About the Surah

The reason for descending the verse

Mu'adh ibn Jabal said, “While we were with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) at the Battle of Tabuk, suffering from the heat, people dispersed. I looked around and found that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) was the closest person to me. I drew closer to him and asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, tell me about a deed which will cause me to enter the Garden and distance me from hellfire'. He said, 'You have asked about a great matter which is easy to do for whoever Allah (exalted is He) makes it easy;it is that you worship Allahand not associate anything with Him, perform the prescribed prayers, pay the obligated poor-due, and fast in the month of Ramadan. But if you will, I will inform you about all the doors of goodness'. I said, 'Do inform me, O Messenger of Allah!' He said, 'Fasting is a shield, almsgiving expiates sins, and the standing of a man in prayer in the middle of the night, seeking the countenance of Allah (exalted is He)'. Then he read this verse.”(Al-Wahidi,Reasons of Revelation)