Tafsir Surat al-Nasr

Tafsir Surat al-Nasr (Arabic: تفسير سورة النصر, lit. 'Exegesis of Chapter al-Nasr') is an exegetical treatise by the Hanbali scholar Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (d. 795 AH / 1393 CE) dedicated to the commentary of Surat al-Nasr (Quran 110) Tafsir Surat al-Nasr+1.

Background and Revelation

Ibn Rajab begins the treatise by citing the narration stating that Surat al-Nasr is equivalent to a quarter of the Quran, recording scholarly consensus that it is a Medinan surah revealed after the Hijra, and citing the narration of Ibn Abbas in Sahih Muslim that it was the last complete surah revealed in the Quran Tafsir Surat al-Nasr. He discusses reports concerning the exact timing of its descent, addressing the view that it was revealed in the final year of the Prophet’s life as an announcement of his approaching death, as well as the narration of Ibn Umar that it was revealed at Mina during the Farewell Pilgrimage Tafsir Surat al-Nasr.

Content and Exegetical Analysis

The work explores the linguistic, contextual, and theological dimensions of the surah verse by verse:

• The Victory and the Conquest: Ibn Rajab addresses the meaning of "the victory of Allah" ( نَصْرُ اللَّهِ ) and "the Conquest" ( الْفَتْحُ ). He explains that the majority of scholars, including Ibn Abbas, identify the Conquest specifically as the Conquest of Mecca, since the Arabian tribes postponed accepting Islam until they saw whether the Prophet would prevail over Mecca Tafsir Surat al-Nasr. He also records the broader interpretation noted by Ibn Atiyyah, which encompasses Mecca alongside other fortresses and cities conquered thereafter, such as al-Ta'if and regions of the Hijaz and Yemen Tafsir Surat al-Nasr.
• The Entry into Islam: In analyzing وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا ("and you see the people entering the religion of Allah in crowds"), he notes that the majority regard "the people" as referring generally to the Arabs, while Muqatil ibn Sulayman held that it specifically referred to the people of Yemen, referencing hadiths concerning the arrival and faith of the Yemenis Tafsir Surat al-Nasr+1. He cites Ibn Abd al-Barr regarding the eventual conversion of all Arabian tribes before the Prophet's death Tafsir Surat al-Nasr.
• Praise, Glorification, and Forgiveness: The author cites Ibn al-Jawzi regarding whether "glorification" ( فَسَبِّحْ ) means ritual prayer or verbal glorification, and examines the grammatical role of the preposition ba' in بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ Tafsir Surat al-Nasr+1. He distinguishes between divine pardon ('afw) and forgiveness (maghfirah), defining the latter as protection from the evil consequences of sin Tafsir Surat al-Nasr. He also references the victory prayer (salat al-fath) performed by the Prophet upon entering Mecca and later by Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas at the conquest of al-Mada'in Tafsir Surat al-Nasr.
• Forewarning of the Prophet's Demise: Ibn Rajab analyzes the deeper meaning understood by Umar ibn al-Khattab and Ibn Abbas during Umar's gathering with the veterans of the Battle of Badr: while some companions understood the surah merely as a command to render praise and seek forgiveness upon victory, Umar and Ibn Abbas realized that the completion of the Prophet's mission signalled that his death was near Tafsir Surat al-Nasr+1.

Transmission and Publication

The treatise was printed in Lahore in 1339 AH alongside Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya's Tuhfat al-Mawdud bi-Ahkam al-Mawlud Sharh Ilal al-Tirmidhi. It was subsequently edited by Muhammad ibn Nasir al-Ajami and published by al-Dar al-Salafiyyah in Kuwait (1407 AH / 1987 CE) and by Dar al-Sumay'i in Riyadh (1412 AH / 1991 CE) Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali wa A…+1. It has also been included in collections of Ibn Rajab's treatises (Majmu' Rasa'il Ibn Rajab) Majmu Rasail Ibn Rajab. In some manuscript witnesses, the text was mistakenly attributed to Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Manhaj Shaykh al-Islam Mu….