Surah Ash-Shura

Surah Ash-Shura is the 42nd surah of the Quran. It is a Makki surah, the third of the seven surahs which begin with «حٰمٓ» (Ghafir to Al-Ahqaf). It calls to tawhid, risalah and akhirah, and gives the believers a picture of the community Islam wants: one religion, no splitting, consultation, forgiveness and prayer.

Why is it called Ash-Shura?

In describing the believers, Allah says that their affairs are run by «شُوْرٰى» (mutual consultation) (42:38). The surah is named after this word. It is a sign that consultation is a basic part of a believing community's life.

Period and background of revelation (shan-e-nuzul)

There is no single incident of revelation for this surah. It came in Makkah in the middle of the Makki period, when the Quraish rejected the Prophet (ﷺ), said he had invented the Quran (42:24), argued about the Hour (42:17 to 18), and the earlier communities were also in doubt and division about their Books (42:14). The surah answers these objections: the Quran is revelation like the earlier revelations (42:3), the religion of all prophets is one (42:13), the Hour is certain (42:7, 17), and the Prophet (ﷺ) asks no payment, only that they respect kinship (42:23).

Central theme and main topics

The central theme is the call to tawhid, risalah and akhirah, with the message that Allah's religion is one for all prophets and the believers must hold to it without division.

• Revelation to Muhammad (ﷺ) and the earlier prophets; warning to Makkah (42:1 to 7).
• Allah's attributes: nothing is like Him; the keys of the heavens and earth are with Him (42:11 to 12).
• The one religion of all prophets: establish it, do not divide (42:13 to 16).
• The Hour, the harvest of the Hereafter and of this world (42:17 to 20).
• Allah's mercy: repentance, answering prayers, provision by measure, rain, calamity from our own deeds, the ships (42:25 to 35).
• The qualities of the people of faith and trust, consultation, defence against wrong, forgiveness (42:36 to 43).
• The Day of Judgement and the state of the wrongdoers (42:44 to 48).
• Children as Allah's gift; the three ways in which Allah speaks to man; the Quran a light (42:49 to 53).

The surah opens by saying that the Prophet (ﷺ) receives revelation in the same way as the prophets before him (42:3). The purpose of this Arabic Quran is to warn «اُمَّ الْقُرٰى» (the Mother of Towns, Makkah) and those around it, and to warn of the Day of Assembly about which there is no doubt (42:7).

The three ways of Allah's speech (42:51)

In ayah 52 Allah says that He revealed a «رُوْح» (the Quran) to the Prophet (ﷺ) by His command. Before it he did not know what the Book or faith was, and Allah made it a light by which He guides whom He wills; the Prophet (ﷺ) guides to the straight path of Allah (42:52 to 53).

Teachings

• The Quran is real revelation, the same way of guidance as for the earlier prophets.
• The Prophet's duty is to convey and warn; he is not a guardian over people (42:48).
• Revelation is a light; guidance comes through it.

Allah has ordained for the Prophet's community the same religion that He enjoined upon Hazrat Nuh (AS), upon Hazrat Ibrahim (AS), upon Hazrat Musa (AS) and Hazrat Isa (AS), and which He revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The command is: «أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ» (establish the religion and do not be divided in it). The shari'ahs differ in detail but the base is one: tawhid, risalah, akhirah and good character.

• The idolaters found this call hard to bear (42:13).
• Allah chooses («يَجْتَبِيْ») for Himself whom He wills and guides to Himself whoever turns back to Him (42:13).
• People split only after knowledge had come to them, out of jealousy and rivalry between themselves (42:14).
• The Prophet (ﷺ) is told: invite to this religion, stand firm as you are commanded, do not follow their desires, and say that you believe in what Allah revealed and are commanded to do justice among them (42:15).
• 'Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no argument between us and you. Allah will gather us, and to Him is the return' (42:15).
• Those who dispute about Allah after the call has been accepted have a worthless argument, His wrath and a severe punishment (42:16).

Lessons

• Muslims must hold to the Book and Sunnah together and avoid sects built on rivalry.
• Calling to Allah requires firmness and justice, not following the desires of others.
• Each person is answerable for his own deeds.

The first ruku and the start of the second ruku place tawhid before the reader through Allah's attributes.

• Everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him; He is the Most High, the Most Great (42:4).
• The heavens almost («تَكَادُ») break apart from above, because of Allah's majesty and, as the commentators explain (compare 19:90 to 91), because of the terrible things people say against Him, such as ascribing children or partners to Him; the angels glorify Allah with His praise and ask forgiveness for those on earth (42:5). He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
• Allah alone is the true Protector (Wali) who gives life to the dead (42:9); He watches over those who take other protectors besides Him (42:6).
• Every disagreement is referred to Allah for decision (42:10).
• He is the Creator of the heavens and earth, made pairs for you and among cattle to multiply you. «لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ»: there is nothing like Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing (42:11).
• The keys of the heavens and earth are with Him; He gives plentiful provision to whom He wills and restricts it for whom He wills (42:12).

Provision by measure

• Allah is «لَطِيفٌ» (kind and subtle) with His servants and gives provision to whom He wills (42:19).
• If Allah gave unlimited provision to all, they would rebel on earth; He sends it down by a measure He wills, being aware of His servants (42:27).
• The seeker of the Hereafter's harvest gets it increased; the seeker of the world's harvest gets some of it but has no share in the Hereafter (42:20).
• Allah sends down the rain after people had despaired and spreads His mercy (42:28).

Calamity comes from what our hands earned

• Whatever disaster strikes you is because of what your hands have earned, and He pardons much (42:30).
• You cannot escape Allah on earth, and you have no protector or helper besides Him (42:31).
• The authentic hadith adds that every hardship that touches a believer, even a thorn, becomes a means of expiating his sins (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). So a believer takes a trouble as a reminder to repent and as a means of reward.

Signs for the patient and grateful

The ships on the sea, like mountains, are one of Allah's signs. If He willed He could still the wind so they stood motionless, or destroy them for what people earned, though He pardons much. In these are signs for everyone patient and grateful (42:32 to 35). The creation of the heavens and earth and the creatures He spread in them is another sign (42:29).

Lessons

• Do not complain about the share of provision; Allah gives by wisdom.
• Prefer the Hereafter's harvest to this world's.
• When trouble comes, repent and be patient; when blessed, be grateful.

After saying that worldly goods are only the enjoyment of this life while what is with Allah is better and more lasting, Allah describes who will get it: «لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ», those who believe and put their trust in their Lord (42:36). Then follow their qualities.

Consultation (shura)

Their affairs are decided by consultation among themselves (42:38). Allah also told the Prophet (ﷺ) to consult the Companions in matters (3:159), and he did so, for example before the battle of Badr. A community which consults avoids the pride of one man's opinion and uses the wisdom of many.

Justice and forgiveness

Islam allows a person to take back the wrong done to him in equal measure, with no blame on him (42:40 to 41), but it raises forgiveness above revenge: whoever pardons and reforms, his reward is with Allah. The blame is only on those who wrong others and rebel on earth without right (42:42). Patience and forgiveness are of the matters of firm resolve (42:43).

Praiseworthy and blameworthy deeds in 42:37 to 38

• Praiseworthy: forgiving when angry, responding to the Lord, establishing prayer, consultation, spending in Allah's way.
• Blameworthy (to be avoided): major sins and indecencies.

Lessons for us

• Keep away from major sins and shameful acts.
• Control anger and forgive; do not let revenge rule.
• Take decisions in the family, mosque and nation by consultation.
• Be regular in prayer and give charity from your provision.
• Put your trust in Allah, not in wealth.

• Allah sent down the Book in truth and the balance («الْمِيزَانَ», justice); the Hour may be near (42:17).
• Disbelievers are impatient for the Hour, mocking; the believers are fearful («مُشْفِقُوْنَ») of it and know it is true (42:18).
• Wrongdoers will be fearful of what they earned and it will befall them, while the believers will be in the meadows of the Gardens (42:22).
• The wrongdoers, seeing the punishment, will ask: is there any way back? (42:44).
• They will be brought to the Fire humbled in disgrace, looking with a stealthy glance; the believers will say the real losers are those who lost themselves and their families (42:45).
• No helper will come to them against Allah (42:46).
• The call: respond to your Lord before the Day which cannot be turned back (42:47).

If they turn away, the Prophet (ﷺ) is not a guardian over them; only conveying the message is his duty (42:48). Man is ungrateful: he rejoices when given mercy and is ungrateful when a harm comes through what his hands sent forward.

These ayat remind that the dominion of the heavens and earth is Allah's. He creates what He wills: He gives daughters to whom He wills and sons to whom He wills (42:49), or He gives both sons and daughters, and He makes whom He wills barren (42:50). He is the All-Knowing and the All-Powerful. The Arabs of that time disliked daughters; these ayat teach that the gender of a child is Allah's decision and a gift.

• Accept Allah's decision with thanks, whether sons, daughters, both or none.
• Do not blame the mother for the sex of a child; it is not in human hands.

Ruku 1 (ayat 1 to 9): the opening letters (42:1 to 2); revelation to Muhammad (ﷺ) and those before him (42:3); all belongs to Allah (42:4); the heavens almost break and the angels seek forgiveness for those on earth (42:5); the Prophet is not a manager over those who take other allies (42:6); the Arabic Quran to warn the Mother of Towns and the Day of Assembly (42:7); if Allah willed He would have made them one community (42:8); only Allah is the Protector (42:9).

Teachings

• Allah sends the same revelation to all prophets.
• The Quran warns Makkah and the world of the Day of Assembly.
• Take Allah alone as your protector.

Ruku 2 (ayat 10 to 19): disputes are referred to Allah (42:10); nothing is like Him (42:11); the keys of the heavens and earth and provision by measure (42:12); one religion for Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and the Prophet (ﷺ) (42:13); people divided after knowledge came (42:14); the Prophet is told to invite and be firm (42:15); the argument of those who dispute is invalid (42:16); the Book and the balance, the Hour may be near (42:17); the believers fear it (42:18); Allah is kind to His servants (42:19).

Teachings

• Establish the one religion and avoid division.
• Fear the Hour and prepare for it.
• Refer disputes to Allah's guidance.

Ruku 3 (ayat 20 to 29): the harvest of the Hereafter and of this world (42:20); false lawgivers who ordain a religion Allah did not permit (42:21); the wrongdoers fear and the believers are in Gardens (42:22); the Prophet asks no payment except love through kinship (42:23); the charge of invention is answered (42:24); Allah accepts repentance and answers the believers' prayers (42:25 to 26); provision is by measure so that people do not rebel (42:27); the rain (42:28); creation as a sign (42:29).

Teachings

• Seek the Hereafter first.
• Only Allah may make laws for religion.
• Allah accepts repentance and answers prayers.

Ruku 4 (ayat 30 to 43): calamity comes from what your hands earned and Allah pardons much (42:30); you cannot escape Him (42:31); the ships like mountains and the wind (42:32 to 34); the disputers have no escape (42:35); this world's goods are only enjoyment, what is with Allah is better for the believers who trust Him (42:36); avoiding major sins and forgiving in anger (42:37); responding to the Lord, prayer, consultation, spending (42:38); defending against wrong (42:39); equal retaliation and forgiveness (42:40); no blame on one who takes his due (42:41); blame on the oppressors (42:42); patience and forgiveness (42:43).

Teachings

• Own your faults when calamity comes.
• Live by consultation, prayer, charity and forgiveness.
• Patience and forgiveness show great resolve.

Ruku 5 (ayat 44 to 53): no protector for the one Allah leaves astray, the wrongdoers ask for a way back (42:44); they are shown to the Fire humbled (42:45); no helper for them (42:46); respond before the Day that cannot be turned back (42:47); the Prophet's duty is only to convey; man's ingratitude (42:48); sons, daughters, both or none (42:49 to 50); the three ways of Allah's speech (42:51); the Quran as a light and the straight path of Allah (42:52 to 53); all matters return to Allah (42:53).

Teachings

• Accept Allah's call before the Day arrives.
• Children are a gift of Allah.
• The Quran is a light which guides to the straight path.

• Ash-Shura is the 42nd surah, Makki, 53 ayat, 5 rukus, para 25.
• Ruku boundaries: 1 to 9, 10 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 43, 44 to 53.
• The name comes from «شُوْرٰى» (consultation) in 42:38.
• It is the third of the seven Ha-Mim surahs (Ghafir 40, Fussilat 41, Ash-Shura 42, Az-Zukhruf 43, Ad-Dukhan 44, Al-Jathiyah 45, Al-Ahqaf 46).
• 42:5: the heavens almost («تَكَادُ») break apart from above; the angels glorify Allah and ask forgiveness for those on earth.
• 42:7: the Quran is Arabic to warn «اُمَّ الْقُرٰى» (Makkah) and those around it and warn of the Day of Assembly.
• 42:11: «لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ», there is nothing like Him; He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
• 42:13: the same religion for Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad (peace be upon them); establish it and do not divide; Allah chooses («يَجْتَبِيْ») whom He wills.
• 42:18: the believers are fearful («مُشْفِقُوْنَ») of the Hour.
• 42:23: the Prophet (ﷺ) asks no payment, only love through kinship.
• 42:27: if provision were unlimited, people would rebel on earth.
• 42:30: calamity comes from what your hands have earned; Allah pardons much.
• 42:32: the ships like mountains are a sign for the patient and grateful.
• 42:37 to 38: avoid major sins and indecencies, forgive in anger, respond to the Lord, establish prayer, decide by consultation, spend.
• 42:40: the recompense of an evil is an evil like it; whoever pardons and reforms, his reward is with Allah.
• 42:43: patience and forgiveness are of the matters of firm resolve.
• 42:49 to 50: Allah gives daughters, sons, both, or makes barren.
• 42:51: Allah speaks to man by revelation, from behind a partition, or by sending a messenger.
• The 80-list words: «شُوْرٰى» (consultation), «مُشْفِقُوْنَ» (fearful), «يَجْتَبِيْ» (He chooses), «اُمَّ الْقُرٰى» (Mother of Towns, Makkah), «تَكَادُ» (it is about to).