لِإِيلَـٰفِ قُرَيْشٍ 1
Translations
For the accustomed security of the Quraysh -
Transliteration
Li-ilāfi Quraysh
Tafsir (Explanation)
This opening ayah of Surah Quraysh addresses the familiarity and custom of the Quraysh tribe, establishing the context for Allah's blessings upon them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as referring to the trade agreements and safe passage that enabled Quraysh's commercial prosperity, particularly their winter and summer journeys to Yemen and Syria respectively. The surah's purpose is to remind Quraysh of Allah's favors before calling them to monotheistic worship in the subsequent ayah.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Mecca during the Meccan period and directly addresses the Quraysh tribe's established trade routes and economic stability. The context reflects the pre-Islamic Arabian setting where Quraysh enjoyed protection and commercial success, which the Quran uses as a foundation for spiritual obligation—connecting material blessings to the One who provided them.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly cites this ayah's revelation, Ibn Abbas reported regarding the surah's context that the Quraysh had established secure trade routes through treaties with surrounding tribes. Additionally, the Prophet's biography (Sirah) documents how Quraysh's economic system depended on these seasonal trading journeys protected by their tribal alliances.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that material comfort and security are blessings from Allah meant to facilitate our worship and gratitude, not to distract us from His remembrance. Understanding how Allah has provided for our needs should inspire us to respond with sincere faith and obedience rather than ingratitude or heedlessness.