﷽
Sūrat Qāf (Qāf) was revealed in Mecca and is a sūrah that the Messenger ﷺ used to recite frequently, especially when he was speaking to large crowds of his followers. He would recite it during the Eid prayers and would often recite it on the pulpit during his Friday sermons1.
When analyzed on a macro-level, it appears that the entire sūrah forms a single ring structure as depicted below (click on image to zoom in). Many of the connections between corresponding parts are found in the shared vocabulary and subject matter.
Connections
[A]/[A’]
The sūrah begins and ends with mention of the “Quran.” Allah ﷻ swears an oath by the Quran and concludes by saying that the Messenger ﷺ should remind by means of the Quran “whoever fears My threat.” One swears an oath when the audience does not believe in the message, so it is appropriate that Allah ﷻ added the condition of fearing the threat since there will be those who will not benefit from the Quran because they do not believe.
[B]/[B’]
Both parts speak of the role of the Messenger ﷺ. He was sent as a warner, not as a tyrant.
[C]/[C’]
Allah ﷻ acknowledges the mocking and hurtful things said to the Messenger ﷺ.
[D]/[D’]
The disbelievers see resurrection as something farfetched and “distant”, but Allah ﷻ lets us know that it is “easy” for Him to bring us back to life.
[E]/[E’]
We slowly decay in our graves on “earth”, and then we will be brought back together and raised on the same “earth” for Judgment.
[F]/[F’]
Allah ﷻ mentioning the “well-preserved Record,” reminds us that the One who gave us life and eventual death will also resurrect us and hold us to account by means of what is recorded in that ledger. No deed will go unnoticed.
[G]/[G’]
They denied the “truth (al-ḥaqq)” of resurrection, but will nevertheless be resurrected by the blast of the Horn in “truth (al-ḥaqq).”
[H]/[H’]
We are told to look at the creation of the heaven, earth, sky and provisions therein as proof of our resurrection. The corresponding section then commands us to praise our Lord based on miraculous signs made up of those same creations. In other words, the One who created all those grand things will be the same One who resurrect us and hold us to account.
[I]/[I’]
The Messenger ﷺ is being encouraged to be patient and perseverant just as the previous prophets had to be when they were similarly rejected.
[J]/[J’]
Allah ﷻ does not tire by creating anything.
[K]/[K’]
Allah ﷻ created mankind as well as the heavens and the earth.
[L]/[L’]
Allah ﷻ reminds us that we have angels recording our deeds, which stands as a reminder to those with a sound heart to take heed. Just as the angels listen and observe our actions, the one who benefits from the reminder is described as one who “listens while he is present [in mind].”
[M]/[M’]
Previous disbelieving generations were even more powerful than us, but that did not stop death, nor will it stop our resurrection. In the end, they will all be told, “You were certainly heedless of this..”
[N]/[N’]
People of Hell are compared to people of Paradise. People of Hell are “thrown into” Fire, while the saved people have Paradise “brought” to them. Both are described by the attributes that earned them their status on the Day of Judgment. Hell is called a “severe punishment,” as opposed to Paradise which is a place of “safety and security.”
[O]/[O’]
What the bad companion says is paralleled with what Hell says.
[P]
The entire sūrah centers on Allah ﷻ declaring on the Day of Judgment, “Do not dispute before Me, while I had already presented to you the warning. The word will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants.” The entire sūrah stands as a warning of what is to come on Judgment Day, including the painful punishment for those who fail the test of life. Allah ﷻ reminds us with this central point that we need to take heed of the warning now, while we are alive, lest we face condemnation in the afterlife. And when the judgment comes down, it will be in accordance with full justice.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.
Ibn Kathīr, Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-ʿĀẓīm, Sūrah Qāf, https://tafsir.app/ibn-katheer/50/1, accessed 3/27/2022