Overview - Surah 52: at-Tur (The Mount)

The Surah speaks about the mission of Prophet Muhammad (saw).  He came to warn people about the consequences of their denial of faith and deeds of injustice and indecency. Those who are in doubt of his message let them produce a similar message.  Let them also produce any proofs supporting their wrong beliefs.

Sections:

1. Warnings about Allah's coming punishment for the disbelievers.  Reward for the Believers.
2. Questions to the disbelievers about their false beliefs. What are the evidences and proofs of these false beliefs? 

The Surah takes its name after the first Ayat, وَالطُّورِ "By the mount" (52:1).

There are 49 Ayat in this Surah.

The Surah speaks about the mission of Prophet Muhammad (saw).  He came to warn people about the consequences of their denial of faith and deeds of injustice and indecency. Those who are in doubt of his message let them produce a similar message.  Let them also produce any proofs supporting their wrong beliefs.

Sections:

1. Warnings about Allah's coming punishment for the disbelievers.  Reward for the Believers.
2. Questions to the disbelievers about their false beliefs. What are the evidences and proofs of these false beliefs? 

The Surah takes its name after the first Ayat, وَالطُّورِ "By the mount" (52:1).

There are 49 Ayat in this Surah.

The subject matter of its first section (v. 1-28) is the Hereafter. As arguments for its possibility, necessity and occurrence had already been given in Surah 51: adh-Dhariyat, these have not been repeated here. However, swearing an oath by some realities and signs which testify to the Hereafter, it has been stated most emphatically that it will surely come to pass, and none has the power to prevent its occurrence. Then, it has been stated as to what will be the fate of those who deny it when it actually occurs, and how will those who believe in it and adopt the way of piety and righteousness accordingly, be blessed by God.

Then, in the second section (v. 29-49) the Quraysh chiefs’ attitude towards the message of the Prophet has been criticized. They called him a sorcerer, a madman, or a poet, and would thus mislead the common people against him so that they should not pay any serious attention to the message he preached. They looked upon him as a calamity that had suddenly descended on them and would openly wish that he met with a disaster so that they were rid of him. They accused him of fabricating the Qur’an by himself and of presenting it in the name of God, and this was, God forbid, a fraud that he was practicing. They would often taunt him, saying that God could not have appointed an ordinary man like him to the office of Prophethood. They expressed great disgust at his invitation and message and would avoid him as if he was asking them for a reward for it. They would sit and take counsels together to devise schemes in order to put an end to his mission. And while they did all this they never realised what creeds of ignorance they were involved in and how selflessly and sincerely was Muhammad exerting himself to deliver them from their error. While criticizing them for this attitude and conduct, God has put to them certain questions, one after the other, each of which is either an answer to some objection of theirs, or a criticism of some error. Then, it has been said that it would absolutely be of no avail to show them a miracle in order to convince them of his Prophethood, for they were such stubborn people as would misinterpret anything they were shown only to avoid affirming the faith.

In the beginning of this section as well as in its end, the Prophet has been given the instruction that he should persistently continue giving his invitation and preaching his message in spite of the accusations and objections of his opponents and enemies, and should endure their resistance patiently till God’s judgment comes to pass. Besides, he has been consoled, as if to say “Your Lord has not left you alone to face your enemies, after raising you as a Prophet, but He is constantly watching over you. Therefore, endure every hardship patiently till the Hour of His judgment comes, and seek through praising and glorifying your Lord the power that is required for exerting in the cause of God under such conditions.”

The subject matter of its first section (v. 1-28) is the Hereafter. As arguments for its possibility, necessity and occurrence had already been given in Surah 51: adh-Dhariyat, these have not been repeated here. However, swearing an oath by some realities and signs which testify to the Hereafter, it has been stated most emphatically that it will surely come to pass, and none has the power to prevent its occurrence. Then, it has been stated as to what will be the fate of those who deny it when it actually occurs, and how will those who believe in it and adopt the way of piety and righteousness accordingly, be blessed by God.

Then, in the second section (v. 29-49) the Quraysh chiefs’ attitude towards the message of the Prophet has been criticized. They called him a sorcerer, a madman, or a poet, and would thus mislead the common people against him so that they should not pay any serious attention to the message he preached. They looked upon him as a calamity that had suddenly descended on them and would openly wish that he met with a disaster so that they were rid of him. They accused him of fabricating the Qur’an by himself and of presenting it in the name of God, and this was, God forbid, a fraud that he was practicing. They would often taunt him, saying that God could not have appointed an ordinary man like him to the office of Prophethood. They expressed great disgust at his invitation and message and would avoid him as if he was asking them for a reward for it. They would sit and take counsels together to devise schemes in order to put an end to his mission. And while they did all this they never realised what creeds of ignorance they were involved in and how selflessly and sincerely was Muhammad exerting himself to deliver them from their error. While criticizing them for this attitude and conduct, God has put to them certain questions, one after the other, each of which is either an answer to some objection of theirs, or a criticism of some error. Then, it has been said that it would absolutely be of no avail to show them a miracle in order to convince them of his Prophethood, for they were such stubborn people as would misinterpret anything they were shown only to avoid affirming the faith.

In the beginning of this section as well as in its end, the Prophet has been given the instruction that he should persistently continue giving his invitation and preaching his message in spite of the accusations and objections of his opponents and enemies, and should endure their resistance patiently till God’s judgment comes to pass. Besides, he has been consoled, as if to say “Your Lord has not left you alone to face your enemies, after raising you as a Prophet, but He is constantly watching over you. Therefore, endure every hardship patiently till the Hour of His judgment comes, and seek through praising and glorifying your Lord the power that is required for exerting in the cause of God under such conditions.”

• Surah adh-Dhariyat and Surah at-Tur have Ayat towards the end that speak about the Dhalimeen. 
  
  فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ذَنُوبًا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَابِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ "And indeed, for those who have wronged is a portion [of punishment] like the portion of their predecessors, so let them not impatiently urge Me." (51:59)
  وَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا عَذَابًا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ  "And indeed, for those who have wronged is a punishment before that, but most of them do not know." (51:47)
   
• Surah adh-Dhariyat and Surah at-Tur instruct the Prophet to turn away from the Disbelievers
  
  فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَمَا أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍ  وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ "So leave them, [O Muhammad], for you are not to be blamed. And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers." (51:54-55)
  فَذَرْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَاقُوا يَوْمَهُمُ الَّذِي فِيهِ يُصْعَقُونَ "So leave them until they meet their Day in which they will be struck insensible -" (52:45)
   
• The last Ayat of Surah at-Tur mentions 'an-Najm' [The Stars]. The following Surah is called Surah an-Najm [The Stars].  
• Allah Almighty describes the Qur'an as 'Hadeeth' in both Surah at-Tur and Surah an-Najm:
  
  فَلْيَأْتُوا بِحَدِيثٍ مِّثْلِهِ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ "Then let them produce a statement like it, if they should be truthful." (52:34)
  أَفَمِنْ هَـٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ "Then at this statement do you wonder?" (53:59)

• Surah adh-Dhariyat and Surah at-Tur have Ayat towards the end that speak about the Dhalimeen. 
  
  فَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا ذَنُوبًا مِّثْلَ ذَنُوبِ أَصْحَابِهِمْ فَلَا يَسْتَعْجِلُونِ "And indeed, for those who have wronged is a portion [of punishment] like the portion of their predecessors, so let them not impatiently urge Me." (51:59)
  وَإِنَّ لِلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا عَذَابًا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ  "And indeed, for those who have wronged is a punishment before that, but most of them do not know." (51:47)
   
• Surah adh-Dhariyat and Surah at-Tur instruct the Prophet to turn away from the Disbelievers
  
  فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَمَا أَنتَ بِمَلُومٍ  وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ "So leave them, [O Muhammad], for you are not to be blamed. And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers." (51:54-55)
  فَذَرْهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَاقُوا يَوْمَهُمُ الَّذِي فِيهِ يُصْعَقُونَ "So leave them until they meet their Day in which they will be struck insensible -" (52:45)
   
• The last Ayat of Surah at-Tur mentions 'an-Najm' [The Stars]. The following Surah is called Surah an-Najm [The Stars].  
• Allah Almighty describes the Qur'an as 'Hadeeth' in both Surah at-Tur and Surah an-Najm:
  
  فَلْيَأْتُوا بِحَدِيثٍ مِّثْلِهِ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ "Then let them produce a statement like it, if they should be truthful." (52:34)
  أَفَمِنْ هَـٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ تَعْجَبُونَ "Then at this statement do you wonder?" (53:59)

• عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِالطُّورِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ‏{‏أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ * أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بَلْ لاَ يُوقِنُونَ * أَمْ عِنْدَهُمْ خَزَائِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ‏}‏ كَادَ قَلْبِي أَنْ يَطِيرَ‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَإِنَّمَا سَمِعْتُ الزُّهْرِيَّ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِالطُّورِ‏.‏ لَمْ أَسْمَعْهُ زَادَ الَّذِي قَالُوا لِي‏.‏

  Narrated Jubair bin Mut`im, "I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting Surat at-Tur in the Maghrib prayer, and when he reached the Verse: 'Were they created by nothing, Or were they themselves the creators, Or did they create the Heavens and the Earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief Or do they own the treasures of Your Lord? Or have they been given the authority to do as they like...' (52.35-37) my heart was about to fly (when I realized this firm argument)." Bukhari no. 4854

• عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِالطُّورِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ‏{‏أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ * أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بَلْ لاَ يُوقِنُونَ * أَمْ عِنْدَهُمْ خَزَائِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ‏}‏ كَادَ قَلْبِي أَنْ يَطِيرَ‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَإِنَّمَا سَمِعْتُ الزُّهْرِيَّ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِالطُّورِ‏.‏ لَمْ أَسْمَعْهُ زَادَ الَّذِي قَالُوا لِي‏.‏

  Narrated Jubair bin Mut`im, "I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting Surat at-Tur in the Maghrib prayer, and when he reached the Verse: 'Were they created by nothing, Or were they themselves the creators, Or did they create the Heavens and the Earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief Or do they own the treasures of Your Lord? Or have they been given the authority to do as they like...' (52.35-37) my heart was about to fly (when I realized this firm argument)." Bukhari no. 4854

From the internal evidence of the subject matter it appears that this Surah too was revealed in the same stage of the Prophet’s life at Makkah in which the Surah 51: adh-Dhariyat (The Scattering Winds) was revealed. While going through it one can clearly feel that during the period of its revelation the Prophet was being showered with objections and accusations but there is no evidence yet to show that severe persecution of the Muslims had started.

From the internal evidence of the subject matter it appears that this Surah too was revealed in the same stage of the Prophet’s life at Makkah in which the Surah 51: adh-Dhariyat (The Scattering Winds) was revealed. While going through it one can clearly feel that during the period of its revelation the Prophet was being showered with objections and accusations but there is no evidence yet to show that severe persecution of the Muslims had started.

• حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثُونِي عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِالطُّورِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ‏{‏أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ * أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بَلْ لاَ يُوقِنُونَ * أَمْ عِنْدَهُمْ خَزَائِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ‏}‏ كَادَ قَلْبِي أَنْ يَطِيرَ‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَإِنَّمَا سَمِعْتُ الزُّهْرِيَّ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِالطُّورِ‏.‏ لَمْ أَسْمَعْهُ زَادَ الَّذِي قَالُوا لِي‏.‏

  Narrated Jubair bin Mut`im, "I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting Surat at-Tur in the Maghrib prayer, and when he reached the Verse: 'Were they created by nothing, Or were they themselves the creators, Or did they create the Heavens and the Earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief Or do they own the treasures of Your Lord? Or have they been given the authority to do as they like...' (52.35-37) my heart was about to fly (when I realized this firm argument)." Bukhari no. 4854

• حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَتْ شَكَوْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنِّي أَشْتَكِي فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ طُوفِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ النَّاسِ، وَأَنْتِ رَاكِبَةٌ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَطُفْتُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي إِلَى جَنْبِ الْبَيْتِ يَقْرَأُ بِالطُّورِ وَكِتَابٍ مَسْطُورٍ

  Narrated Um Salama, "I complained to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) that I was sick, so he said, "Perform the Tawaf (of Ka`ba at Mecca) while riding behind the people (who are performing the Tawaf on foot)." So I performed the Tawaf while Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was offering the prayer by the side of the Ka`ba and was reciting: 'By the Mount (Saini) and by a Decree Inscribed.'" Bukhari 4853

• حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثُونِي عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِالطُّورِ فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ ‏{‏أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ * أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ بَلْ لاَ يُوقِنُونَ * أَمْ عِنْدَهُمْ خَزَائِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ‏}‏ كَادَ قَلْبِي أَنْ يَطِيرَ‏.‏ قَالَ سُفْيَانُ فَأَمَّا أَنَا فَإِنَّمَا سَمِعْتُ الزُّهْرِيَّ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِالطُّورِ‏.‏ لَمْ أَسْمَعْهُ زَادَ الَّذِي قَالُوا لِي‏.‏

  Narrated Jubair bin Mut`im, "I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting Surat at-Tur in the Maghrib prayer, and when he reached the Verse: 'Were they created by nothing, Or were they themselves the creators, Or did they create the Heavens and the Earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief Or do they own the treasures of Your Lord? Or have they been given the authority to do as they like...' (52.35-37) my heart was about to fly (when I realized this firm argument)." Bukhari no. 4854

• حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ زَيْنَبَ ابْنَةِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَتْ شَكَوْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنِّي أَشْتَكِي فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ طُوفِي مِنْ وَرَاءِ النَّاسِ، وَأَنْتِ رَاكِبَةٌ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَطُفْتُ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُصَلِّي إِلَى جَنْبِ الْبَيْتِ يَقْرَأُ بِالطُّورِ وَكِتَابٍ مَسْطُورٍ

  Narrated Um Salama, "I complained to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) that I was sick, so he said, "Perform the Tawaf (of Ka`ba at Mecca) while riding behind the people (who are performing the Tawaf on foot)." So I performed the Tawaf while Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was offering the prayer by the side of the Ka`ba and was reciting: 'By the Mount (Saini) and by a Decree Inscribed.'" Bukhari 4853

• The bounty and reward of Allah upon the Believer is that He will re-unite him with his loved ones of his family and children in Jannah. (52:21)
• Allah does not combine for the Believer two fears. If he was secure in this world, he will be in fear in the after-life and if he was fearful in this world he will be secure in the after-life. In essence, if the Believer fears for himself, as to what will happen in the after-life as opposed to the disbeliever who is content with this world and absolutely not worried about the life to come. (52:26) (52:28)

• The bounty and reward of Allah upon the Believer is that He will re-unite him with his loved ones of his family and children in Jannah. (52:21)
• Allah does not combine for the Believer two fears. If he was secure in this world, he will be in fear in the after-life and if he was fearful in this world he will be secure in the after-life. In essence, if the Believer fears for himself, as to what will happen in the after-life as opposed to the disbeliever who is content with this world and absolutely not worried about the life to come. (52:26) (52:28)

• Surah 52. At-Tur - Saad al Ghamidi   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es6MBJgftLk&index=52&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN
• Surah 52. At-Tur Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-PNvS3aUwY&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM&index=52
• Surah 52. At-Tur Muhammad Al Luhaydan  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PYjwcOndZY&index=52&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe​
• Idris Akbar Surah Tur  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQK7WNWcEsQ​
• Surah 52. At-Tur Muhammad Minshawi  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4swyN0GDxyA&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=52