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Surah 41 · Makkah · 54 āyāt

Phase 04 · Ṭāʾif, al-Isrāʾ and the final Makkan years(c. 5–1 BH) — view in timeline

FuṣṣilatExplained in Detail

فصلت

Revealed 61st. The second of the Ḥawāmīm, and the surah recited to ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah when Quraysh sent him to negotiate. It answers a people who said their hearts were in coverings and who agreed among themselves to drown out the recitation with noise. Against that it sets a Book made clear in Arabic, a creation that testifies, limbs that will speak against their owner, the promise that angels descend on whoever says 'our Lord is Allah' and then stands firm, the command to repel evil with what is better, and the pledge that the signs will be shown in the horizons and within the selves.

Why it was revealed

Makkah during the mid-Makkan period (around the 5th year of Prophethood), before the migration to Abyssinia and the boycott of Banū Hāshim, when Quraysh attempted direct negotiation and sought to sabotage the public recitation of the Qurʾān.

Drawn fromMuslim 38; Ibn Isḥāq, as transmitted by Ibn Hishām and cited by Ibn Kathīr in his tafsīr of Sūrat Fuṣṣilat; Ibn Kathīr on 41:26, citing Ibn ʿAbbās; Ibn Kathīr on 41:30; Ibn Kathīr's introduction to Fuṣṣilat; al-Bayhaqī, Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah; Ibn Isḥāq via Ibn Hishām

Quraysh sent ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah to offer the Prophet ﷺ wealth, kingship and marriage to abandon his call. When he finished, the Prophet ﷺ asked whether he had said all he wished, then recited Sūrat Fuṣṣilat from its beginning until he reached the āyah of the thunderbolt, at which ʿUtbah placed his hand over the Prophet's ﷺ mouth and begged him to stop, returning to Quraysh with a changed face saying: I have heard speech the like of which I have never heard.

Cited toIbn Isḥāq, as transmitted by Ibn Hishām and cited by Ibn Kathīr in his tafsīr of Sūrat Fuṣṣilat; al-Bayhaqī, Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah

In the Prophet's ﷺ life

RevelationMid-Makkan period (c. 5th–6th year of Prophethood) · Age About 45 · Makkah

ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah's offer and the recitation that broke it

Sent to buy off the Prophet ﷺ with wealth, kingship and marriage, ʿUtbah heard this surah recited to him until the mention of the thunderbolt of ʿĀd and Thamūd and stopped the Prophet ﷺ with his hand.

Recalled in āyah 1, 2, 3, 13

كِتَـٰبٌ فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ قُرْءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ

A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur’ān for a people who know,

Cited toIbn Isḥāq via Ibn Hishām; Ibn Kathīr's introduction to Fuṣṣilat

  • Madd — 2 vowels
  • Madd — 2, 4 or 6 vowels
  • Madd — 6 vowels (lāzim)
  • Madd — 4 or 5 vowels (wājib)
  • Ghunnah — 2 vowels
  • Qalqalah
  • Ikhfāʾ
  • Ikhfāʾ shafawī
  • Idghām shafawī
  • Idghām with ghunnah
  • Idghām without ghunnah
  • Idghām mutajānisayn
  • Idghām mutaqāribayn
  • Iqlāb
  • Hamzat al-waṣl
  • Lām shamsiyyah
  • Silent letter

Tajwīd markup and colour convention: Quran.com API (v4) — text_uthmani_tajweed. Recitation audio: Quran.com / Quran Foundation Audio API (v4).

THEME 01Āyāt 1–13

A Book made clear — and hearts that claimed to be sealed

A Book whose āyāt have been detailed, an Arabic Qurʾān for a people who know — a giver of good tidings and a warner; but most of them turn away, so they do not hear. And they say: our hearts are within coverings from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a partition, so work — we are working. But if they turn away, then say: I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt of ʿĀd and Thamūd.

Drawn fromAl-Qurṭubī on 41:5; Al-Saʿdī on 41:3; Ibn Kathīr's introduction to Fuṣṣilat

3

كِتَـٰبٌ فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ قُرْءَانًا عَرَبِيًّا لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ

Tajwīd markup unavailable for this āyah — text shown uncoloured

A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur’ān for a people who know,

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From the tafsīr

When ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah came with Quraysh's offer, the Prophet ﷺ recited this surah from its beginning until this mention of the thunderbolt, and ʿUtbah covered his mouth to stop him and left saying he had heard speech unlike any other.

Cited toIbn Kathīr's introduction to Fuṣṣilat

Their claim of coverings and deafness was not a complaint but a boast — a declaration that they had chosen not to be reachable.

Cited toAl-Qurṭubī on 41:5

The Book is described as detailed and Arabic before any argument is made, because clarity removes the excuse of not having understood.

Cited toAl-Saʿdī on 41:3

Key takeaways

Reflect

Is there an area of your life where you have quietly decided not to be reachable by advice?

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Question 1 of 2

Which surah was recited to ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah when he brought Quraysh's offer?

Question 2 of 2

What did the Makkans claim in 41:5?

THEME 02Āyāt 19–29

Skins that testify, and the plan to drown out the recitation

Until when they reach it, their hearing, their sight and their skins will testify against them of what they used to do. And they will say to their skins: why have you testified against us? They will say: we were made to speak by Allah, who made everything speak. And you were not covering yourselves lest your hearing testify against you, or your sight, or your skins, but you assumed that Allah does not know much of what you do. And those who disbelieve say: do not listen to this Qurʾān and speak noisily during it, that perhaps you will overcome.

Drawn fromMuslim 2969; Al-Saʿdī on 41:22; Ibn Kathīr on 41:26

26

وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَسْمَعُوا۟ لِهَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَٱلْغَوْا۟ فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَغْلِبُونَ

Tajwīd markup unavailable for this āyah — text shown uncoloured

And those who disbelieve say, "Do not listen to this Qur’ān and speak noisily during [the recitation of] it that perhaps you will overcome."

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From the tafsīr

A man will argue that he accepts no witness but himself, and then his mouth will be sealed and his limbs will speak; the Companions understood this passage exactly that way.

Cited toMuslim 2969

Ibn ʿAbbās explained the noise-making as talking, whistling and clamour raised deliberately whenever the Qurʾān was recited, so that people could not hear it.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 41:26

The root of the sin is named precisely: they assumed Allah did not know much of what they did, and that assumption is what made concealment feel possible.

Cited toAl-Saʿdī on 41:22

Key takeaways

Reflect

What would change today if you fully believed your limbs will report what they did?

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Check yourself

0 / 2 correct

Answer from memory before scrolling back — retrieval is what makes it stick.

Questions and options are reshuffled and reworded each attempt

Question 1 of 2

What assumption does 41:22 identify as the root of concealed sin?

Question 2 of 2

What tactic is recorded in 41:26?

THEME 03Āyāt 30–36

Our Lord is Allah — then stand firm

Indeed those who have said our Lord is Allah and then remained on a straight path — the angels descend upon them: do not fear and do not grieve, but receive good tidings of Paradise which you were promised. We were your allies in worldly life and are in the Hereafter. And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah, does righteousness, and says I am of the Muslims. And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel by that which is better; then the one between whom and you was enmity will become as a devoted friend.

Drawn fromMuslim 38; Al-Saʿdī on 41:35; Ibn Kathīr on 41:34

30

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا۟ وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا۟ وَأَبْشِرُوا۟ بِٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ

Tajwīd markup unavailable for this āyah — text shown uncoloured

Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allāh" and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.

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34

وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ

Tajwīd markup unavailable for this āyah — text shown uncoloured

And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon, the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.

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From the tafsīr

A man asked the Prophet ﷺ to tell him something about Islam he need ask no one else about; he said: say I believe in Allah, then stand firm — the exact pairing of this āyah.

Cited toMuslim 38

Repelling with what is better is a command about behaviour under provocation, and the āyah states the result: the hostile party becomes like a close friend.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 41:34

The very next āyah says none is granted this except those who are patient and possessed of great fortune — so responding well is presented as a rare, costly achievement, not a natural temperament.

Cited toAl-Saʿdī on 41:35

Key takeaways

Reflect

Who is the person you most need to repel with what is better this week?

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Check yourself

0 / 2 correct

Answer from memory before scrolling back — retrieval is what makes it stick.

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Question 1 of 2

What does 41:34–35 say about repelling evil with what is better?

Question 2 of 2

What ḥadīth in Muslim matches the wording of 41:30?

THEME 04Āyāt 37–54

Signs in the horizons and within yourselves

And of His signs are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah, who created them, if it is Him that you worship. Whoever does righteousness — it is for himself; and whoever does evil — it is against himself. And your Lord is not ever unjust to His servants. We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?

Drawn fromAl-Qurṭubī on 41:46; Al-Saʿdī on 41:53; Ibn Kathīr on 41:37

From the tafsīr

The prohibition is precise: the sun and moon are signs, and the response to a sign is to worship the One who made it, not the sign itself.

Cited toIbn Kathīr on 41:37

The signs are placed in two fields — the outer horizons and the human self — so that evidence surrounds a person from outside and from within.

Cited toAl-Saʿdī on 41:53

Responsibility is stated as strictly personal, and the āyah closes by denying any injustice from Allah before anyone can allege it.

Cited toAl-Qurṭubī on 41:46

Key takeaways

Reflect

Name one sign inside your own body that you have never used as evidence.

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Check yourself

0 / 2 correct

Answer from memory before scrolling back — retrieval is what makes it stick.

Questions and options are reshuffled and reworded each attempt

Question 1 of 2

What does 41:37 forbid?

Question 2 of 2

Where does 41:53 say the signs will be shown?

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VOCABULARY

Roots from this surah

Learn the three-letter root and you unlock every word built from it — across the whole Qur'an, not just this surah.

ف ص ل

āyāt 3, 44

to separate one thing from another — hence to set out in detail

  • فُصِّلَتْthey were detailed
  • تَفْصِيلdetailed exposition
  • فَاصِلdecisive separator

ق و م

āyāt 30

to stand — and to stay standing on a path

  • اسْتَقَامَhe stood firm
  • اسْتِقَامَةsteadfastness
  • مُسْتَقِيمstraight

د ف ع

āyāt 34

to push away, to repel

  • ادْفَعْrepel
  • دَفْعrepelling
  • مُدَافِعdefender

ش ه د

āyāt 20, 21, 22, 53

to witness and to testify

  • شَهِيدwitness
  • شَهِدَhe testified
  • شَهَادَةtestimony

ل غ و

āyāt 26

speech that carries no benefit — idle noise

  • لَغْوidle talk
  • الْغَوْاmake noise

Carry this with you

  • The Qurʾān presents itself as detailed and clear before it argues its case.
  • 'Our hearts are covered' was a chosen refusal, not an inability.
  • This is the surah that stopped ʿUtbah ibn Rabīʿah mid-negotiation.
  • Hearing, sight and skin will testify — no deed was ever private.
  • Sin is enabled by an assumption that Allah does not know much of what we do.
  • When argument failed, the opposition turned to noise; noise is not a refutation.
  • Say 'our Lord is Allah' and then stand firm — declaration plus steadfastness.
  • Angels' words to the steadfast are: do not fear and do not grieve.
  • Repel evil with what is better and an enemy can become a devoted friend — granted only to the patient.
  • The signs are shown in the horizons and within the self; Allah is Witness over all things.

Where this surah connects

Cross-surah threads

Parts of the Qurʾān explain other parts. Each thread below opens the same subject as it is argued across every other surah you have studied, in revelation order.

Refuge, protection and the unseen harm2 movementsThe Hour and the accounting1 movementThe four trials1 movementPatience while the answer is delayed1 movementThe signs you already walk on1 movement
All threads →

Sources behind Sūrah Fuṣṣilat

Every line of context, tafsīr and takeaway on this page traces back to one of these references. Ḥadīth numbers open on sunnah.com and āyah references open on quran.com, so you can check the claim rather than take it on trust. The Arabic text itself is fetched live from a verified public corpus.

Seerah & history2

  • al-Bayhaqī, Dalāʾil al-Nubuwwah
  • Ibn Isḥāq via Ibn Hishām
FINAL ASSESSMENT

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Fuṣṣilat — full exam

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8 questions across 4 themes.

Fuṣṣilat · Skins that testify, and the plan to drown out the recitation

What assumption does 41:22 identify as the root of concealed sin?

Arabic (Uthmānī script) and the Ṣaḥīḥ International translation are fetched live from the Quran.com API (v4), sourced from the King Fahd Complex muṣḥaf — api.quran.com API docs · Translation: Ṣaḥīḥ International · Integrity & testing protocol