Sūrah 41 · Meccan

How Sūrah Fussilat was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Fussilat → The revelation story
Where revealed Meccan

Revealed in the Meccan period, before the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #61

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 54 ayahs

6 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Makkan surah focuses on proving the Quran's divine origin, its freedom from falsehood, and the truth of the Resurrection. It systematically counters the polytheists by providing proofs of Allah’s sole divinity in creation and warning of the Day of Judgment, when the body parts of the deniers will bear witness against them.

Themes and purpose:

This Makkan surah focuses on proving the Quran's divine origin, its freedom from falsehood, and the truth of the Resurrection. It systematically counters the polytheists by providing proofs of Allah’s sole divinity in creation and warning of the Day of Judgment, when the body parts of the deniers will bear witness against them.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by unanimous agreement.

Context: The surah was revealed during the Makkan period when the polytheists were actively seeking to discredit the Quran by claiming it was fabricated. It addresses the fundamental theological issues of Monotheism and Resurrection.

Chronology: It is counted as the 61st surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat Ghāfir/al-Mu’min and before al-Zukhruf.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known by two common names: "Sūrat Fuṣṣilat" (Clearly Detailed), from ayah 3, which states that its signs/verses are clearly detailed; and "Sūrat Ḥā-Mīm al-Sajdah" (Ḥā-Mīm The Prostration), after its opening letters and the ayah of prostration it contains. It has also been called "Sūrat al-Maṣābīḥ" (The Lamps) and "Sūrat al-Aqwāt" (The Provisions), based on specific verses (10 and 12).

Ayah Count: 53 ayahs (Madīnah/Makkah), or 52 (Shām/Baṣrah), or 54 (Kūfah).

Surah Overview:

  • The Quran's Integrity: Asserting that the Quran is a revelation from Allah, confirming its truth and defending it from any falsehood or corruption. [1-4]
  • Refuting Fabrication: rebuking the polytheists for claiming the Quran is fabricated, noting they had never received a revelation before and thus had no basis for judgment. [4, 25-26]
  • Monotheism and Creation: Proving monotheism by arguing that Allah alone created the heavens, the earth, and determined sustenance. [9-12]
  • Warning and Historical Punishment: Warning the disbelievers of an impending punishment in this life and recalling the destruction that befell past nations like ʿĀd and Thamūd. [13-18]
  • The Judgment Scene: Warning of the Hereafter, where their own senses (ears, eyes, and skin) will be commanded to testify against them. [19-24]
  • The Devils’ Deceit: Warning believers about the influence of jinn and human partners who mislead them. [25]
  • Consolation and Steadfastness: Affirming the divine support for the Prophet (ﷺ) and commanding him to continue his call with patience and wisdom. [30-35]
  • Praise for Believers: Providing glad tidings to the believers and affirming that the angels descend to assure them of their safety and entrance into Paradise. [30-32]
  • Conclusion: Proving the reality of the Resurrection and confirming that the time of the Hour is known only to Allah. [39, 47]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 3 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah22
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4816

    حَدَّثَنَا الصَّلْتُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، عَنْ رَوْحِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، ‏﴿‏وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ، عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ‏﴾‏ الآيَةَ كَانَ رَجُلاَنِ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ وَخَتَنٌ لَهُمَا مِنْ ثَقِيفَ، أَوْ رَجُلاَنِ مِنْ ثَقِيفَ وَخَتَنٌ لَهُمَا مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ فِي بَيْتٍ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَتُرَوْنَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْمَعُ حَدِيثَنَا قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ يَسْمَعُ بَعْضَهُ‏.‏ وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لَئِنْ كَانَ يَسْمَعُ بَعْضَهُ لَقَدْ يَسْمَعُ كُلَّهُ‏.‏ فَأُنْزِلَتْ ‏﴿‏وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلاَ أَبْصَارُكُمْ‏﴾‏ الآية

    Narrated Ibn Mas`ud: (regarding) the Verse: 'And you have not been screening against yourself lest your ears, and your eyes and your skins should testify against you..' (41.22) While two persons from Quraish and their brotherin- law from Thaqif (or two persons from Thaqif and their brother-in-law from Quraish) were in a house, they said to each other, "Do you think that Allah hears our talks?" Some said, "He hears a portion thereof" Others said, "If He can hear a portion of it, He can hear all of it." Then the following Verse was revealed: 'And you have not been screening against yourself lest your ears, and your eyes and your skins should testify against you...' (41.22)

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4817

    حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ اجْتَمَعَ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ قُرَشِيَّانِ وَثَقَفِيٌّ ـ أَوْ ثَقَفِيَّانِ وَقُرَشِيٌّ ـ كَثِيرَةٌ شَحْمُ بُطُونِهِمْ قَلِيلَةٌ فِقْهُ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَتُرَوْنَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْمَعُ مَا نَقُولُ قَالَ الآخَرُ يَسْمَعُ إِنْ جَهَرْنَا وَلاَ يَسْمَعُ إِنْ أَخْفَيْنَا‏.‏ وَقَالَ الآخَرُ إِنْ كَانَ يَسْمَعُ إِذَا جَهَرْنَا فَإِنَّهُ يَسْمَعُ إِذَا أَخْفَيْنَا فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏﴿‏وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلاَ أَبْصَارُكُمْ وَلاَ جُلُودُكُمْ‏﴾‏ الآيَةَ‏.‏ وَكَانَ سُفْيَانُ يُحَدِّثُنَا بِهَذَا فَيَقُولُ حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورٌ أَوِ ابْنُ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ أَوْ حُمَيْدٌ أَحَدُهُمْ أَوِ اثْنَانِ مِنْهُمْ، ثُمَّ ثَبَتَ عَلَى مَنْصُورٍ، وَتَرَكَ ذَلِكَ مِرَارًا غَيْرَ وَاحِدَةٍ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَنْصُورٌ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، بِنَحْوِهِ‏.‏

    Narrated `Abdullah: There gathered near the House (i.e. the Ka`ba) two Quraishi persons and a person from Thaqif (or two persons from Thaqif and one from Quraish), and all of them with very fat bellies but very little intelligence. One of them said, "Do you think that Allah hears what we say?" Another said, "He hears us when we talk in a loud voice, but He doesn't hear us when we talk in a low tone." The third said, "If He can hear when we talk in a loud tone, then He can also hear when we speak in a low tone." Then Allah, the Honorable, the Majestic revealed: 'And you have not been screening against yourself lest your ears, and eyes and your skins should testify against you....' (41.22-23) This hadith has been narrated through another chain as well.

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7521

    حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ اجْتَمَعَ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ ثَقَفِيَّانِ وَقُرَشِيٌّ، أَوْ قُرَشِيَّانِ وَثَقَفِيٌّ، كَثِيرَةٌ شَحْمُ بُطُونِهِمْ قَلِيلَةٌ فِقْهُ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَتَرَوْنَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْمَعُ مَا نَقُولُ قَالَ الآخَرُ يَسْمَعُ إِنْ جَهَرْنَا وَلاَ يَسْمَعُ إِنْ أَخْفَيْنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُ إِنْ كَانَ يَسْمَعُ إِذَا جَهَرْنَا فَإِنَّهُ يَسْمَعُ إِذَا أَخْفَيْنَا‏.‏ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى ‏﴿‏وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَنْ يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلاَ أَبْصَارُكُمْ وَلاَ جُلُودُكُمْ‏﴾‏ الآيَةَ‏.‏

    Narrated `Abdullah: Two person of Bani Thaqif and one from Quarish (or two persons from Quraish and one from Bani Thaqif) who had fat bellies but little wisdom, met near the Ka`ba. One of them said, "Did you see that Allah hears what we say? " The other said, "He hears us if we speak aloud, but He does not hear if we speak in stealthy quietness (softly)." The third fellow said, "If He hears when we speak aloud, then He surely hears us if we speak in stealthy quietness (softly)." So Allah revealed the Verse:-- 'And you have not been screening against yourselves, lest your ears, and your eyes and your skins should testify against you..." (41.22)

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The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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