029 Al-Ankaboot

Overview: Al-Ankaboot

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029 Al-Ankaboot

This is a late Makki Surah, although the beginning passage is believed to be Madni. It derives its name from the mention of spider, specifically the web of the spider.

The surah begins will reminding the believers that their faith will be inevitably tested, and their declaration of faith alone will not admit them into Paradise. Describing the attitude of hypocrites, Allaah (SWT) says that the difficulties they have to endure in His way as punishment, but if they see any success then they rush to stake their claim, but such people will be exposed. No person will carry the sin of another, and each will be accountable for his actions.

Nuh (AS) invited his people to Tawheed for nine hundred and fifty years, but they did not heed and were drowned. Similarly, Ibrahim (AS) tried to reason with his people the futility of worshipping stone idols, but they turned him out. He was believed by Lut (AS), his nephew, who was also made a prophet and sent to Sodom. The people of Sodom engaged in homosexuality and were destroyed after they refused to abstain from such corruption, including the wife of Lut (AS) who was loyal to the people and betrayed the cause of her husband instead. Similar was the responses of the people of Aad, Thamud, and Madyan, and each met with similar fate.
It is easy upon Allaah (SWT) to repeat the creation, which He created the first time, so the astonishment of the disbelievers at being resurrected from bones and dust in unfounded. Those who associate partners with Allaah (SWT) are compared to the web of the spider, which traps the prey in its net, yet is fragile and can be destroyed with little force.

To repeated demands of miracles and special signs by the polytheists, Allaah (SWT) says that it’s enough that the Qur’an has been sent down upon the Prophet ﷺ, which is both a source of mercy and guidance only if they would heed from it. Those who sincerely seek guidance, Allaah (SWT) will surely guide him on His Path.