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Chapter 98

The Proofal-Bayyinah ( البينة )

8 verses • revealed at Medinan

»The surah that mentions the advent of the message of the Quran and its Messenger as The Proof of a decisive revelation for both the disputing People of the Scripture and the unbelievers unlettered in God’s word. It is named after “the proof” (al-bayyinah) mentioned in verse 1 and verse 4. The surah spells out the basic tenets of faith, and contrasts the Fire of Hell with the lasting bliss that will be enjoyed by the faithful.«

The surah is also known as The Clear Evidence, The Clear Proof, The Clear Sign, The Evidence

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Yusuf Ali: In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1
لَم يَكُنِ الَّذينَ كَفَروا مِن أَهلِ الكِتابِ وَالمُشرِكينَ مُنفَكّينَ حَتّىٰ تَأتِيَهُمُ البَيِّنَةُ

Yusuf Ali

This Sūra was probably an early Medīna Sūra, or possibly a late Meccan Sūra.
In subject-matter it carries forward the argument of the last Sūra. The mystic night of revelation is indeed blessed; but those who reject Truth are impervious to God’s Message, however clear may be the evidence in support of it.
C. 278 | [98:1-8] But those who reject the light of Truth are obstinate. Why should they persist in evil ways when the Clear Evidence has come before them? The straight Religion is simple: to adore with a pure heart the God of Truth, to draw nigh to Him in Prayer sincere, and to serve our fellow creatures in charity and love. To do aught else is to fall from Grace. But Faith and Good Life lead straight to the Goal,—the beauteous Garden of Bliss Eternal, and the mutual good pleasure of the Soul in her Lord.
Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book1 and among the Polytheists,2 were not going to depart (from their ways) until there should come to them Clear Evidence,—3
  • The People of the Book immediately referred to are the Jews and the Christians, who had received scriptures in the same line of prophecy in which came our holy Prophet. Their scriptures should have prepared them for the advent of the greatest and last of the Prophets. For the Jewish scriptures promised to the Jews, cousins or brethren to the Arabs, a prophet like Moses: “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deut. 18:15). And Christ promised a Comforter (John, 14:16; 15:26; and 16:7; see third n. to 61:6) almost by name. The People of the Book fell from the true, straight, and standard religion, into devious ways, and would not come to the true Path until (they said) they were convinced by the arrival of the promised Prophet. But when the promised Prophet came in the person of Muḥammad, they rejected him, because they really did not seek for Truth but only followed their own fancies and desires.
  • The Polytheists, the Pagans, had not previously believed in any scriptures. But yet, when clear evidence came to them, they should have believed. Yet they rejected the Prophet because they were not really searching for Truth, but were only following their own fancies and desires.
  • The Clear Evidence was the holy Prophet himself, his life, his personality, and his teaching.