The Majestic Quran

46. Al-Ahqaf The Sand Dunes This chapter was revealed before the migration of the Prophet r to Madinah, the tone and tenor of the chapter makes this clear. The Prophet r is advised: “be patient like the strong-willed messengers” (35). The boycott faced by the Muslims in the valley of Abu-Talib for three years had been lifted. Here they had languished in abject poverty and starvation, which left them with physical and psychological scars. A group of jinn visited the Prophet r on his return from the torturous journey to Taif. If so, then this chapter would have been revealed in the tenth or eleventh year of his mission in Makkah. The opening describes the helplessness of the idols, and contrasts it with the creative power of God. Then it explains how God’s channel of communication was always open with humanity through His messengers, therefore the coming of Prophet Muhammad r was nothing new or odd. In fact, his coming was foreseen by Moses : An Israelite witness has already testified to the coming of one like him, and has believed, why are you being arrogant? God does not guide the wrongdoers (10). This refers to Deuteronomy 18, verses 15–18. The Quran comments on the suspicious mind of the disbelievers: “The disbelievers say to the believers, ‘If this religion was any good then you wouldn’t have believed in it before us’” (11). Verses 15–19 encourage the development of parent-child relationships, by describing how the mother bears the child and then suckles and rears it until the child becomes strong and mature.