Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Introduction

Surah Al-Bayyina (Chapter 98 of the Qur’an), meaning “The Clear Proof,” is a brief Medinan surah of eight verses that encapsulates timeless religious principles. It addresses the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and the pagan Arabs, declaring that they were awaiting a clear proof from God – a messenger with uncorrupted scripture – to guide them out of unbelief al-islam.orgquran-wiki.com. When this bayyina (clear evidence) came in the person of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ reciting the Qur’an, it exposed the true state of their faith. The surah highlights a stark moral divide between those who embrace the truth and those who reject it, deeming the former “the best of creatures” and the latter “the worst of creatures” (verses 7–8). At the heart of the surah lies verse 5, which outlines the essence of enduring faith – referred to in Arabic as dīn al-qayyimah (دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ). This phrase can be translated as “the right/straight religion” or “the enduring, upright faith.” In a single verse, the Qur’an distills the core of all true religion: “And they were commanded not, except to worship Allah, sincere in devotion to Him, as upright (ḥunafā’), and to establish prayer and to give zakāh – and that is the religion of enduring uprightness.” myislam.orgmyislam.org. The present commentary will explore the characteristics of this “enduring faith” and how it is depicted throughout Surah Al-Bayyina, examine the surah’s broader themes of divine guidance, scripture, and the division between believers and disbelievers, and relate these themes to the famous verse of righteousness in Qur’an 2:177. Insights from classical exegesis – such as al-Ṭabarī, Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, and Ibn Kathīr – as well as modern commentators like Sayyid Quṭb, Abul A‘lā Maududi, and Ibn ʿĀshūr (and perspectives spanning Sunni, Shia, and Sufi thought) will be integrated to provide a rich, scholarly yet devotional reflection on the surah.

Notably, the spiritual significance of Al-Bayyina has been emphasized in Islamic tradition. It is reported in an authentic narration that the Prophet ﷺ said to Ubayy ibn Kaʿb, “Allah has commanded me to recite to you: Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture… [Surah Al-Bayyina]” – upon hearing that Allah named him specifically, Ubayy wept in awe quran-wiki.com. This profound anecdote underlines the surah’s importance and the personal, devotional impact its message had on the Prophet’s companions. Approaching Surah Al-Bayyina today, we do so with the dual lens of academic rigor and heartfelt devotion, seeking to understand its enduring lessons on faith (īmān) and upright practice (ʿamal ṣāliḥ) in the light of authoritative interpretations and to let its spiritual message resonate in our lives.

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