History of surah The Criterion

Name
It was given this name because God Almighty mentioned in it that glorious book which He revealed to His servant Muhammad, and it was the greatest blessing for mankind because it is the shining light. And the clear light by which God distinguished between truth and falsehood, light and darkness, unbelief and faith, and for that it was worthy to be called the criterion “Al-Furqan.”

Period of Revelation
Surat Al-Furqan was revealed in Makkah Al-Mukarramah before the migration of the Messenger, may God bless him and grant him peace, and it was revealed after Surat Yasin and before Surat Al-Ma’arij. On the authority of Ibn Abbas, he said: When the polytheists mocked the Messenger of God, they said: What is this Messenger? Eating food and walking around the markets, the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, was grieved, so he went down. He, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, received a revelation from his Lord that would comfort him. He said, “Peace be upon you, O Messenger of God.” Gabriel said, “O Muhammad, one of the gates of Paradise has been opened.” It has not been opened before this day, and I am afraid to be tormented. When your people scolded you for your poverty, and the Prophet and Gabriel, peace be upon them, came to him weeping, Gabriel said: Rejoice, O Muhammad. Indeed, your Lord gives you the keys to the treasures of this world, and they are with Him in the Hereafter like a mosquito wing.

 

Theme and topics
The emphasis of the sura is on proving the sincerity of the Qur'an and the validity of the Muhammadan message, as well as belief in the resurrection and indemnity, and it contains some stories for admonition and reflection.
Al-Razi said, "Know that God Almighty spoke in this surah about monotheism and prophecy and the conditions of resurrection, then He concluded it by mentioning the attributes of the believers and certain servants, and since the affirmation of the Creator and the affirmation of the attributes of His majesty must take precedence over everything else, since God opened this surah with it, He said: { Blessed is He who sent down the criterion to His servant, that it may be an admonition to all creatures} With this statement, Al-Razi refers to the verses of monotheism and exaltation contained in this surah.
This sura contains three pillars:

The first: The proof that the Quran was sent down from God, and mentioning the Messenger sent down to him, God's prayers and peace be upon him, and the proof of his sincerity and elevation above the possession of worldly goods, and that he is in the way of other Messengers, and that therefore his people have accepted his call to disbelief.

The second pillar: The proof of the resurrection and the reward and the warning of the reward in the Hereafter and the glad tidings of the reward of the righteous therein and the warning of the polytheists of their misfortune at that time, and they will feel remorse for their disbelief in the messenger and for their accomplices and followers of the disbelievers.

The third pillar: The proof of the unity of God, His uniqueness in creation, His impartiality of having no son or partner, and the invalidation of the divinity of the idols and the invalidation of what they claimed that angels are the sons of God Almighty.