The surah Al-Bayyinah (“The Clear Proof”) is a Madinan surah consisting of 8 verses. It was revealed after the Hijrah to Medina, during a time when believers lived among both the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and the polytheists. This surah clarifies the true essence of faith and establishes that the Prophet ﷺ himself is the decisive proof of divine truth.
According to Ibn Kathīr and Al-Qurtubī, this surah addresses the religious divisions among the communities, affirming that true guidance and salvation lie in believing in the message of the Prophet ﷺ. It ends confusion by presenting revelation as the long-awaited “clear proof” mentioned in previous scriptures.
Main Teachings and Key Insights
Al-Bayyinah defines the universal truth of Islam’s message and the clear distinction between believers and disbelievers. Its key teachings include:
- The coming of the Messenger ﷺ as the “clear proof” awaited by earlier nations. (verse 1)
- The revelation of the pure Book: the Qur’an purifies and corrects the distortions of previous scriptures. (verse 2)
- Division among the People of the Book: despite the clarity of the message, some persisted in denial. (verse 4)
- The essence of true worship: worshipping Allah sincerely, establishing prayer, and giving charity. (verse 5)
- The separation of believers and disbelievers: the righteous will attain Paradise, while the deniers face eternal punishment. (verses 6–8)
This surah summarizes the core of monotheism: sincere devotion, adherence to God’s Book, and faith in His Messenger.
Structure and Main Themes
- Verses 1–3: The coming of the Messenger ﷺ with the pure and decisive revelation.
- Verses 4–5: Condemnation of religious division and a call to pure worship of Allah alone.
- Verses 6–8: The ultimate separation between the deniers destined for the Fire and the believers destined for eternal bliss.
The tone of the surah is clear, assertive, and universal: it draws the line between divine truth and false belief while calling for sincerity and purity of intention in worship.
Key Verse
The key verse of the surah is verse 5:
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ
And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, upright, to establish prayer, and to give zakah. That is the right religion.
Why is this verse key?
- It expresses the core of true religion: God’s oneness, sincerity, prayer, and charity.
- It establishes the foundation of pure monotheism (tawḥīd), rejecting any form of association or ostentation in worship.
- It defines “the straight religion” (ad-dīn al-qayyimah) as one of balance, founded on faith, justice, and generosity.
In summary, Al-Bayyinah proclaims the clarity of the Qur’anic message and the purity of Islamic faith. It asserts that the divine proof lies within revelation itself and that true religion rests on sincerity, prayer, and social justice.