Names
This surah is called Qaf and Qaf. By the Glorious Qur?an. [321] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/437.
The evidence for that includes the following:
?Umar ibn Al-Khattab asked Abu Waqid Al-Laythi: What did the Messenger of Allah (S) recite in Al-Adha and Al-Fitr? He said: He used to recite: Qaf wa?l-Qur?an il-majid (Qaf. By the Glorious Qur?an) Qaf 50 and Iqtaribat il-sa?tu wa inshaqqa Al-qamaru (The Hour has drawn nigh and the moon has split Al-Qamar 54. [322] Narrated by Muslim, 891.
It was narrated that Umm Hisham bint Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Our oven and the oven of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) were the same for two years, or for one year and part of a year. And I only learned Qaf wa?l-Qur?an il-majid (Qaf. By the Glorious Qur?an) from the lips of the Messenger of Allah (S), who used to recite it every Friday from the minbar, when he addressed the people. [323] Narrated by Muslim, 873.
According to another report: I only memorized Qaf from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah (S)? [324] Narrated by Muslim, 873.
It was narrated from Jabir ibn Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite in Fajr prayer Qaf wa?l-Qur?an il-majid (Qaf. By the Glorious Qur?an) Qaf 50, but the rest of his prayers were shorter. [325] Narrated by Muslim, 458.
Virtues and characteristics
It is recommended (mustahabb) to recite it or part of it on the minbar on Friday.
It was narrated that Umm Hisham bint Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I only learned Qaf wa?l-Qur?an il-majid (Qaf. By the Glorious Qur?an) from the lips of the Messenger of Allah (S), who used to recite it every Friday from the minbar, when he addressed the people. [326] Narrated by Muslim, 873.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite it in the first rak?ah of the Eid prayer:
It was narrated that Abu Waqid Al-Laythi said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite in Al-Fitr and Al-Adha: Qaf wa?l-Qur?an il-majid (Qaf. By the Glorious Qur?an) Qaf 50 and Iqtaribat il-sa?tu wa inshaqqa Al-qamaru (The Hour has drawn nigh and the moon has split) Al-Qamar 54. [327] Narrated by Muslim, 891.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) used to recite it in Fajr prayer, as is mentioned in the hadith of Jabir ibn Samurah quoted above.
It was narrated that Ibn Mas?ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Everything has an essence, and the essence of the Qur?an is Al-Mufassal. [328] Narrated by Ad-Darimi, 3377; At-Tabarani, 9/138, 8644; Al-Bayhaqi: Shu?ab Al-Iman, 2487.
Surat Qaf is the first of Al-Mufassal [329] As-Suyuti said: Al-Mufassal is so called because few verses in it were abrogated (mansukh), hence it is also called Al-muhkam (clear and unambiguous), as Al-Bukhari (5035) narrated that Sa?id ibn Jubayr said: That which you call Al-Mufassal is Al-Muhkam. The last of it is Surat An-Nas, with no difference of scholarly opinion, although the scholars differed regarding its beginning, and there are twelve views. Al-Itqan fi ?Ulum Al-Qur?an, 1/221. , according to what several scholars thought was more likely to be correct. [330] Those who favoured the view that Al-Mufassal begins from Surat Qaf until the end of the Qur?an include: Abu Al-Walid ibn Rushd Al-Jadd, Ibn Kathir and Ibn Hajr. See: Ibn Rushd Al-Jadd: Al-Bayan wa At-Tahsil, 1/295; Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 7/392; Ibn Hajr: Fat-h Al-Bari, 2/195.
Makki or Madani?
Surat Qaf is Makki, and it was narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [331] Those who narrated that there was consensus regarding that include: Muhammad ibn Hazm, Ibn ?Atiyyah and Al-Fayruzabadi. See: Muhammad ibn Hazm: An-Nasikh wa Al-Mansukh, p. 57; Tafsir Ibn ?Atiyyah, 5/138; Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/437.
Objectives
The most important objectives of this surah include:
Affirming the fundamentals of faith: the resurrection and prophethood. [332] See: Ibn Al-Qayyim: Al-Fawa?id, p. 5; Tafsir Ibn Kathir, 7/393; Al-Biqa?i: Nazm Ad-Durar, 18/396; Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 26/325.
Topics
The most significant topics addressed in Surat Qaf include:
Praise for the Holy Qur?an and highlighting its great status.
Mention of the claims made by the polytheists and their denial of prophethood and the resurrection, and refutation of their claims.
Urging people to reflect on the creation of the heavens and all that they contain, and the creation of the earth and everything upon it; and the growth of plants and crops, which is a likeness for bringing creatures back to life after death.
A reminder of the bad consequences that befell earlier disbelievers, and what they deserved of warnings and punishment.
A reminder of the knowledge of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,, which encompasses all things.
Mention of the agonies of death and the events and terrors of the Day of Resurrection, and what will happen on that day.
A promise to the believers of Paradise in the hereafter, and some of their most important characteristics.
Consolation to the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for what he faced from his people, and guiding him to that which will help him to remain patient, namely glorifying Allah in the hours of the night and at the two ends of the day, and following the prayers.
The command to the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to remind with the Qur?an those who fear the warning of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, and fear His punishment.