This is an early Meccan revelation, and refers to the mystic relation (by divine sanction) of the holy Prophet with the city of Mecca. He was born in that City, which had already been sacred for ages before. He was nurtured in that City and had (to use a modern phrase) the freedom of that City, belonging, as he did, to the noble family which held the government of its sacred precincts in its hands. But he was an orphan, and orphans in his day had a poor time. But his mind was turned to things divine. He protested against the prevailing idolatry and sin, and his parent City persecuted him and cast him out. He made another City, Yathrib, his own; it became Madīnat-un-Nabī, the City of the Prophet’s child. But the Prophet ever cherished in his heart the love of his parent City of Mecca, and in the fulness of time was received in worship of the One True God, overthrew the purse-proud selfish autocracy, restored the sway of the righteous (people of the Right Hand), the liberty of the slave, and the rights of the poor and downtrodden. What a wonderful career centring round a City? It becomes a symbol of the world’s spiritual history.

C. 270 | [90:1-20] The Prophet’s own City persecuted him. Honored by his nativity, it sought to slay him; yet he loved it and purged it of all that was wrong. What toil and struggle did it involve? Man is made for toil and struggle: let him not boast of ease and wealth. He will be called to account for all his doings. Let him use his God-given faculties, and tread the steep path that leads to Heaven’s Heights: the steps thereto are Love, unselfish Love, given freely to God’s creatures—all those in need—and Faith in God, and Patience joined with self-restraint and kindness. Thus only can we reach the ranks of the blest Companions of the Right Hand!