Surah Quraish (106)

- Midi

Historical Background ² This surah was revealed in Makkah. ² Quraish is the name of an Arab tribe that used to be

scattered across Arabia until a man named Qusayy gathered them together in Makkah and they eventually gained control of the Kaba. They founded a city state in Makkah and made arrangements for pilgrimage to the Kaba.

² While most Arabian tribes were constantly at battle with each other, the Quraish had an advantage because they were the controllers of the Kaba. As such, they were respected.

Historical Background cont. ² When the Quraish would travel, unlike the other tribes, they

did not fear that their things would get stolen or that they would be harmed.

²  They were so respected that other tribes did not even charge them fees/taxes to pass their areas the way they would charge other tribes.

² Because of the ease of travel and respect, the Quraish also had many business relations with other countries such as with Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and Abyssinia. From the trade, they gained much more knowledge about cultures and sciences than any other tribe.

²  In short- they were the most knowledgeable, affluent, and respected tribe in Arabia.

Ayah One: Since the Quraysh became accustomed,

² Accustomed here means – came together and became united.

² Recall that the Quraish were scattered about Arabia- it is through Allah’s grace they reunited and came to the status they had in Makkah and throughout Arabia.

إليالف قريش ﴾﴿ 

Ayah Two: accustomed to the journey of winter and summer,

² For the purposes of trade, the Quraish would travel in the summer to Syria and Palestine (where it was cooler) and in the winter to Yemen (where it was warm).

² Recall the privilege that Quraish had as a result of being “keepers of the Kaba,” making travel much safer and easier for them than all other tribes.

إيالفهم رحلة الشتاء والصيف ﴾﴿  

Ayah Three: therefore, let them worship the Lord of this House;

² The House refers to the Kaba. ² It was only because the Quraish were keepers of the

Kaba that they got all the respect and reverence that they got, not because of their own doing.

² So Allah(swt) reminds them that ‘The only reason you are respected is because of My House, so worship Me (who owns that House and is your sole true, source of power).’

فليعبدوا رب هذا البيت ﴾﴿  

Ayah Four: Who fed them against hunger, *4 and secured them against fear. 

² It is not the Kaba or the other tribes that protected the Quraish, but in fact, it was Allah(swt) that fed them and protected them from all harm.

² Allah was the One to give them all that they had. So again, it would only make sense for them to worship Him and be grateful to Him for all the blessings that they have.

الذي أطعمهم من جوع وآمنهم من خوف ﴾﴿ 

Questions ²  1. Who are the Quraish? ²  2. What surah number is it? ²  3. Where was this surah revealed? ²  4. When did the Quraish, who were scattered about, come

together? ²  5. Why did the Quraish become an important group for the rest of

Arabia? ²  6. What privileges did the Quraish have compared to other tribes

and why? ²  7. With which countries did the Quraish trade with and how did

this benefit them? ²  8. Where would they journey to in the winter and the summer? ²  9. Who is the Lord of the House? ²  10. What does Allah ask the Quraish to do and why?