Surah al-Qalam

Objective observation is one of the fundamental elements for human beings to understand and learn. By objectifying reality, images convey a variety of meanings and concepts to the audience. With the help of the audience's creative mind, this conveyance is sometimes achieved through the harmonious arrangement of words and phrases depicting spiritual and intangible matters. In some cases, these images embed a line of reasoning, referred to as "argumentative images," to instill certain beliefs or convictions in the audience. These images use tangible objects and meanings to strengthen the individual's belief in the realization and possibility of intangible things. The audience's mind initially seeks connections between the objects presented, and after understanding the logical relationships, embraces a new meaning derived from the images. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, the present paper has attempted to apply this semantic process to the Surahs of al-Tīn, al-Qalam, and al-Ṭūr in order to answer the question of how the argumentative images of these three Surahs affect the beliefs of the audience. The results indicate that the logical connection of the images of objects in each surah affects the audience's certainty and belief in the wisdom and order of creation, the inevitability of divine decree, and the nature of the Day of Judgment. To inspire confidence in the fulfillment of His promises, God employs tangible elements such as the fig, the olive, the ladder, the mountain, and the sky.

Dating or arranging the surahs according to their order of revelation has long been considered, at least to the extent of identifying them as Meccan or Medinan. However, it has not received much attention in traditional Tafsir (exegesis). Today, descending (Tanzīlī) exegesis, relying on methods other than the customary reliance on narrations of the order of revelation, has attracted the attention of Quranic researchers to facilitate a better understanding of the Quran. Accordingly, the present study, using a descriptive-analytical method, aims to investigate the date of revelation of Surah al-Qalam, considered the second revealed surah according to narrations of the order of revelation.  This will be done by examining the surah's content and style, comparing it to the stages of Quranic revelation in terms of the arrangement of the Prophet's call, and referencing historical documents and the Prophet's biography (Sīrah). The findings indicated that this surah depicts an atmosphere of a period of revelation that is incompatible with the early period of the Prophet's mission and his cautious call, and its position as the second revealed surah. Therefore, considering the content analysis and stylistic features of the surah, as well as supporting historical evidence regarding the use of various methods by opponents to express their opposition and hostility towards the Prophet, and comparing these with the verses revealed in surahs al-Shuʻarāʼ and al-Aʻrāf onwards, and based on a comparison that shows historical similarities between surah al-Qalam and Surahs Yāsīn, al-Furqān, and al-Isrāʼ, it seems that the approximate date of revelation of this surah is during the second phase of the Prophet's mission, after the cautious call and after surahs al-Anʻām and al-Ṣāffāt, but very close to them