This Surah consists of 11 verses, 180 sentences, 720 letters and 2 Rukus.
It is derived from the sentence idha nudiya-lis-salat-i min-yaum-il-Jumu'ati of verse 9. Although in this Surah injunctions about the Friday congregational Prayer also have been given, yet "Jumu'ah" is not the title of its subject-matter as a whole, but this name too, like the names of other Surahs, is only a symbolic title.
The period of the revelation of the first section (vv. 1-8) is A.H. 7, and probably it was sent down on the occasion of the conquest of Khaiber or soon after it. Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i and Ibn Jarir have related on the authority of Hadrat Abu Hurairah that he and other Companions were sitting in the Holy Prophet's assembly when these verses were revealed. About Abu Hurairah it is confirmed historically that he entered Islam after the truce of Hudaibiyah and before the conquest of Khaiber, and Khaiber was conquered, according to Ibn Hisham, in Muharram, and, according to Ibn Sa'd, in Jamadi al-Awwal, A.H. 7. Thus presumably Allah might have sent down these verses, addressing the Jews, when their last stronghold had fallen to the Muslims, or these might have been revealed when, seeing the fate of Khaiber, all the Jewish settlements of northern Hijaz had surrendered to the Islamic government.
The second section (vv. 9-11) was sent down shortly after the emigration, for the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) had established the Friday congregational Prayer on the 5th day after his arrival at Madinah. The incident that has been referred to in the last verse of this section must have occurred at a time when the people had not yet received full training in the etiquette of religious congregations.
As we have explained above, the two sections of this Surah were sent down in two different periods. That is why their themes as well as their audiences are different. Although there is a kind of harmony between them on account of which they have been put together in one Surah, yet we should understand their themes separately before we consider the question of their harmony.
The first section was sent down at a time when all Jewish efforts to obstruct the message of Islam during the past six years had failed. First, in Madinah as many as three of their powerful tribes had done whatever they could to frustrate the mission of the Holy Prophet, with the result that one of the tribes was completely exterminated and the other two were exiled. Then by intrigue and conspiracy they brought many of the Arab tribes together to advance on Madinah, but in the Battle of the Trench they were all repulsed. After this, Khaiber had become their stronghold, where a large number of the Jews expelled from Madinah also had taken refuge. At the time these verses were revealed, that too was taken without any extraordinary effort, and the Jews at their own request agreed to live there as tenants of the Muslims. After this final defeat the Jewish power in Arabia came to an end. Then, Wad-il-Qura, Fadak Taima', Tabuk, all surrendered one after the other, so much so that all Arabian Jews became subdued to the same Islam which they were not prepared to tolerate before. This was the occasion when Allah Almighty once again addressed them in this Surah, and probably this was the last and final address that was directed to them in the Qur'an. In this they have been reminded of three things:
1. "You refused to believe in this Messenger only because he was born among a people whom you contemptuously call the "gentiles". You were under the false delusion that the Messenger must necessarily belong to your own community. You seemed to have been convinced that anyone who claimed to be a prophet from outside your community, must be an impostor for this office had been reserved for your race, and a messenger could never be raised among the "gentiles". But among the same gentiles Allah has raised a Messenger who is reciting His Book in front of your very eyes, is purifying souls, and showing the Right Way to the people whose misdeeds are well known to you . This is Allah's bounty, which He may bestow on anyone He may please. You have no monopoly over it so that He may bestow it over whomever you may please and may withhold it from whomever you may desire it to be withheld."
2. "You had been made bearers of the Torah, but you did not understand your responsibility for it nor discharged it as you should have. You are like the donkey which is loaded with books, and which does not know what burden it is bearing. Rather you are worse than the donkey, for the donkey is devoid of sense, but you are intellligent. You not only shirk your responsibliity of being bearers of Allahs book, but you do not even hesitate to deny Allah's revelations deliberately. Yet, you are under the delusion that you are Allah's favourites and the blessing of apostleship has been reserved for you alone. More than that, you seem to entertain the notion that whether you fulfil the demands of Allah's message or not, Allah in any case is bound not to make any other than you the bearer of His message."
3. "If you really were Allah's favourites and you were sure of having a place of honour and high rank reserved with Him, you would not have feared death so much as to prefer a life of disgrace to death. It is only because of this fear of death that you have suffered humiliation after humiiliation during the past few years. This condition is by itself a proof that you are fully conscious of your misdeeds, and your conscience is aware that if you die with these misdeeds, you will meet with a greater disgrace before Allah in the Hereafter than in this world."
This is the subject matter of the first section. The second section that was sent down many years later, was appended to this Surah because in it Allah has bestowed Friday on the Muslims as against the Sabbath of the Jews, and Allah wanted to warn the Muslims not to treat their Friday as the Jews had treated their Sabbath. This section was sent down on an occasion when a trade caravan arrived in Madinah right at the time of the Friday congregational service and hearing its din and drum the audience, except for 12 men, left the Prophet's Mosque and rushed out to the caravan, although the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) at that time was delivering the Sermon. Thereupon it was enjoined that after the call is sounded for the Friday Prayer all trade and business and other occupations become forbidden. The believers should then suspend every kind of transaction and hasten to the remembrance of Allah. However, when the Prayer is over, they have the right to disperse in the land to resume their normal occupations. This section could be made an independent Surah in view of the commandments that it contains about the congregational service on Friday, and could also be included in some other Surah, but, instead, it has been included here particularly in the verses in which the Jews have been warned of the causes of their evil end. Its wisdom in our opinion is the same as we have explained above.
Maududi
THE HOLY QUR'AAN
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Section 1.
62 : 1
1. Yusabbihu lillahi ma fee alssamawati wama fee al-ardi almaliki alquddoosi alAAazeezi alhakeemi
Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth glorifies Allah, the Absolute Sovereign, the most Hallowed, the Meritorious, the Sagacious!
62 : 2
2. Huwa allathee baAAatha fee al-ommiyyeena rasoolan minhum yatloo AAalayhim ayatihi wayuzakkeehim wayuAAallimuhumu alkitaba waalhikmata wa-in kanoo min qablu lafee dalalin mubeenin
He it is who has sent among the unlettered folk a messenger chosen from their own midst to recite to them His revelations and to sanctify them and instruct them in the Scripture and the Wisdom contained therein! And verily before that they were sunk in blatant error -
62 : 3
3. Waakhareena minhum lamma yalhaqoo bihim wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu
Along with others of them who have not yet joined them! He is the Meritorious, the Sagacious!
62 : 4
4. Thalika fadlu Allahi yu/teehi man yashao waAllahu thoo alfadli alAAatheemi
Such is the bounty of Allah which He bestows upon whom He will! And Allah indeed is of Infinite Bounty!
62 : 5
5. Mathalu allatheena hummiloo alttawrata thumma lam yahmilooha kamathali alhimari yahmilu asfaran bi/sa mathalu alqawmi allatheena kaththaboo bi-ayati Allahi waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena
The likeness of those on whose backs was placed the burden of bearing the Torah, - and they bore it not - is similar to a mule upon whose back is placed the burden of books! A disgraceful analogy for those who repudiate the revelations of Allah! And Allah guides not the pernicious.
62 : 6
6. Qul ya ayyuha allatheena hadoo in zaAAamtum annakum awliyao lillahi min dooni alnnasi fatamannawoo almawta in kuntum sadiqeena
Say to them (O Mohammed) : 'O those of you who are Jews! If you think that you are the most favoured of Allah out of all mankind, then long for death to find it out, - if you are sincere!
62 : 7
7. Wala yatamannawnahu abadan bima qaddamat aydeehim waAllahu AAaleemun bialththalimeena
But they will never long for it on account of the misdemeanours which their hands sent ahead of them! Allah is best aware of who amidst you are the pernicious!
62 : 8
8. Qul inna almawta allathee tafirroona minhu fa-innahu mulaqeekum thumma turaddoona ila AAalimi alghaybi waalshshahadati fayunabbi-okum bima kuntum taAAmaloona
Say to them (O Mohammed) : 'The death from which you recoil will surely meet up with you! Then you will be returned to Him who knows the invisible as well as the visible and He will recount to you all that which you used to do!' (R)
Section 2.
62 : 9
9. Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo itha noodiya lilssalati min yawmi aljumuAAati faisAAaw ila thikri Allahi watharoo albayAAa thalikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taAAlamoona
O those of you who believe! When the Call for worship echoes on (Friday) the day of assembly, make haste towards the remembrance of Allah and stop trading! That is better for you, - if you but knew!
62 : 10
10. Fa-itha qudiyati alssalatu faintashiroo fee al-ardi waibtaghoo min fadli Allahi waothkuroo Allaha katheeran laAAallakum tuflihoona
And when the prayers are over, then disperse in the land in pursuit of Allah's benefactions, constantly remembering Allah so that you may attain redemption!
* * *
Context of Revelation : The following verse was revealed when, on one Friday afternoon, as the Prophet was engrossed in preaching his sermon to the congregation, merchants from the neighbourhood arrived, beating their drums to announce themselves. In the aftermath of a drought, eager to ensure that they did not miss out on their bargains, the congregation broke up, leaving behind only twelve men to hear the sermon.
62 : 11
11. Wa-itha raaw tijaratan aw lahwan infaddoo ilayha watarakooka qa-iman qul ma AAinda Allahi khayrun mina allahwi wamina alttijarati waAllahu khayru alrraziqeena
Yet when they are distracted by trading or amusements during your sermon they leave you standing! Say : 'That which Allah has is better than all the bargains and amusements! And the provision of Allah is the best of all!' (R)
MUHSIN:
1. Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allāh, the King (of everything), the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
2. He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad SAW) from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses, purifying them (from the filth of disbelief and polytheism), and teaching them the Book (this Qur'ān, Islāmic laws and Islāmic jurisprudence) and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship, etc. of Prophet Muhammad SAW). And verily, they had been before in mainfest error;
3. And He has sent him (Prophet Muhammad SAW) also to others among them (Muslims) who have not yet joined them (but they will come). And He (Allāh) is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
4. That is the Grace of Allāh, which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allāh is the Owner of Mighty Grace.
5. The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurāt (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). How bad is the example (or the likeness) of people who deny the Ayāt (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allāh. And Allāh guides not the people who are Zālimūn (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers, etc.).
6. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "O you Jews! If you pretend that you are friends of Allāh, to the exclusion of (all) other mankind, then long for death if you are truthful."
7. But they will never long for it (death), because of what (deeds) their hands have sent before them! And Allāh knows well the Zālimūn (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers, etc.).
8. Say (to them): "Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent back to (Allāh), the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do."
9. O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salāt (prayer) on the day of Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allāh [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salāt (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing), that is better for you if you did but know!
10. Then when the (Jumu'ah) Salāt (prayer) is finished, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allāh (by working, etc.), and remember Allāh much, that you may be successful.
11. And when they see some merchandise or some amusement [beating of Tambur (drum) etc.] they disperse headlong to it, and leave you (Muhammad SAW) standing [while delivering Jumu'ah's religious talk (Khutbah)]. Say "That which Allāh has is better than any amusement or merchandise! And Allāh is the Best of providers."
062.001
YUSUFALI: Whatever is
in the heavens and on earth, doth declare the Praises and Glory of Allah,- the
Sovereign, the Holy One, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
PICKTHAL: All that is
in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorifieth Allah, the Sovereign
Lord, the Holy One, the Mighty, the Wise.
SHAKIR: Whatever is in
the heavens and whatever is in the earth declares the glory of Allah, the King,
the Holy, the Mighty, the Wise.
062.002
YUSUFALI: It is He Who
has sent amongst the Unlettered a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse
to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and
Wisdom,- although they had been, before, in manifest error;-
PICKTHAL: He it is Who
hath sent among the unlettered ones a messenger of their own, to recite unto
them His revelations and to make them grow, and to teach them the Scripture and
wisdom, though heretofore they were indeed in error manifest,
SHAKIR: He it is Who
raised among the inhabitants of Mecca an Messenger from among themselves, who
recites to them His communications and purifies them, and teaches them the Book
and the Wisdom, although they were before certainly in clear error,
062.003
YUSUFALI: As well as
(to confer all these benefits upon) others of them, who have not already joined
them: And He is exalted in Might, Wise.
PICKTHAL: Along with
others of them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.
SHAKIR: And others
from among them who have not yet joined them; and He is the Mighty, the Wise.
062.004
YUSUFALI: Such is the
Bounty of Allah, which He bestows on whom He will: and Allah is the Lord of the
highest bounty.
PICKTHAL: That is the
bounty of Allah; which He giveth unto whom He will. Allah is of Infinite Bounty.
SHAKIR: That is
Allah's grace; He grants it to whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of mighty
grace.
062.005
YUSUFALI: The
similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law,
but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is that of a donkey which
carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people
who falsify the Signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong.
PICKTHAL: The likeness
of those who are entrusted with the Law of Moses, yet apply it not, is as the
likeness of the ass carrying books. Wretched is the likeness of folk who deny
the revelations of Allah. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.
SHAKIR: The likeness
of those who were charged with the Taurat, then they did not observe it, is as
the likeness of the ass bearing books, evil is the likeness of the people who
reject the communications of Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust people.
062.006
YUSUFALI: Say: "O ye
that stand on Judaism! If ye think that ye are friends to Allah, to the
exclusion of (other) men, then express your desire for Death, if ye are
truthful!"
PICKTHAL: Say (O
Muhammad): O ye who are Jews! If ye claim that ye are favoured of Allah apart
from (all) mankind, then long for death if ye are truthful.
SHAKIR: Say: O you who
are Jews, if you think that you are the favorites of Allah to the exclusion of
other people, then invoke death If you are truthful.
062.007
YUSUFALI: But never
will they express their desire (for Death), because of the (deeds) their hands
have sent on before them! and Allah knows well those that do wrong!
PICKTHAL: But they
will never long for it because of all that their own hands have sent before, and
Allah is Aware of evil-doers.
SHAKIR: And they will
never invoke it because of what their hands have sent before; and Allah is
Cognizant of the unjust.
062.008
YUSUFALI: Say: "The
Death from which ye flee will truly overtake you: then will ye be sent back to
the Knower of things secret and open: and He will tell you (the truth of) the
things that ye did!"
PICKTHAL: Say (unto
them, O Muhammad): Lo! the death from which ye shrink will surely meet you, and
afterward ye will be returned unto the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible,
and He will tell you what ye used to do.
SHAKIR: Say: (As for)
the death from which you flee, that will surely overtake you, then you shall be
sent back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will inform you of
that which you did.
062.009
YUSUFALI: O ye who
believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly),
hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and
traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew!
PICKTHAL: O ye who
believe! When the call is heard for the prayer of the day of congregation, haste
unto remembrance of Allah and leave your trading. That is better for you if ye
did but know.
SHAKIR: O you who
believe! when the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten to the
remembrance of Allah and leave off trading; that is better for you, if you know.
062.010
YUSUFALI: And when the
Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the
Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint):
that ye may prosper.
PICKTHAL: And when the
prayer is ended, then disperse in the land and seek of Allah's bounty, and
remember Allah much, that ye may be successful.
SHAKIR: But when the
prayer is ended, then disperse abroad in the land and seek of Allah's grace, and
remember Allah much, that you may be successful.
062.011
YUSUFALI: But when
they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave
thee standing. Say: "The (blessing) from the Presence of Allah is better than
any amusement or bargain! and Allah is the Best to provide (for all needs)."
PICKTHAL: But when
they spy some merchandise or pastime they break away to it and leave thee
standing. Say: That which Allah hath is better than pastime and than
merchandise, and Allah is the Best of providers.
SHAKIR: And when they
see merchandise or sport they break up for It, and leave you standing. Say: What
is with Allah is better than sport and (better) than merchandise, and Allah is
the best of Sustainers.