NAME: الطور, At-Tur.
Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word “Tur”.
١ وَالطُّورِ
1 By the mount
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: The Mountain.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 52
SURAH TUR TOTAL VERSES: 49
SURAH TUR TOTAL WORDS: 312
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 236
TOTAL LETTERS: 1,324
REVELATION PERIOD:
Meccan, Approx. 614 – 616 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Prophet Muhammad, Tur, Book, Populated House, Hurs/Hoors, Servant Boys, Disbelievers.
SURAH TUR MAIN TOPICS:
Swear By Tur/Mount, Book, Populated House that Punishment Will Occur, Description of Hell and Paradise, Challenge To Produce A Statement Like Quran, Prayer Timings.
SURAH TUR KEY VERSES:
٤ وَالْبَيْتِ الْمَعْمُورِ
4 And [by] the frequented House
٥ وَالسَّقْفِ الْمَرْفُوعِ
5 And [by] the heaven raised high
٦ وَالْبَحْرِ الْمَسْجُورِ
6 And [by] the sea filled [with fire],
٢١ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَاتَّبَعَتْهُمْ ذُرِّيَّتُهُمْ بِإِيمَانٍ أَلْحَقْنَا بِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَمَا أَلَتْنَاهُمْ مِنْ عَمَلِهِمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ ۚ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ بِمَا كَسَبَ رَهِينٌ
21 And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith – We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.
٤٨ وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا ۖ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ
48 And be patient, [O Muhammad], for the decision of your Lord, for indeed, you are in Our eyes. And exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord when you arise.
٤٩ وَمِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَسَبِّحْهُ وَإِدْبَارَ النُّجُومِ
49 And in a part of the night exalt Him and after [the setting of] the stars.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-6(Swear By Tur/Mount, Book, Populated House, High Roof, Boiling Sea: That The Punishment Will Occur), 7-16(Description Of Last Day, This Is The Fire Which You Used To Deny, Enter In It), 17-24(Righteous In Paradise: God Wed Them With Maidens With Gorgeous Eyes, Also Raised Their Children To That Level Verse21, Fruit And Meat, Servant Boys), 25-28(Their Dialogues With Eachother), 29(Muhammad Is Not A Poet Or Mad), 32-47(Challenge To Produce A Statement Like Quran, Warnings To Disbelievers; Were They Created By Themselves, Or They Have Knowledge Of Unseen,Leave Them Until They Meet Their Day), 48-49(Namaz/Prayer Timings)
SURAH TUR BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACK GROUND:
This Surah has 49 verses divided into 2 Rukus/Sections. It takes its name from verse 1: وَالطُّورِ. In which God takes an oath by Mount Tur. It is a mountain and the region where God spoke to Prophet Moses. This Surah was revealed in Mecca almost the same time period as that of Surah Qaf and Dhariyat around 3rd to 5th year after Prophet Muhammad’s declaration of his prophethood.
The Surah mainly deals with the depiction of the Last Day and the Judgement. It also admonishes deniers for rejecting the message of God and also challenge them to produce a statement like the Quran. In the last section from verse 29-49, the Meccans were admonished for their denial of Prophet Muhammad and their calling him a madman, a magician, and a poet.
Malik narrated from Jubayr bin Mutim, “I heard Prophet of God reciting Surat Tur while praying Maghrib. Indeed, I have never heard a more charming voice or reading than his recitation.” This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs using a chain of narration that includes Malik. Bukhari recorded that Umm Salamah said, “I complained of being ill to the Messenger of God, and he said,
طُوفِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ النَّاسِ وَأَنْتِ رَاكِبَة
Perform Tawaf of Kaabah behind the crowd while you are riding. So, I performed Tawaf while the Prophet of God was praying beside the House, reciting Surah Tur.
