سُورَةٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهَا وَفَرَضْنَـٰهَا وَأَنزَلْنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَـٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَـٰتٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ 1
Translations
[This is] a sūrah which We have sent down and made [that within it] obligatory and revealed therein verses of clear evidence that you might remember.
Transliteration
Suratun anzalnaha wa faradnaha wa anzalna fiha ayatin bayyinat laalakum tadhakkarun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah An-Nur announces that Allah has revealed this surah, made its rulings obligatory upon the believers, and sent down clear verses within it as a means of remembrance and guidance. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the phrase 'we have revealed it and made it obligatory' emphasizes both the divine origin of the surah and the binding nature of its commandments, particularly regarding matters of modesty, chastity, and social conduct that follow in the subsequent verses.
Revelation Context
Surah An-Nur was revealed in Madinah during the later Meccan-Medinan period and addresses the Muslim community's social and moral conduct. This opening verse serves as an introduction to the surah's central themes of purity, modesty, and lawful relationships, which were matters of significant concern in the developing Islamic society of Madinah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best among you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895), which relates to the surah's emphasis on proper family conduct and modesty. Additionally, 'Modesty is a part of faith' (Sahih Bukhari 24) connects to the surah's foundational concern with chastity and dignified behavior.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the Qur'an is not merely inspirational literature but divine legislation that creates binding obligations in our daily lives. For modern readers, it emphasizes the importance of studying Islamic teachings with the understanding that they carry divine weight and are meant to transform our character and conduct.