History of surah The Stories
Name
It was called "Surah Al-Qasas" because God Almighty detailed and explained in it the story of Moses from his birth to the time of his message, and it contains many strange events. God's care for His saints and His abandonment of His enemies are clearly evident in it.
Period of Revelation
This was revealed in Al-Juhfa, a place 183 km away from Mecca, at the time of the migration of the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, to Medina.
The scholars of interpretation have mentioned the reasons for the revelation of some verses in Surat Al-Qasas, and these verses are mentioned along with an explanation of the reason for their revelation
God Almighty said, (It is true, you will not be able to guide everyone you love; but Allah guides those He wills, and He knows best those who are guided)
This noble verse was revealed about Abu Talib, the uncle of the Messenger of God - may God bless him and grant him peace - when death was approaching him and the Prophet asked him to testify that there is no God but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. God justified the death of his uncle with disbelief, so God - the Almighty - revealed the verse.
God Almighty said, (And they say), "If we were to follow the guidance with you, we would be driven out of our land." Have We not established for them a safe sanctuary, into which the fruits of all things are brought as provision from Us? But most of them do not know)
The verse was revealed about a man named Al-Harith bin Nawfal who wanted to convert to Islam, but he explained why he did not enter with his fear of the Arabs. To kidnap them or drive them out of their land, so the verse was revealed upon him.
God Almighty said: (Your Lord creates and chooses as He pleases; they have no choice: Praise be to Allah, and He is far exalted above the partners they ascribe to Him!)
Since this verse was revealed after Al-Walid bin Al-Mughirah objected and his inquiry whether God Almighty had chosen Muhammad -peace be upon him- as a prophet, so the verse was revealed saying that God Almighty alone does not send prophets and messengers according to their will, but He is the One who creates, and He is the One who chooses who is fit for prophecy.
Theme and topics
The structure of the sura is based on the story of Moses and Pharaoh at the beginning and the story of Qarun with his people - the people of Moses - at the end. The first story shows the power of government and authority; the power of Pharaoh, the tyrant, the arrogant, the watchful, and in the face of this Moses, an infant who has no power or strength, and he has no refuge or protection. He holds their necks, holds their breath, watches their movements, checks their movements, like tyrants in every age.
But Pharaoh's strength and power, his caution and watchfulness, would have availed him nothing with God, rather with the little child Moses, bereft of all power and resourcefulness. Since he is guarded by the only real power, the eye of care takes care of him, repels evil upon him,
The second story shows the value of the money and with it also the value of the knowledge. Money that people underestimate, and Qarun came to them in his jewellery, and they know that money was given to him as soon as his keys make the strong men weak. And the knowledge Qarun is proud of and that deceives him, and he thinks that the money was given because of him and through him. But those of his people who have been given the right knowledge are not underestimated by its treasures, nor are they underestimated by its adornments. Rather, they look forward to God's reward and know that it is better and more lasting. Then the hand of God intervenes and causes the earth to swallow him and his house, his wealth is of no use to him, and his knowledge is of no use to him, and it intervenes directly and blatantly, just as it intervened in the matter of Pharaoh, so that it threw him and his soldiers into the sea and he was among those drowned.