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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

Ali Unal: IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE ALL-MERCIFUL, THE ALL-COMPASSIONATE

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

Ali Unal

Revealed in Madīnah and consisting of eight verses, the sūrah takes its name from the word, al-bayyinah (the clear evidence), in the first verse. It draws attention to the fact that God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, is the clear evidence for the truth of the Message that he brought, and that the unbelievers among both the polytheists and the People of the Book denied him and Islam, even when they had clearly witnessed the truth of this evidence. So, people have been divided into two main groups: those who believe and do good, righteous deeds; and those who reject belief.
Those who reject faith (in the Qur’an and God’s Messenger) from among the People of the Book and the polytheists would not abandon (the way they were supposed to follow) and deviate (into the way of unbelief) until there had come to them the Clear Evidence:1
  • The polytheists who rejected God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, and the Message he brought well knew that he was a truthful one, and that what he claimed was true. They were also saying that if a Messenger came to them, they would believe in him wholeheartedly, and so they were expected to believe in him and his Message. But when the Messenger came, despite his being a clear Evidence for both himself and the Message he brought, the unbelievers went back on their words, and rejected him for selfish reasons, such as tribal rivalry, obstinacy, conceit, and fear of losing their interests; therefore, they deserved eternal Divine condemnation. Just like them, those who rejected Islam and God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings, from among the People of the Book – the Jews and Christians – also preferred unbelief for base reasons such as jealousy, rivalry, racist considerations, and the like, although they had been waiting for a Prophet to come whose signs they found in their Books, and they knew well that Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, was that Prophet.
    The verse also indicates that unbelief in Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, means for the People of the Book unbelief in their own Books.