Fuṣṣilat
This chapter discusses how people turn away from the scripture that has been sent down to them—meaning the Qur’an. This is the central concern around which it revolves, and to which it returns time and again in the flow of its discourse. The chapter begins with the words: A [revelation] sent down from the All-beneficent, the Most Merciful (). Later, it says: The faithless say: “Do not listen to this Qur’an…” (). Then, it says: Indeed those who commit sacrilege in Our signs are not hidden from Us… () and Indeed those who defy the Reminder when it comes to them… (). Finally, it closes with the words: Say, “Tell me, if it is from Allah and you disbelieve in it…” ().
The logical corollary of people turning away from the Book of God is that they also deny the three principles that form the foundation of its call to truth, namely monotheism, prophethood, and resurrection. And this is why God talks at length about these topics in this chapter, coupled with glad tidings for the believers and warnings for the disbelievers.
Sūrah Fuṣṣilat is of Meccan provenance based on the content of its verses, and according to the narrations, it is one of the chapters revealed in the early stages of the Prophet’s mission in Mecca.
This is the ʿAllāmah's introduction to the sūrah, from the opening of the commentary.