Surah Al-Jaami'ah, also known as Surah Ash-Shu'ara is the twenty-sixth surah in the order of the Mushaf, while in the order of revelation, it was revealed after Surah Al-Waaqi'ah.
According to Al-Imam Jalaaluddin As-Suyuti, the author of Al-Itqaan, it is the forty-sixth surah in the sequence of revelation.
Al-Imam Al-Qurtubi stated that the surah is Makkan according to the majority opinion.
Maqatil said that some of its verses were revealed in Madinah, specifically the verse mentioning the poets and the statement:
أَوَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ آيَةً أَنْ يَعْلَمَهُ عُلَمَاءُ بَنِي إِسْرائِيلَ
("And is it not a sign for them that the scholars of the Children of Israel know it?")
Ibn Abbaas and Qataadah said that it is Makkan except for four verses revealed in Madinah, from the statement of Allah, the Most Exalted:
وَالشُّعَرَاءُ يَتَّبِعُهُمُ الْغَاوُونَ
("And the poets- the deviators follow them.")
until the end of the surah.
The surah consists of 227 verses, and according to another narration, 226 verses.
Surah Ash-Shu'ara is also called "Surah Al-Jaami'ah" (The Comprehensive Surah). The dominant theme of this noble surah is the stories of the Prophets with their people.
After discussing at its outset the sublime status of the Noble Qur'an and the attitude of the polytheists towards the Messenger Peace Upon him, it then presents:
The story of Musa with Fir'awn and the Children of Israel, The story of Ibrahim (Abraham) with his people, The story of Nuh with his people, The story of Hud with his people, The story of Saalih with his people, The story of Lut with his people, The story of Shu'ayb with his people.
Towards its conclusion, the surah discusses the descent of the Trustworthy Spirit (Jibreel) with the Qur'an upon the heart of the Prophet peace upon him. It provides various forms of comfort and consolation to the Messenger Peace upon him, due to the denial of the disbelievers.
It also guides him regarding his duties toward his close relatives and the believers.
Furthermore, it gives glad tidings of victory to his followers and warns his enemies of a terrible fate. The surah ends with the words of Allah:
إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ، وَذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا، وَانْتَصَرُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا ظُلِمُوا، وَسَيَعْلَمُ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا أَيَّ مُنْقَلَبٍ يَنْقَلِبُونَ
("Except for those who believe, do righteous deeds, remember Allah often, and defend themselves after being wronged. And those who do wrong will come to know to what kind of return they will be sent back.")
This noble surah is also distinguished by the brevity of its verses and its comprehensive nature regarding the themes of Makkan surahs. It establishes proofs for the Oneness of Allah, the certainty of resurrection, and the truthfulness of the Prophet Peace Upon him in what he conveys from his Lord. It also affirms that this Qur'an is indeed from Allah.
Additionally, its style is marked by both encouragement and warning: Encouraging the believers to perform righteous deeds, Warning the polytheists of a terrible fate if they persist in their disbelief.
Each story in this noble surah ends with Allah:s statement:
إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ
("Indeed, in that is a sign, but most of them were not believers.")
وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ
("And indeed, your Lord-He is the Almighty, the Most Merciful.")
This phrase is repeated eight times in the surah.
Surah Ash-Shu'ara is among the suwahs that begin with one of the disjointed letters (huruuf muqatta'aat), as seen in the statement of Allah,
طسم
We have previously discussed the views of scholars regarding these disjointed letters in detail while interpreting the surah Al-Baqarah. You can access the post through the link (https://www.facebook.com/100085071943316/posts/574745248704535/?app=fbl).
To summarize: The most plausible opinion is that these disjointed letters appear at the beginning of some surahs as a means of awakening and alerting those whom the Qur'an challenges.
It is as if Allah, the Most Exalted, is addressing those who stubbornly deny that the Qur'an is from Him, saying:
'Here is the Qur'an before you! You see it composed of words of the same kind as those you use in your speech, structured from the same letters of the alphabet that you arrange in your compositions. If you doubt that it is from Allah, then bring forth something like it, or ten chapters like it, or even just a single chapter like it."
But they were incapable and were defeated in their attempt, proving that this Qur'an is indeed from Allah, the Most Exalted.
Abdulwahab Ibn Yusuf Isah
