Sūrat al-Shams is the ninety-first chapter in the present order of the Quran, and its name is taken from the first word of the chapter. The only other name that has been identified for this chapter is Sūrat Wa al-Shamsi Wa Ḍuḥāhā, which is what narrations, both Sunni[su_tooltip content=”Bukhari, 65, h. 463.”][1][/su_tooltip] and Shia,[su_tooltip content=”Tahdhib, 2/15, h. 51.”][2][/su_tooltip] identify the chapter as, and to differentiate it from Sūrat al-Ṭakwīr (81).[su_tooltip content=”Ibn Ashur, 30/322.”][3][/su_tooltip]
This chapter is Meccan as can be discerned from its style and content.[su_tooltip content=”Munyah, 30/372.”][4][/su_tooltip] Based on the more famous opinion, the chapter contains fifteen verses, whilst some have said it has sixteen verses. This difference is not based on any kind of distortion of the Quran, but rather the discussion revolves around the word fa-ʿaqarūhā (verse 14). Those who consider it to be the start of a new sentence would consider it as a separate verse, and thus they count the number of verses as sixteen.[su_tooltip content=”Munyah, 30/372.”][5][/su_tooltip]
The chapter is thought to have been revealed after Sūrat al-Qadr (97) and is the twenty-sixth chapter to be revealed, followed by Sūrat al-Burūj (85).[su_tooltip content=”Zamakhshari, 4/758; Ibn Ashur, 30/322.”][6][/su_tooltip]
This chapter is also considered to be the chapter with the most oaths, considering it begins with eleven of them.[su_tooltip content=”Amthal, 20/230.”][7][/su_tooltip]
The central theme of this chapter is to alert man to the fact that success lies in purification of the soul (verse 9). It brings forth an example of the community of Thamūd who were a group who failed to purify their souls and faced divine punishment for their actions as a result.[su_tooltip content=”Munyah, 30/372.”][8][/su_tooltip] The previous chapter concluded with a warning about the hellfire. This chapter reminds us that safety from that fire is for those who purify themselves. The previous chapter closes with a description of the ultimate end of the disbelievers in the hereafter, whereas this chapter concludes with mentioning their fate in this world.[su_tooltip content=”Muhit, 10/485.”][9][/su_tooltip] The chapter also seems to follow from the distinction mentioned in the previous chapter between the people of the left and people of the right, which can be seen in verses 9 and 10 in this surah. Verse 8 of this chapter is similar to verse 10 in the previous chapter which indicated how God has shown man the path of goodness and evil.[su_tooltip content=”Alusi, 10/357.”][10][/su_tooltip]
[1] Bukhari, 65, h. 463. [2] Tahdhib, 2/15, h. 51. [3] Ibn Ashur, 30/322. [4] Munyah, 30/372. [5] Munyah, 30/372. [6] Zamakhshari, 4/758; Ibn Ashur, 30/322. [7] Amthal, 20/230. [8] Munyah, 30/372. [9] Muhit, 10/485. [10] Alusi, 10/357.