shura Statistics: Total Number of Verses, Revelation Period, Main Characters, Theme And Key Verses.

NAME: الشورى, Ash-Shura.

Name taken from Verse 38 where there is a mention of the word “Ash-Shura”.

٣٨  وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ
38  And those who have responded to their lord and established prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what We have provided them, they spend.

But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.

ENGLISH NAME: Counsel.

CHAPTER NUMBER: 42

SURAH SHURA TOTAL VERSES: 53

SURAH SHURA TOTAL WORDS: 860

TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 462

TOTAL LETTERS: 3,522

REVELATION PERIOD:

Meccan, Approx. 614 – 617 AD.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

God, Angels, Prophet Muhammad, Nuh, Ibrahim, Moses And Jesus, Mankind.

SURAH SHURA MAIN TOPICS:

Quran Arabic To Warn The Mother Of Cities, Muhammad Sent With Same Religion Ordered To Previous Prophets, If God Extended Provision, People Would Have Become Tyrant, Afflictions Befall are Result Of Your Own Deeds, Children Female Male Or No Children All By God’s Will, Not Possible For Man To Speak Directly With Allah Except By 3 Ways.

SURAH SHURA KEY VERSES:

٥  تَكَادُ السَّمَاوَاتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْ فَوْقِهِنَّ ۚ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

5  The heavens almost break from above them, and the angels exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on earth. Unquestionably, it is Allah who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

١٤  وَمَا تَفَرَّقُوا إِلَّا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَهُمُ الْعِلْمُ بَغْيًا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتْ مِنْ رَبِّكَ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُورِثُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ لَفِي شَكٍّ مِنْهُ مُرِيبٍ

14  And they did not become divided until after knowledge had come to them – out of jealous animosity between themselves. And if not for a word that preceded from your Lord [postponing the penalty] until a specified time, it would have been concluded between them. And indeed, those who were granted inheritance of the Scripture after them are, concerning it, in disquieting doubt.

٢٩  وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَثَّ فِيهِمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ جَمْعِهِمْ إِذَا يَشَاءُ قَدِيرٌ

29  And of his signs is the creation of the heavens and earth and what He has dispersed throughout them of creatures. And He, for gathering them when He wills, is competent.

٣٠  وَمَا أَصَابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ

30  And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have earned; but He pardons much.

٤٩  لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ يَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ إِنَاثًا وَيَهَبُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ الذُّكُورَ

49  To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; He creates what he wills. He gives to whom He wills female [children], and He gives to whom He wills males.

٥٠  أَوْ يُزَوِّجُهُمْ ذُكْرَانًا وَإِنَاثًا ۖ وَيَجْعَلُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ عَقِيمًا ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ

50  Or He makes them [both] males and females, and He renders whom He wills barren. Indeed, He is Knowing and Competent.

SUMMARY OF TOPICS

1-10(The Heavens Might Break From Above Them If Angles Were Not Asking Forgiveness For Those On Earth, Quran Arabic To Warn The Mother Of Cities), 11-12(All Keys Of Universe Are With Him, Extends And Restricts Provision Of Whom He Wills) 13-14(Muhammad Sent With Same Religion Ordered To Nuh, Ibrahim, Moses And Jesus, All Mankind Divided After Knowledge Had Come To Them Out Of Jealous Animosity), 15-20(Those Who Wants Worldly Life Will Be Given Some Of It, But No Share In Hereafter), 24(Muhammad Has Not Invented A Lie Against Allah, God Could Sealed His Heart Otherwise), 27(If God Extended Provision, People Would Have Become Tyrant, He Sends In Due Measure), 28-29(Allah’s Signs: Creation, Dispersing Of Creatures In Whole Universe), 30(Whatever Afflictions Befall IsThe Result Of Your Own Deeds), 32-33(Allah’s Signs: Ship, Sea And Wind), 34-48(Tidings Of Rewards And Punishment), 49-50(God Gives To Whom He Wills Children Female Male Or Makes Some Barren), 51(Not Possible For Man To Speak Directly With Allah Except By 3 Ways: Revelation or from behind a partition or that He sends a messenger), 52(Muhammad Knew Nothing About This Book Before).

SURAH SHURA BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACK GROUND:

This Surah has 53 verses divided into 5 Rukus/Sections. Name of the Surah comes from a word “Ash Shura” in verse 38 which means consultation. As discussed in previous Surah summary this surah is a part of seven Surahs of Quran starting from Surah Ghafir and ending at Surah Ahqaf  that begin with the word “حم”.  These letters are called Mystery Abbreviated Letters OR Hurrof Al Muqattat. A brief introduction of which is already given in Quran Statistics & Facts.

This Surah revealed in Mecca the same time as of Surah Ghafir and Fussilat before migration of Habsha Abyssinia took place. This Surah speaks about the reason of sending Quran and that the religion with which Muhammad has been sent is the same religion given to previous prophets. The surah describes the signs and powers of God’s sovereignty throughtougt the heaven and earth and within human beings.  It is told that God has kept the destinies of the people in His own hand. The Prophet has come only to arouse the heedless and guide the strayed ones to the Right Path. But you have given full right to either accept or reject this guidance but in that case be ready to meet with the same fate which has been destined by God for such criminals.

The Prophet PBUH said that the one who recites Surah Shura will be from among those people on whom the angels send greetings and pray for their forgiveness.