Ash-Shūrā (Arabic:الشورى,al-shūrā, "Council, Consultation") is the 42nd chapter (sūrah) of theQur'an (Q42) with 53 verses (āyāt). Its title derives from the question of "shūrā" (consultation) referred to in Verse 38. The term appears only once in the Quranic text (at Q42:38). It has no pre-Quranic antecedent.[1]
Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is traditionally believed to be a Meccan surah, from the second Meccan period (615-619).
"It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with Allah's permission, what Allah wills".[3]
Based on this verse, Islamic scholars have described three ways in whichGod's revelation can reach His chosen individuals, especiallyprophets.[4]
An inspired message – not a word but an idea – can enter the heart of the chosen individuals either in the state of consciousness or in dream.[5]
The second mode, it is said, is the word heard by the person spoken to, as from behind a veil.[5]
In the third mode, the revelation is sent from God through archangels likeGabriel and is delivered to the prophets. It is the highest form of revelation, andMuslims believe the whole Quran was revealed in this mode.[4][5]
^al-Baghdādī, Aḥmad Mubārak and Wheeler, Brannon M.,“Consultation”, in: Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān, General Editor: Jane Dammen McAuliffe, Georgetown University, Washington DC. Consulted online on 06 July 2020
^Wherry, Elwood Morris (1896).A Complete Index toSale's Text, Preliminary Discourse, and Notes. London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
