Sūrat Al-Jumuʿah, al-Munāfiqūn and at-Taghābun (Part 1)
Part 1 of observations of the parallels between Sūrat al-Jumuʿah, Sūrah al-Munāfiqūn and Sūrah at-Taghābun
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For the next few weeks, we will explore structures that span three or more adjacent suwar. Of all the studies going on in the field of Quranic naẓm (organization, cohesion, structure), this is by far the area that is least explored.
I will attempt to demonstrate coherent structures across multiple suwar to lend to the argument that the Quran’s compiled order is ordained and divinely decreed by Allah ﷻ. In a future edition of the book I’m writing on this subject (manuscript is almost done!), I hope to expand this chapter to include additional sūrah groups which are not necessarily connected through structures, but through motifs, themes, word choice, and subject matter.
Sūrat al-Jumuʿah (The Congregation) and Sūrat al-Munāfiqūn (The Hypocrites), when placed together, appear to form a parallel with Sūrat at-Taghābun (Mutual Gain and Loss). Together, these make up the 62nd through 64th suwar of the Quran.
CONNECTIONS
[A]/[A’] - Sūrat al-Jumuʿah begins almost exactly as Sūrat at-Taghābun does in that they both declare that “everything in the heavens and in the Earth praise Allah (yusabbiḥu lil-lāhi mā fis-samāwāti wa mā fil-ʾardi).” The rest of both ayāt are almost exact compliments of one another as they describe Allah ﷻ as “The King, The Holy, The Almighty, The Wise,” versus “He owns all dominion, He owns all praise and thanks, and He has control over all things.”
[B]/[B’] - Sūrat al-Jumuʿah continues, “He is the One who” sent the Messenger ﷺ to “an unlettered people (ummīyīn),” to help guide them and those who will come after them because they were in “clear error beforehand.”
This is similar to what is said next in Sūrat at-Taghābun. Allah ﷻ says that, “He is the One who” created us, and some of us are disbelievers and others are believers. He knows what we conceal in our chests (of thoughts and beliefs) and thus knows the true state of our faith. He fashioned us in the wombs, which has a subtle connection to the “unlettered people” in Sūrat al-Jumuʿah. The Arabic for an unlettered person is said to come from the same root letters as “mother” because someone unlettered is said to be as illiterate as the one who was just born.
[C]/[C’] - Next come two contrasting descriptions. In Sūrat al-Jumuʿah, Allah ﷻ informs us that Him sending the Messenger ﷺ to us was from His favors and that His favor is immense. On the other hand, in Sūrat at-Taghābun, Allah ﷻ speaks of those who kafarū (disbelieved/were ungrateful), and therefore tasted the evil consequences of their actions in this life and will have a painful punishment in the next life. Thus, we have an implicit connection between denying the Messenger ﷺ and being declared a disbeliever.
[D]/[D’] - Both suwar then speak of those who were presented with the signs and proofs from Allah ﷻ, but denied and turned away from them.
[E]/[E’] - Sūrat al-Jumuʿah speaks of the Jews who considered themselves saved on account of them being a chosen people. Allah ﷻ addresses them saying, “If you claim (zaʿam-tum) that you are allies of Allah, excluding the [other] people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful.” Similarly, the disbelievers in Sūrat at-Taghābun also falsely claim (zaʿama) that they will never be resurrected.
[F]/[F’] - Connected to both of these false claims is the denial of being resurrected for Judgment. In both suwar Allah ﷻ emphatically reminds the listener that resurrection is coming, it is inevitable and we will be held to account for what we used to do.
[G]/[G’] - Sūrat al-Jumuʿah concludes speaking to the believers and informing them of the obligation of the Friday prayer service on “yawm al-Jumuʿah (The Day of Gathering)”. Similarly, the first half of Sūrat at-Taghābun ends with Allah ﷻ telling the believers of “yawma yajmaʿa-kum li yawm al-jamʿ (the Day He will assemble you for the Day of Assembly).”
Next week we’ll continue with the parallels found between Sūrat al-Munāfiqūn and the second half of Sūrat at-Taghābun.
And Allah ﷻ knows best.
this combination/coherence of surahs reveals very beautiful information. When we will call up people to get together(jummah) then hypocrites will also come among believers.