Ash-Shūrā (, aš-šūrā, "Council, Consultation") is the 42nd chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'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) and has no pre-Quranic antecedent.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
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).
Summary 1-3 The Almighty reveals his will to Muhammad 4 Angels intercede with God on behalf of sinful man 5 Muhammad not a steward over the idolaters 6 The Quran revealed in the Arabic language to warn Makkah 7-10 God the only helper, creator, and preserver, the all-knowing 11-13 Islam the religion of all the former prophets 14 Muhammad commanded to declare his faith in the Bible and Torah 15 Disputers with God shall be severely punished 16-17 God only knows the hour of the judgment 18-19 The Almighty will reward the righteous and the wicked according to their deeds 20 Sinners only spared through God's forbearance 21-22 Rewards of the just and of the unjust 23 Muhammad charged with imposture 24-27 The sovereign God forgives and blesses whom he will 28-33 God's power manifested in his works 34-41 A true believer's character decided 42-45 The miserable fate of those whom God causes to err 46 Sinners exhorted to repent before it is too late 47-48 Muhammad only a preacher 49 God controls all things 50-51 Why God reveals himself by inspiration and through apostles 52-53 Prophet Muhammad did not know of ˹this˺ Book and faith ˹before˺.
Q42:23 Verse of affection
Q42:51 Revelation in Islam In Islamic tradition, Quran 42:51 serves as the basis of understanding for Revelation in Islam (waḥy).
وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآئِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًۭا فَيُوحِىَ بِإِذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌۭ "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".Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation
Based on this verse, Islamic scholars have described three ways in which God's revelation can reach His chosen individuals, especially prophets.Muhammad Shafi Usmani, Maariful Quran, see commentary on 42:51 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. The second mode, it is said, is the word heard by the person spoken to, as from behind a veil. In the third mode, the revelation is sent from God through archangels like Gabriel and is delivered to the prophets. It is the highest form of revelation, and Muslims believe the whole Quran was revealed in this mode.
References
External links
, 1930 translation by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall Quran 42, 2020 translation by Mustafa Khattab Q42:1, a verse-by-verse comparison of various translations