الحجر
Al Hijr
Verses
99
Revelation
Makki
Period
Late Makkan
Surah No.
15 / 114
Surah Al-Hijr takes its name from the rocky region inhabited by the people of Thamud (the people of the Prophet Salih), which is referenced in the surah. It opens with the Quran's claim to be a preserved reminder, then tells the story of Iblis's refusal to prostrate before Adam and his subsequent enmity toward humanity. The surah also narrates the stories of Ibrahim's angelic visitors and the destruction of the people of Lut.
أسباب النزول
Revealed in the late Makkan period. Several verses were revealed in response to the Quraysh's mockery and demands for angels or other signs. The story of the people of Al-Hijr (Thamud) was particularly relevant because the caravan trade route to Syria passed through their ancient ruins, which the Quraysh would have seen and recognised. The reminder of how a prosperous civilisation nearby was utterly destroyed served as a powerful warning.
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian.”
One of the most frequently cited verses about the divine preservation of the Quran. This promise, made at a time when the Muslims were few and powerless, has been fulfilled across fourteen centuries of history.